Contract Administration - Flash Cards - L2

Question 1

Playground resurfacing, WSCC - what were the implications of issuing practical completion?

Answer 1

Release of half retention, Defects period beginning, Insurance moved from contractor to employer, Contractor was no longer liable for LDs.

Question 2

Playground resurfacing, WSCC - What would you be issuing instructions for under the contract?

Answer 2

Instruction of provision sum for the installation of line markings.

Question 3

Playground resurfacing, WSCC - What would you be valuing in your interim valuations?

Answer 3

Percentage of works completed against required in the contract i.e. completion of surfacing works / assessment of preliminaries in conjunction with programme progress / assessment of variations.

Question 4

Playground resurfacing, WSCC - What happens if a contractor doesn’t issue their valuation?

Answer 4

The CA/QS is to make their own assessment of the works and issue the payment notice reflecting this.

Question 5

Playground resurfacing, WSCC - Why did you advise the client the minor works contract was an appropriate form of contract?

Answer 5

I reviewed the JCT documentation on deciding on the correct JCT contract.
As the project was low complexity and short duration works. No named specialists were required or sectional completion. The CA was to administer the conditions.

Question 6

Playground resurfacing, WSCC - How did you go about agreeing the final account with the contractor?

Answer 6

Once practical completion had been issued, I requested the contractor issued their final account information for assessment.
I reviewed this and drew up the statement of final account.
Refer to RICS Black Book guidance on Final Account Procedures.

Question 7

Playground resurfacing, WSCC - Please explain how the expenditure of Psums was managed?

Answer 7

Where required I requested the contractor provide a variation quotation where PSUMS required to be used. For undefined PSUMS this meant assessing duration implications.

Question 8

Playground resurfacing, WSCC - What is the difference between defined & undefined provisional sums?

Answer 8

Defined - contractor make sufficient allowance for prelims / programme.
Undefined - not enough design information to make allowances for programme, planning and prelims.

Question 9

Playground resurfacing, WSCC - What information is required to issue a PC certificate?

Answer 9

BC approval, O&M / H&S, life safety certificates.

Question 10

Playground resurfacing, WSCC - If the contractor did not rectify defects within the defect period, what are the consequences?

Answer 10

Contractor requested to make good, if not the remaining retention can be used to rectify outstanding defects.

Question 11

Car Park, Parkside - Was the contract signed underhand or by deed and what was the implication of this?

Answer 11

Under hand, the client required works under 250k to be signed under hand.
Liability period of 6 years, the liability period is in place to claim if any latent defects arise

Question 12

Car Park, Parkside - Was a collateral warranty required on Parkside and if not, why not?

Answer 12

Yes, to create a contractual agreement between the employer and the manufacturer of the system being used for the waterproofing to provide the warranty.

Question 13

Car Park, Parkside - What was the contractor responsible for designing under CDP?

Answer 13

Providing the final technical design for the installation of the mehcanical movement joints to the concrete deck to meet the ER’s which were provided by an SE.

Question 14

Car Park, Parkside - What are the benefits of using the CDP option for this?

Answer 14

Utilising the contractors specialist knowledge and expertise.
Being able to get to site quicker - client financial year budget pressures.
Single point of responsibility for design and construction.

Question 15

Car Park, Parkside - Can you explain a few key differences between the minor works and IC contract?

Answer 15

MW: no allowance for SC, no named QS allowed.
IC: allows for RE, where MW only allows for adjustment of the completion date, collateral warranties allowed for in IC.

Question 16

Car Park, Parkside - Why did you recommend the use of the JCT IC?

Answer 16

Allowance for sectional completion which was required to keep the car park functioning at 50 percent, and so that a collateral warranty could be formed.

Question 17

Car Park, Parkside - What does the issue of sectional completion release?

Answer 17

Half retention, commencement of defects, insurance, contractor liability for LD’s.

Question 18

Car Park, Parkside - What did the ER’s require for the CDP element?

Answer 18

Required the contractor to produce contractor proposals for the final design of the waterproofing system and mechanical movement joints.

Question 19

Car Park, Parkside - What handover information would you expect to see?

Answer 19

H&S file, O&M with as built information, warranties, product information.

Question 20

HDP, WSCC - How did you manage the change control process?

Answer 20

I utilised a change control tracker which highlighted change, approvals, costs, refences to CAI or contractor VO, information on whether costs have been agreed or not. I had a bi-weekly call with the PQS to review the information.

Question 21

HDP, WSCC - How did you ensure costs were remaining within the allowances?

Answer 21

Good communication with the PQS, regular meetings.

Question 22

HDP, WSCC - How did you manage change with the client?

Answer 22

Agreed change thresholds, maximum 5k instruction up to 50% of the contingency prior to requiring express approval.