Quantification & Costing Flashcards
What do the guidance notes cover?
‘Valuing change’ - summarises what is meant by change (variation/compensation event) and how it is valued under the the different forms of contract.
‘Interim valuations and payment’ - This provides guidance to QS’s carrying out valuations.
‘Life Cycle Costing’ summarises what is meant by LCC and and whole life costing (WLC) service for both new construction works and for the refurbishment of existing assets.
What is ICMS? Why was it introduced?
ICMS stands for International Construction Measurement Standards. It is a global standard for measuring and reporting construction project costs. The aim of ICMS is to provide consistency and transparency in the way construction costs are reported, making it easier to compare costs across different projects and regions.
Main reason it was introduced was to standardise data, allowing comparison across regions for stakeholders.
What is the IPMS?
IPMS stands for International Property Measurement Standards. It is a set of global standards developed to ensure consistency and transparency in the way property assets are measured and reported.
What are NRM1 and NRM2? NRM3?
- NRM1 provides a framework for preparing order of cost estimates and cost plans for capital building works.
- NRM2 provides detailed measurement rules for building works, essential for preparing bills of quantities (BoQ).
- NRM3, part of the RICS New Rules of Measurement (NRM) suite, provides guidance on cost estimating and cost planning for building maintenance works.
What is CESMM? How does it differ from NRM?
CESMM stands for Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement. It is a set of guidelines developed by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) for the preparation of bills of quantities in civil engineering work.
In summary, while both CESMM and NRM provide standardized methods for measurement and cost estimation, CESMM is tailored for civil engineering projects with a broader, more inclusive approach, whereas NRM is designed for building projects with a focus on detailed measurement and cost planning.
What other software have used to measure?
CostX
CadMeasure
What’s included in NRM2 and when you would you use it?
Contents of NRM2:
General Guidance:
Introduction to measurement in context with the RIBA Plan of Work and OGC Gateway Process.
Purpose and benefits of bills of quantities.
Types and preparation of bills of quantities.
Measurement rules for building works.
Detailed Measurement Rules:
Preliminaries.
Measurement rules for various building works, including:
Demolitions
Alterations, repairs, and conservation
Excavating and filling
Concrete works (in-situ and precast)
Masonry
Structural metalwork
Carpentry
Tabulated Rules of Measurement:
Specific rules for different work sections, such as piling, underpinning, diaphragm walls, and embedded retaining walls.
When to Use NRM2:
Preparation of Bills of Quantities: NRM2 is essential for preparing detailed and accurate bills of quantities, which are used for tendering and contracting purposes.
Cost Management: It helps in managing costs throughout the construction process by providing a standardized approach to measurement.
Project Planning: NRM2 ensures consistency and accuracy in project planning and cost estimation, facilitating better decision-making and resource allocation
What is the NEC change control process?
The NEC4 change control process is designed to manage changes in a structured and transparent manner, ensuring that all parties are aware of and agree to any modifications to the project. Here are the key steps involved:
- Early Warning:
Notification: Either party can notify the other of an event that could affect the project’s cost, time, or quality.
Early Warning Meeting: The project manager may call a meeting to discuss the potential impact and agree on actions to mitigate the risk.
- Compensation Events:
Definition: A compensation event is an event that changes the scope of work, leading to adjustments in the project’s cost or schedule.
Notification: The contractor must notify the project manager of a compensation event within eight weeks of becoming aware of it.
Assessment: The project manager assesses the impact of the compensation event on the project’s cost and schedule.
- Quotations:
Submission: The contractor submits a quotation for the compensation event, detailing the cost and time implications.
Review: The project manager reviews the quotation and may request revisions or additional information.
Agreement: Once agreed, the project manager issues an instruction to implement the change.
- Implementation:
Accepted Programme: The contractor updates the project programme to reflect the agreed changes.
Monitoring: The project manager monitors the implementation of the change to ensure it aligns with the agreed terms.
What is defined cost according to Option A? What does it include? How does it differ across the options?
Defined Cost in Options A & B is the cost of the components in the Short Schedule of Cost Components, and is used to assess compensation events.
It includes:
People
Equipment
Plant and Materials
Subcontractors
Charges
Manufacture and fabrication
Design
Insurance
It differs to the other options as they use the schedule of cost components, which includes for more things and is issued to assess the works done to date rather than just the CE’s.
How does the SSCC and the SCC differ?
- Purpose and Usage:
SSCC: Used primarily under Main Options A and B (lump sum contracts) to assess compensation events. It provides a simplified approach to cost assessment, focusing on key cost components.
SCC: Used under Main Options C, D, E, and F (target cost or cost reimbursable contracts) for both assessing compensation events and calculating the Price for Work Done to Date. It offers a more detailed and comprehensive breakdown of costs.
- Level of Detail:
SSCC: Contains fewer cost components and is less detailed, making it quicker and easier to use for assessing compensation events.
SCC: Includes a more extensive list of cost components and provides detailed descriptions of what can be included under each heading. This detail is necessary for the ongoing assessment of costs throughout the project.
- Components:
Both schedules include similar headings, such as People, Equipment, Plant and Materials, Subcontractors, Charges, Manufacture and Fabrication, Design, and Insurance. However, the SCC provides more detailed guidance on each component.
Why did you utilise a rate card? How was it prepared?
A rate card was used for the assessment of compensation events for efficiency. All subcontractors on the job submitted rates for plants, subcontractors, equipment etc that would be fixed for 52 weeks, allowing for faster agreement of CE’s.
This acted as the base place to start when assessing CE’s.
What is contract data part 2?
COntract data part is essential information included within the contract by the contractor.
Some of the things it includes are:
Key Personnel
Fee percentage
Rates and Prices
Insurances
What was the contract sum agreed on LRA? How did you establish it and ensure VfM?
The figure put forward was C.£19m and this had been established through a fair and equitable tender process in which I had been able to see every trade package tendered via the LCF portal. I had scrutinised bills and looked through normalisation reports, and it was also in line with the benchmark sqft figure for a SEN school of this size.
What method of measurement was used by the contractor on your case study?
NRM2.
What is a VfM Report? What did you include in your LRA VfM report?
How did you review the trade package pricing documents and how would you compare them with your cost plan?
I would combine or extract the different elements from my cost plan so that it aligned with the trade package pricing, i.e. extracting the specific hygienic wall tiling from the NRM wall finishes element, so i could compare them on a like for like basis.
What is the IPMS? What category of document is it in the RICS?
The International Property Measurement Standards (IPMS) are incorporated into the RICS Property Measurement professional statement. This statement provides guidance on the application of IPMS for various types of buildings, including office, residential, industrial, and retail.
The aim is to ensure consistency and transparency in property measurement across the globe, enhancing public trust and investor confidence.
How would you quantify and cost a pile cap / strip foundation?
I would determine the dimensions of the pile cap, then build up the rate by calculating the value of its components:
- concrete
- reinforcement steel
- formwork
- labour for concrete pouring and formwork
- excavation costs including labour/plant etc.
I would repeat for a strip foundation, but the components:
- Concrete
- Reinforcement Steel
- Labour
- Excavation costs incl. plant.
- Site prep costs.
How would you quantify and cost a brick wall?
I would determine the dimensions of the brick wall, using the centreline.
The cost the components:
Brickwork
Blockwork
Wall ties
Insulation
Mortar
Equipment if any
Labour (bricklaying)
Weepholes
