Quantification and Costing

Question 1

KN – what is the agenda for a regular change control meeting with the Contractors QS?

Answer 1

i. Contractor to submit a copy of the latest change log + substantiation

ii. I would then review the information provided + make an assessment prior to the meeting

iii. I would then meet with the contractors QS to discusses each variation + substantiation with the aim of agreeing items

Question 2

KN – unagreed variations totalling £50k, tell me the process you went through to deal with these items?

Answer 2

i. Requested the contractor provided all relevant substantiation
ii. I then reviewed these and identified a number of CSA rates has not been applied
iii. Responded with my assessments
iv. Discussed my position with the client
v. Agreed a figure with my client to propose as the Final Account to contractor

Question 3

Why was the external terrace works a CDP item on KN (terrace)

Answer 3

Works had not been fully designed at this stage, so put the design risk onto the contractor

Question 4

What are the benefits of CDP for a client?

Answer 4

i. One contractor retains overall control and accountability
ii. Reduces expenditure on professional fees

Question 5

Final Account Procedures Guidance Note – Tell me one thing you learnt from reading this document?

Answer 5

i. Ensure all contract instructions have been accounted for (i.e. expenditure of all provisional sums)

Question 6

KN – Tender Analysis – How did you deal with errors within tender submissions

Answer 6

I identified them during the tender analysis and produced a post-tender Q&A document for each tenderer. I then gave them the opportunity to stand by their rate or correct the rate.

Question 7

What is the international property measurement standards?

Answer 7

The International Property Measurement Standards Coalition (IPMSC) is a group of 90 professional and not-for-profit organisations from around the world, working together to develop and implement international standards for measuring property

aims to bring about the harmonisation of national property measurement standards through the creation and adoption of agreed international standards for the measurement of buildings

Question 8

Name the 4 IPMS

Answer 8

IPMS: Office Buildings
IPMS: Residential Buildings
IPMS: Industrial Buildings
IPMS: Retail Buildings

Question 9

What are Employer Variations?

Answer 9

the alteration or modification of the design, quality, or quantity of the Works

Question 10

Can a contractor refuse a variation?

Answer 10

Variations may not (without the contractor’s consent):
- Change the fundamental nature of the works.
- Omit work so that it can be carried out by another contractor.
- Be instructed after practical completion.
- Require the contractor to carry out work that was the subject of a prime cost sum.

Question 11

Tell me about payment on accounts?

Answer 11

The term ‘on account payment’ means ‘a payment for an item of work or materials or goods for which no instruction has been issued by the contact administrator to date, but is anticipated’

Normally, on account payments are not are permitted where no instruction for the works exists.

The standard contract conditions are very clear on this matter. They state that the contract sum can only be changed by formal variation or change instruction from the contract administrator. However, the JCT Standard Forms
of Contracts permit the contractor to confirm oral
instructions from the contract administrator in writing. If the contract administrator does not respond to the contractor’s notice, the contractor’s written confirmation is treated as
an instruction as though it had been issued by the contract administrator