Main Tech Questions Flashcards
How is a road or pavement constructed?
- First removal of topsoil, scraping and grading an area called the formation level.
- Lowest level is the subgrade or ‘soil’ CBR testing
- Drainage and services should be laid along gully
- Layer of sand or gravel on top of subgrade (sublayer)
- Base layers above this then;
- Flexible (asphalt) or rigid (concrete) paving can be layered on top to form the base layers.
- On top of the base layers the surface layer is laid
What are the sustainable environmental assessments to certify a project?
- Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. (BREAM)
- Leadership in energy and Environmental design (LEED)
- Both - Assessing, rating, and certifying the sustainability of buildings.
What is the difference between rigid and flexible paving?
- Flexible paving has multiple base layers whereas rigid usually has a concrete slab.
- Rigid layer costs more but more durable, flexible layer isn’t as strong but reacts better to temp changes.
Difference between green roof and blue roof?
- Green roof – absorbs rain water, insulation, habitats wildlife, aesthetics, helps lower urban air
- Blue roof – collects water and releases it slowly when rain has stopped – e.g attenuation tank
What is the difference between artificial stone paving and York stone paving?
- ASP: Pros Convenient to source, lots of choice, widely available, cost effective
- ASP: Cons: Quicker to fade, easily damaged, very large carbon footprint.
- York stone: Pros: Lasts a long time, lots of choice, easy to install.
- York stone: Cons: Expensive Natural so can be varied or inconsistent between batches
How did you estimate the cost of the HVM’s?
I spoke to a specialist supplier who provided the associated costs of the different mitigation methods, this included installation costs.
How do you install palisade fencing?
Dig a hole for each fence post, add gravel and pour concrete in the hole, insert the post and ensure level and let it set at least a day.
How do you install Heras fencing?
Poles are fitted securely into concrete bracing blocks and connected using anti-tamper couplers.
What was the design and cost of the proprietary mat system?
- Heavy Duty Ground Protection mat is manufactured from 100% recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE)
- Weight tested to maximum load of 80* tons on both flat and somewhat uneven grounds. Connected together with couplers
- £60 per matt, £5 connector - £70k About 1000 mats
What things does a contractor need to consider when excavating?
- Nature of soil
- Moisture Content
- Method of excavation
- How Deep you are going
- Proximity of other buildings
What is a retaining wall?
A retaining wall is a structure designed and constructed to resist the lateral pressure of soil, when there is a desired change in ground elevation that exceeds the angle of repose of the soil.
Name some types of foundation?
- Strip
- Raft
- Pad
- Piled
What are the different types of construction methods for bridges?
- Balanced Cantilever Method of Bridge Construction - this method is used for constructing bridges with span 50 to 250m.
- Cast insitu – construct from ground – complex shapes
- Suspension Bridge
- Arch Method for Bridge Construction – economical- concrete or pre cast
What are the different types of construction methods for tunnels?
- Cut and cover tunnel – constructed in a shallow and covered over
- Bored Tunnel – constructed in situ without removing the ground above
- Immersed tube tunnel – sunk in water and buried.
What sort of temp drainage solutions are there?
- Surface water drainage – Sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS), permeable pavements Soak ways (disperses water gradually).
- Foul water drainage – Connection to mains drainage or collection in a sceptic tank.
What types of fencing are there? Why did you advise heras?
- Mesh palisade - more labour intensive, more expensive
- Chain-link – more labour intensive, need excavation
- Wooden hoarding - used more in construction rather, longer to install
- Heras – Lightweight, anti-climb, secure interlocking, weather resistant, can be altered easily
What are typical surveys that would be required for a construction project?
Services
- Services
- Topography
- Asbestos - what has the land been used for previously?
- Ground investigation - ground bearing suitability for requirements
- Ecology - are there protected species preventing works
- Transport - are there restrictions on access.
- UXO discovery - is it an area where explosives might be present
What are the main suites of construction contract?
- JCT 2016 Standard, Mnior works, design and build, framework
- NEC3 (New Engineering Contact)
- NEC3 (New Engineering Short Contract)
- NEC3 Professional Services Contract)
- FIDIC - Lump Sum, Cost plus, Turnkey
- ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers)
Advantages of FIDIC contract?
Internationally recognized
4 main options, Lump sum, design and build, short form and turnkey which NEC3 doesn’t offer
Please talk me through an example from your experience of a situation where you have prepared a report which recommends the appropriate form of contract to be adopted?
- On Beckton Depot Enabling works package 2:
- TfL standard form of Contract is NEC3 ECC
- Considered option A & C
- Client being risk averse
- Looking for a set price
- Detailed scope of works
- Work was not complex in nature
• Option A – Fixed price with activity schedule
Lowest risk
more price certainty
pay a premium for risk
• Option B – Fixed price with Bill of quantities –
Weren’t defined quantities in scope
defined scope but not defined quantities
Design and build so incentivize over design
- Option C – Target Price with activity schedule – Scope wasn’t likely to change, weren’t expecting many changes.
- Option D – Target Contract with bill of quantities – quantities might be difficult to define
• Option E – Cost Reimbursable
low cost certainty - usually used when scope isn’t clear
Explain how you have advised on the appropriateness and implications of proposed contractual mechanisms?
Whilst on Beckton depot enabling works package 2 I advised the use of the additional clauses
• X4 - Parent company guarantee
• X7 - Delay damages
• X16 - Retention
i also considered inflation but project not long enough
I was aware that the contractor was a subsidiary of a larger company so I advised that a parent company guarantee would offer insurance against insolvency of the contractor we were in contract with.
What is a Parent Company Guarantee?
An arrangement where the contractual performance of one company in a corporate group is underwritten by the other members of that corporate group.
What are the contractual benefits of a Framework over other procurement options?
- Pre agreed rates for suppliers
- Terms and conditions already set
- Supplier relationship already exists
- Simpler to run a call off contract to make individual contract amendments for the specified works.
Explain how you have managed a compensation event in a project you worked on?
Beckton depot enabling works:
Early Warning Notification – protected species
Risk reduction meeting – discuss mitigation
NCE raised – assessed for entitlement – Within 8 weeks
Detailed as employers’ risk in contract data 2
Gained necessary internal approvals
Accepted NCE – Employer reply’s in 1 week
No reply Contractor notifies after 1 week
If no decision is made 2 weeks after reminder then treated as accepted
Awaited quotation - 3 weeks to submit a quotation
Assessed Quotation - 2 weeks to reply to quotation
If no reply contractor notifies, if PM does not reply then after 2 weeks after reminder quote accepted
How do you assess Cost when assessing a CE?
Managing assessments under NEC3 contracts
On Beckton depot I managed an option A contract:
Cost is assessed as
• Defined Cost of work already done to date
• Forecasted Defined Cost of work not yet done
Second is forecasting the defined cost of work not yet done.
• Adjustment of Fee applied to defined cost
Quotation built up from the principles stated in the SCC or
Defined costs - costs incurred using the costs based on rates and percentages
stated in the Contract Data
Option C discounts disallowed costs as pre agreed
What is the timeframe for payments under NEC3?
Contractor to submit application not less than 7 days before due date
Certificate issued 5 days after due date
Final Payment issued within 14 days after due date
Pay less notice 7 days before final date for payment
Payment cycle = 21 days (7 days for before due date (assessment date) + 14 days from due date to final date for payment)
How did you implement the 5% retention within the contract?
- I advised the client to use retention, to provide some security that the contractor will return to correct any defects during the defects correction period. If they do not return then the retention can be held.
- I advised that each payment period 5% would be withheld as retention and recorded.
- Under the NEC3 contract there is not a suggested retention figure under option clause X16. Half on completion (within 4 weeks of completion certificate) and the remaining amount when the defects period has ended. The figure needs to be specified in contract data part 1.
What is retention?
It is a percentage of each interim certificate deducted and retained by the employer from each interim payment to the contractor
On Beckton Depot how did you implement the change procedure to descope the temporary access road to the accommodation?
- Clause 14.3 allows the project manager to instruct a change to the works information,
- Contractor to put such instruction into effect immediately.
- Compensation events are assessed assuming that the contractor acts promptly and competently.
• The quotation will be then valued on the defined cost up to the point they were informed of the PM instruction. Including any forecasted costs they are likely to still incur regardless of the instruction.
How did you advise and calculate delay damages on Beckton Depot Enabling works? How did you calculate them?
- I advised the client that if option X7 clause is selected, and the contractor does not achieve the completion date then delay damages will be due from the contractor.
- They are not a penalty and are based on a genuine calculation of damages. Calculation of the cost of the actual costs to the employer of delay.
- Costs calculated on project team costs, wages, facilities - £2500 a day
- Key dates and completion date reflected in contract data part 1
Explain the NEC Contract Risk Register.
- The risk register is maintained throughout the contract period.
- The Employer and Contractor contribute the first entries in the risk register, only risks identified in separately via Contract Data parts 2 are employers risk.
- The Project Manager then adds any further risks newly identified and notified through the Early Warning process to the risk register as the projects proceeds.
- The Project Manager may revise the risk register to record the decisions made at ‘risk reduction meetings’ and issue the revised risk register to the Contractor.
Why was the Housing Grants Construction and Regeneration Act introduced?
- Fairer payment conditions
- Improve the cashflow of the industry
- Introduce quicker, easier and more efficient method of dispute resolution
Differences between NEC3 and NEC4?
- Risk Register’ re-named the ‘Early Warning Register’
- Treated acceptance of the contractor’s programme in situations where the project manager does not respond to submission or notification
- Employer becomes ‘Client’, and ‘Works Information’ becomes ‘Scope’. Partnering becomes collaboration.
- An additional procedure includes the identification of opportunities by either party
Differences between NEC and JCT
- 6 main options and secondary options (mix and match approach to distribute risks) JCT uses separate contracts e.g. JCT SBC D&B, SBW W/Q, X/Q etc…
- No QS mentioned in NEC only Project Manager
- Tries a more collaborative approach to working “Mutual trust and understanding”
- Variation (JCT)= Compensation Event (CE) (NEC)
What is the structure of the NEC3 ECC?
• Core Clauses: • 1 - General • 2 - The Contractors main responsibilities • 3 - Time • 4 - Testing and defects • 5 - Payment • 6 - Compensation Events • 7 - Title • 8 - Risks and insurance • 9 - Termination • Main Option Clauses: • Dispute Resolution Clauses: • Option W1 - If UK HGCRA applies then not used • Option W2 - If UK HGCRA applies then used • Secondary Option Clauses: X1 - X20 Y(UK)1 - project Bank Account • Y (UK) 2 - HGCRA 1996 • Y (UK) 3 - The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 • Z - Additional Conditions of Contract • Schedule of Cost Components • Contract Data
What are the ECC Secondary Option Clauses (X Clauses)?
- X1 - Price Adjustment for inflation (used if longer than 2 years)
- X2 - Changes in the law (what constitutes change?)
- X3 - Multiple currencies
- X4 - Parent company guarantee (used with a JV)
- X5 - Sectional completion (different from key dates)
- X6 - Bonus for early completion
- X7 - Delay damages
- X12 - Partnering
- X13 - Performance bond
- X14 - Advanced payment to contractor
- X15 - Limitation of contractors liability for his design to reasonable skill/care
- X16 - Retention
- X17 - Low performance damages
- X18 - Limitation of liability
- X20 - KPI’s
What are the RIBA Stages?
0 - Strategic Definition 1 - Preparation & Brief 2 - Concept Design 3 - Spatial Co-ordination 4 - Technical Design 5 - Manufacturing + Construction 6 - Handover 7 - Use
What is NRM 1?
- Rules for Order of Cost estimating + Cost planning for Capital Building Works
- Best Practice Guidance Note
How is the NRM1 set out?
NRM1 comprises four parts:
• Part 1 sets out the Context and definitions.
• Part 2 explains how to prepare an Order of cost estimate.
• Part 3 explains how to prepare an Elemental cost plan.
• Part 4 provides tabulated rules of measurement for the preparation of cost plans.
Give me an example of where you have given advice about the predicted costs of a construction project?
Silvertown - Staff resourcing. I worked with the programme manager to establish the ongoing project requirements and how these will change going forward.
Using previous project information:
• I identified the key positions
• Then I calculated the number of hours per role
• Factored in project details specification, inflation,
• I inserted this into a spreadsheet that fed into the overall programme cost plan
On Beckton Depot how did you carry out the value engineering exercise? how did you conclude the site accommodation should be moved from one project to the other?
- Explored the cost of purchasing through main contractor or directly from supplier
- Implement accommodation sooner, meant starting construction sooner
- Did not have to pay contractors fees for purchasing and 2 month reduction in programme time
- Over the 3 years life of the works saved estimated £50k in fees.
- Due to covid-19 and cash flow it wasn’t implemented
How did the VE process occur?
- We had a meeting as a project team to discuss
Ideas were suggested to improve time or costs saving without effecting quality - Went away and researched if time could be saved and if it was worthwhile
- Follow up meeting to propose findings.
- Presented findings to PM
- Agreed changes
What is the purpose of a cost plan?
It is used by the cost consultant to control the development of the design - It identifies the client’s agreed cost limit and how the money is to be allocated to the different parts of the building.
On cycle Quietway project how did you produce the cost plan?
Produced cost plan at RIBA stage 2 - Concept design
Elemental cost plan for Cycle highway on surface transport Developed cost information from order of cost estimate Updated cost information • Specification • Location • inflation • utilities Cost plan split down into elements within direct and indirect costs measured in m2 or % Direct costs - Main works • Site clearance • Earthworks • Drainage • Pavements Indirect costs – Project costs • Design • Staff costs • Traffic management Total is the base cost estimate Apply risks and inflation to the base cost figure Assumptions and Exclusions
Difference between a budget and a cost plan
A budget is how much money you have to spend.
A cost plan details how much it will cost to achieve the desired result
The cost plan will help stay within the budget
What Exclusions I have made on the cost estimate?
- Abnormal ground conditions
- Compensation to property owners
- No use of retaining walls
What assumptions were made?
- Uplift figure for night working applied
- Carriageway build up in line with existing materials
- No removed old kerbs are reused
What is an order of cost estimate report?
- Project Title
- Project Description
- Cost summary
- Risks
- Inflation
- Assumptions
- Exclusions
Give me an example where you have given advice about the development options /sensitivity analysis/risk analysis/VE options in relation to a development design.
Quietway cycle scheme in south east London
Advised the client that consideration should be given to the trees located on a cycle route and the design of the cycle way as the removal of trees incurred £15k fee per tree
What is typically included in an order of cost estimate?
Direct costs • Facilitating Works • Building Works • Main Contractor Overhead Indirect Costs • Profit Project/Design Team Fees • Risk Allowance • Inflation
On Beckton depot what further cost analysis did you do to substantiate the Project Managers quote?
Factor the below into historic projects to make up to date with current project
- Use internal cost indices to update
- Specification
- Location
- inflation
- utilities
- Speak to suppliers bespoke items
What can you do to adjust costs for time and location?
Indices can be used which set a base for project data. Indices that can be used are cost and time.
What do you understand by the term VE?
- Value Engineering - An organised approach aimed at providing the necessary functions at the lowest cost, without detrimental effect to Quality, reliability, performance or delivery
What are the 3 NRM books?
- NRM 1 Order of cost estimating and cost planning
- NRM 2 Detailed measurement for building works
- NRM 3 Building Maintenance Works
What is the purpose of an elemental Cost plan?
An elemental cost plan is a detailed cost plan which is broken down into a series of elements. Initially, the elemental cost plan will simply be the total construction cost for the project divided into elements on a percentage basis.
What is GEA?
Gross External Area - This is the area of the building measured externally at each floor level
What is GIA?
- Gross Internal Area - This is the area of the building measured to the internal face of the perimeter wall at each floor level
What are the different procurement routes?
- Traditional – design and build procured separately
- Design and build – Supplier designs and builds the project
- Construction Management – Act as Main contractor
Level 3 - On Elephant and Castle ID Survey what were the stages of the procurement process?
- I wrote a procurement strategy
- Created and issued tender documentation to suppliers
- Evaluated tender returns
- Awarded a contract to the winning bidder.
What is a procurement strategy? What are the main elements of a procurement strategy?
Detailed roadmap of how you will deliver the goods or services
- Background
- Tender strategy
- Supplier selection
- Type of contract
- Estimate
- Approvals
- Timeframe
Level 3 - On Elephant and Castle ID Survey what were the stages of the tender process? What timeframes did you recommend for each stage?
- Shortlisted suppliers were issued an expression of interest – 1 week
- Prepared and issued ITT docs – 4 weeks
- Managed Tender clarifications – 2 weeks (included in above)
- Evaluated Tender returns – 2 weeks
- Managed consensus meeting – 1 week
- Awarded contract – 1 week
3 months total
What is early market engagement?
At the early stages of the project engagement with suppliers in an open or private forum to gauge their input on the project ideas and if it is something they might be interested in bidding for.
What documents did you include in the ITT?
- Form of agreement/tender
- Letter of information
- Site information
- Technical specification
- Works information
- Contract data part 1 and 2
- Contract conditions
- Drawings
- Pricing document
- Evaluation criteria
Level 3 - When writing the procurement strategy for Beckton Depot enabling works why did you advise design and build would be best?
- I advised the client that as they needed to make an early start on site that there was opportunity to overlap design and construction.
- The client was risk averse so this option meant the design and build risk all sits with the contractor.
- The design was not overly complex and the employer had a list of requirements that would give the desired outcome regardless of methodology.
- Client wanted price certainty
What are the advantages and disadvantage of design and build?
Advantages: Single point responsibility, more efficient and quicker, better buildability.
Disadvantages: Client has lets control on design, less emphasis on quality, harder to compare tenders with differing designs
What are the advantages/disadvantages of single stage tender on D and B contracts?
Advantage - Most competitive price
Disadvantage - Contractor not fully understanding may lead to a ‘higher risk allowance’ - Programme implication to include tender period
What are the advantages/disadvantages of 2 stage tender on D and B contracts?
- Advantages - Contractor involvement may reduce outstanding design/ construction risk - Ability to overlap tendering and design
- Disadvantages - Lack of price certainty until the end of the second stage. Potential for a Contractor not to retain a focused commitment through the second stage of the tendering process
Level 3 - What are the main elements of the contract award paper on Beckton Depot and what did you advise? (Similar to tender report)
• Summary of works • Contract choice • Any issues/risks • Tender process and results • My recommendation • Approvals I recommended the contract be awarded to the Most Economically advantageous Tender.
What is MEAT?
Most Economically Advantageous Tender.
A contractor selection process which does not just use price as a means of winning the contract. Price and quality determine the recommended contractor.
What price quality ratio did you chose for Beckton depot tender?
- Price 60%
- Quality 40%
• I advised that although quality was important the lower complexity of the works meant a higher weighting should be given to the price.
Level 3 – Why did you advise on procuring through a pre-qualified list of suppliers and how did you do it?
The project manager had a focus on minimizing time and risk.
I advised that selective tendering is faster than open tendering as pre-qualified suppliers can be used to shortlist potential tenderers.
Searched for an internal framework. This included their level of experience, capacity for the size of the works and financial standing. This then narrows the search to suppliers who are capable and able to do the work.
How did you evaluate the commercial proposals on Beckton depot?
- Record on tender opening
- Check for errors and conflicts
- Raise tender queries
- Normalisation
- Recommendation
- Notify tenderers of result
What publications does RICS publish on Procurement and tendering?
- Developing a procurements strategy
- Tendering strategies
- E - Tendering
What is a 2 stage tender?
- Employer’s requirements are not sufficiently developed for the contractor to price.
- The initial tender stage might include rates, profit percentage and contract conditions
- the Second stage will be when the design is more developed and be for the construction
