Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Case Study > Case Study > Flashcards

Case Study Flashcards

1
Q

What would you typically expect your residential schemes to cost?

A

£2.5/£3.5k /m2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Why was Single Stage D&B chosen?

A

The client wanted to have:

  • single point responsibility
  • no design risk
  • cost certainty
  • contractors buildability
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Can you name some contract amendments on your project?

A

Payment period
Rectification period
Level of retention
Schedule of Valuation Dates

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Talk me through the Cost Planning process?

A 
Review Design
Design Queries to disciplines
Carry out measurement and pricing
Benchmarking
Market Testing
Present to client
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Why wasn’t any cost estimates undertaken prior to the client inheriting the design?

A

The client had inherited the design along with planning and hadn’t carried out a proper estimate prior to my involvement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

When did this key issue happen?

A
  • Inherited design not consistent with clients projects
  • Appraisal carried out on non-comparable projects
  • Lack of cost control
  • Ambitious Programme to start on site
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Which elements did you identify for cost savings?

A

Glazing
External Walls
Roof

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How did you back up the elements that could produce savings?

A

Through benchmarking and market testing.
I would expect to see:
External Walls @ £260/m2 not £300/m2
Glazing @ £110/m2 not £170/m2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

The benchmarking seems reasonable at a £/m2, why wasn’t the cost acceptable?

A

Exceeded my clients budget

Large communal areas made cost look efficient

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What planning submission would have been required should you have opted for redesign?

A

Section 73a - granted planning permission with conditions attached.

Still a new planning submission

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Why would planning affect the overall development and how long did you anticipate the delay be?

A

A redesign would have taken around 12 months as well the new planning submission, this would have caused a delay of 24 months which was not acceptable for my client

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What was the allowance you had for the EW and how did you arrive at this?

A

£400k. Benchmarked against my clients other developments for this type of scope

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Did you carry out a PQQ for the EW?

A

No :

  • fairly low cost package with low risk
  • was using competent EW contractors
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How did you substantiate the £400k for the EW?

A

Pre-Tender Estimate
Benchmarking
Market Testing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Why did you propose competitive tendering of the EW?

A

To guarantee my client value through the competitiveness of the tender

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Which contract was used for the EW and why?

A

JCT Intermediate was selected because:

- suits contracts over £250k and under £1m

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What were the risks of bringing forward the EW?

A

Should the cost exceed the allowance there would have been further budgetary issues but the risks were low because:

  • Market testing
  • Benchmarking
  • PTE
  • Competitive Tender
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

How did you control costs throughout the design development?

A

Through continuous monitoring of changes from Stage 2 in a design tracker.
This monitored aspects of design which incurred costs and help my client make decisions and kept them apprised of movements

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What were the performance criteria for the glazing?

A

1.2- 1.4 U:Value

36-40

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

How did you ensure that both windows could meet the performance criteria?

A

I utilised the supply chain when market tested and they confirmed that the performance could be met

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Why were SFS and Reinforced Concrete declined as options?

A

SFS - acoustics meant an expensive acoustic material would be required. This was not non-combustible
RC - price

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Why did you opt for Blockwork?

A

Naturally fire resistent
Acoustics
Cheapest

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How did you arrive at the costs for each option?

A

Carried out measurement of the relevant areas
Market tested the costs
Comparison against the S2 Cost Plan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What were the structural impacts of blockwork?

A

There was a slight increase to the slab thicknesses on the penultimate and roof slab which was advised by the structural engineer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What would you typically see as brick projections on your project?

A

Typically see 20mm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What was the saving of reducing from 102.5 to 20mm?

A

The cost saving was £105/m2 or £430k. The main saving was because of the reduction of shelf angles required

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Explain the VE on MEP?

A

I challenged the M&E Consultant and Structural Engineer to find efficiencies.
Based on my benchmarking the £/unit for MEP is around £40 - £45k so challenged that the spec be in line with the £40k region.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

How did you recommend the Structural Engineer make savings?

A

I am aware that structural engineers can commonly over design the structure so I challenged that the structural engineer sharpen their pencil to find cost efficiencies through reviewing slab thicknesses and rebar densities

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What did you do in order to VE?

A

Carried out a VE Workshop with all disciplines and shared my ideas among the team

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Why did bringing the EW forward give you more time?

A

It mitigated the GLA Funding risk which gave us more time to carry out a design review as the programme didn’t have a rigorous review due to time constraints

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What would you expect to see in a Stage 3 design?

A 
BIM Model
Design specification
Design from each discipline
Landscaping design
Coordinated design
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What would you include in your Contract Documents?

A 
Contract Type
Amendments
Pricing Document
Design
PTQ's
Programme
Planning conditions
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What was the cost difference from Stage 2 Cost Plan to Stage 3 and why did that occur?

A

£400k
Design Development
Acoustic Resilient Layer

34
Q

What do you believe caused the key issue?

A

Clients budget being based on the incorrect benchmarking

Tight programme

35
Q

What was the clients appraisal based on?

A

£/m2 of their other developments that were not comparable

36
Q

Why is it so important to carry out cost control and value management?

A

a

37
Q

What is a budget / estimate / cost plan?

A

a

38
Q

Why was D&B selected for the MW?

A

Cost certainty
Design Risk
Buildability input

39
Q

What was excluded from your Cost Plans?

A

Inflation
Demolition of interim scheme
Impacts of covid-19

40
Q

How did you improve the certainty of quality being maintained?

A

Clerk of Works
Design Info shared with MW Tenderers
Site visit
Only query on Piling Mat

41
Q

Did you present your cost plan to the client, if so how?

A 
Presentation including
Elemental breakdown in NRM1 form
Qualifications
Assumptions and Exclusions
Risks
VE Proposals
42
Q

What are the contents of your cost plan?

A 
Executive Summary
Information Used
Cost Plan in NRM1 Elements
Assumptions and Exclusions 
Risks
Cost Reconciliation
VE
43
Q

How did you present the 3 options to your client?

A

Presentation
Viability of options
Risks associated with options

44
Q

What is the difference between a housing association and private developer?

A

Housing association are non-profit organisations looking at regeneration schemes

Private developers aim to generate a profit, as opposed to the government which aims to provide buildings for social and welfare reason.

45
Q

How was quality control maintained throughout the EW and handed over the MC?

A

All scope documents were included within the tender documents so the tenderers were aware of what was being carried out
Site visits
Tender queries
6F2 was inspected by contractors, WAC tested and the civil engineer certified that it could be used by MC

46
Q

How does GLA Funding work and what was the value?

A

Must meet performance targets to gain grants

The Grant was £2m

47
Q

Whats the difference between Stage 2 / 3 Cost Plan?

A

Preparation is the same, cost reconciliation is carried out from S2 to S3

48
Q

How did I challenge the design team?

A

Setting cost and design efficiency targets
Facade targets
Glazing targets

49
Q

How did I challenge the design team?

A

Setting cost and design efficiency targets
Facade targets
Glazing targets

50
Q

What would you do if the PTE was significantly over the budget?

A

Continue with design and VE

Continue with tender and encourage VE from contractors buildability input

51
Q

How was the risk of the inherited design dealt with?

A

As the design information wasn’t that well defined the clients design team took the responsibility of the inherited design

52
Q

What if the design team did not want to take the risk of the inherited design?

A

A Collateral Warranty should be taken out with the previous architects

53
Q

Was this project procured under a framework?

A

Yes - under my clients framework

54
Q

Why was intermediate used?

A

Intermediate is :
£250k
Adds more robust procedures with regards to EOT and L&E that minor works does not have

55
Q

Why wasn’t two stage tendering utilised as prelims x 2 would be paid under two separate packages?

A

Cost certainty up front

Well tested allowance for EW so confident that cost would not be negatively impacted

Savings from competitiveness were expected and realised following contract awards

More time to review design

Longer programme as all SC packages have to be agreed

56
Q

What did you reduce on MEP?

A

Looked at reducing the targets through benchmarking and took the sanitaryware and lighting specification which was based on £50k / unit as a target from another one of my clients developments.

57
Q

How was a view formed of the appropriateness of the £55m budget? Did I seek to understand that budget?

A

My client did not provide me with this information and requested that I provide my own view on the S2 Design

58
Q

How to calculate the budget in the absence of any design?

A

£/functional unit
£/m2
Cost range

59
Q

How did you adjust your benchmarking for this project?

A

Time
Location
Abnormals

60
Q

How did you make a saving on the sanitaryware?

A

Reduction is quality of the spec from Toto to Ideal Standard gave a saving of circa £3k/unit

61
Q

Were there risks with quality and life cycle costing with regards to reducing the quality of lighting and sanitaryware?

A

There were no risks associated with quality and life cycle costing as this specification was used on my clients other developments and performed well

62
Q

What was specified for the lighting as the saving?

A

Omission of 6 LED Lights with the addition of 1 ceiling light to the kitchen and living room areas gave saving of £2k/unit

63
Q

What was the market appetite to work on single stage as opposed to two stage?

A

Letters of enquiries were sent out to a number of contractors to establish market appetitie and generally the response was positive

However a number of tenderers within the PQQ who pulled out during the PQQ process due to the tender not being two stage.

The reason being:

Design risk on SS
Missed scope
Resource, time and cost

64
Q

How to achieve cost certainty in two stage?

A 
Intent to agree packages in first stage (EW and groundworks potentially) 
Target Cost (pain / gain)
GMP
65
Q

What are the risks with two stage?

A

Lack of competitiveness
Cost certainty not achieved until final package agreed
Design / Inflation priced into costs difficult to assess

66
Q

How would your two stage tendering option work?

Outputs in 1st and 2nd Stages?

A 
1st stage under PCSA
Prelims
OHP
Programme
Designed packages
PCSA Fee
Target Cost Plan to assess against

2nd Stage to develop S2 to S3/4 to arrive at a Contract Sum
Finalise design
Agree outstanding packages
Rules placed into 2nd stage (min 3 tenderers, open book, evaluation)
Contractor in charge of tender

67
Q

Could you not have achieved greater VE under two stage by having ECI to influence on VE and provide buildability input?

A

This was a possibility, however:

This was not guaranteed
Lack of cost certainty until end of S2 which client was not happy with
Lack of competitiveness and incentive in 2nd stage
Encourage VE in tender returns in single stage

68
Q

What would you do if you couldn’t seek advice from the MEP team?

A

I would have sought to understand where costs could have been made by understanding the specification on their other projects

69
Q

Did changing the LED lights not detrimentally effect sustainability?

A

The sustainability consultant was able to confirm that this could be introduced… although ceiling lights are not as sustainable, because we was omitting 6 lights with one larger light, it was relatively neutral.

70
Q

Who warranted the previous design? Was there any formal documentation?

A

The Architect was happy to take the risk given the extent the design was progressed to only S2.

I was not partial to any specific documents but I believe this would have been included in the Architects appointment

71
Q

Would have the ECI of the Contractor under 2 stage achieved greather VE?

A

I discussed that ECI and buildability input from the Contractor should potentially lead to greater VE savings with my client… however,

They were not happy to not achieve costs until the end of the second stage

72
Q

How could you achieve further VE?

A

Encouraging the Architect / Design Team

Encourage the Contractor to submit a separate VE schedule

73
Q

What are the deliverables under the PCSA?

A 
Open book
Competitive tender to 3 SCs
Carry out design & contribute to buildability & risk
Method of construction
Work collaboratively w/project team
Reconcile target cost plan
74
Q

Can you tell me how you believe Covid / Brexit has effected procurement / tendering?

A

Unknown impact of covid may lead to contractors being more inclined to seek the more management routes and avoid fixed price routes due to:

  • unknown impact on inflation & construction costs generally so difficult to price in their costs
  • similar for tendering strategies above
75
Q

What sort of things affect Contractor appetite for your project?

A

Market conditions (hot market may affect costs)
Contractor keeness
Risks of the project

76
Q

Where would you expect tender returns to be against your PTE?

A

Tolerance of around 5% as cost plan is reflective of the market at that point

However, if market conditions change, tender prices will be affected

77
Q

What is value to your client?

A

Dependent on the client requirements generally but looks at:

Time
Cost
Quality

78
Q

Why Intermediate over minor works?

A

No L&E
No EOT
No Sec Comp

79
Q

Please compare aluminium vs composite window?

A

Aluminium

More durable
Holds more weight
Greater acoustics
Material more expensive

Composite
Meets performance requirements
Cheaper
Maintain aesthetics

Both had life expectancy of 50 years
Aluminium more expense to repair

80
Q

What life cycle costs were considered when you carried out the window?

A

The supply chain was able to confirm that Composite will have a longer lifespan (if engineered timber)

Replacement of glass is every 15 yrs

Both window types are similar cost for damages

Case Study (1 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions