Construction Contract Administration

Contract Administration (CA) is a very challenging job for most project managers. To do it well, you need to have four key ingredients. To start with, a good contract document, good construction team, good process and great communication skills (for example making decisions and review site work).

CA is a necessary and integral part of the overall project management, simply because it ensures the facilities are built as documented and minimizes the risk for claims.

This workshop covers the last two ingredients, the process and the communication skills.

Workshop Description

The workshop takes the Project Managers through a journey from the award of construction contract to the warranty inspection and follow-up activities. The workshop begins with short explanation of the key general conditions of the construction contract.

The workshop will equip the participants with the understanding and the appreciation of contract documents that allows them to make timely decisions and take calculated risks.

The workshop is full of real life examples of contract administration issues and challenges.

Who Should Attend:

Project Managers, project officers, clients, contractors, subcontractor, suppliers, supervisors and consultants. The workshop will also benefit anyone who is involved in the administration of construction contracts or anticipates being involved in administering them.

Learning Objectives

This workshop will provide the participants with the knowledge and the skills required to properly manage construction contracts. Upon completion participants will be able to:

• Explain the key General Conditions of the construction contract and how to interpret them.
• Describe and clasify the key issues in Contract Administration.
• Conduct a well organized start-up meeting.
• Use the contract administration tools properly.
• Choosing the right corrective and preventive actions to save time and effort
• Enforce contract provisions fairly and firmly.
• Exaplain how take a pro-active approach to prevent contract claims

Detailed Workshop Topics

Day One

A&B: Administrative Issue In Construction Contracts

• Owner’s roles and responsibilities
• Contractor’s roles and responsibilities
• Ten rules for contract interpretation
• Contract administration philosophy
• Key General Conditions of the construction contract
• Learning activities, case studies and exercises

C: Post Construction Contract Award Activities

• Introduction to Contract Administration
• Contract Award
• Start-up Meeting
• Alternatives and substitution
• Project submittals
• Shop Drawings Submission and Review
• Construction insurance and bond
• Learning activities, case studies and exercises

D:  Work Execution And Site Activities,

• Project monitoring and control issues
• Schedule
• Cost
• Quality
• Safety and Security
• Communication on site
• Learning activities, case studies and exercises

Day Two

Construction Administration Issues

 A. Progress, Substantial Completion

• Progress Inspection and Payment
• Substantial Certificate
• Warranty Certificate
• Case Studies, Exercises

B. Record Keeping And File Management

• What records to keep
• Importance of keeping records
• Special records
• Diaries
• Emails
• Photos

C. Change Order Management

• Approaches to change orders
• Estimating for Change Orders
• Causes of change orders
• Effects of change orders on productivity
• Real costs of change orders for owner and contractors
• Impacts of changes on the project schedule.
• Direct and indirect costs of change orders
• Cumulative impacts of change orders
• Case Studies, Exercises

D. Contract Close Out

• Final certificate
• commissioning
• warranty certificate