Chartered Quantity Surveying

Project Management

CDM Co-ordinator Services

Chartered quantity surveyors are experts, professionally trained and experienced in civil engineering and building construction costing, management, communications, contractual and legal matters concerning the construction industry.

The principal services offered by chartered quantity surveyors are:-

• Preliminary cost advice and feasibility estimates
• Cost planning
• Advising on contractual methods
• Advising on selection of other consultants
• Advising on contractor selection
• Preparing tender documents including Bills of Quantities and Specifications
• Obtaining or negotiating tenders
• Reporting on tenders received or package deal/design and build offers
• Valuing construction work
• Preparing and agreeing accounts for or with contractors
• Preparing expenditure statements for tax and accounting purposes
• Periodic financial reporting
• Technical auditing
• Assessing replacement value for insurance
• Project management
• Giving expert evidence in arbitration’s and legal disputes
• Preparing / defending against construction contract claims
  

Preliminary Cost Advice and Feasibility Estimates

From conception we are able to give practical advice on the likely cost of your project, however complicated or unusual. We will recommend the most economical layout, materials and method of construction and assess how long it will take to construct whilst also if necessary giving you costs of options to suit your own particular requirements and layout,

Cost Planning

From our experience and knowledge construction costs of other projects and current market conditions we are able to compile a cost plan which may consist of a series of sections of works or the elements of a building. Each section or element is separately costed and may form the basis of decisions on options.

Advising on Contractual Methods

There are numerous contractual methods and forms of contract in common use in the construction industry today and chartered quantity surveyors are best able to advise on the advantages and disadvantages of each form in relation to any particular project.

Advising on Selection of Other Consultants

Being in constant contact with numerous firms of architects, structural engineers, mechanical engineering and electrical consultants, interior designers, planning consultants etc., we are able to give objective advice on whether a consultant in a particular field is required or necessary and if so those who are best suited to a particular project.

Advising on Contractor Selection

As with advising on the selection of other consultants we are in everyday contact with numerous sizes and types of contractors and subcontractors each with varying scopes and expertise.

Preparing Tender Documents

Tender documents may be in the form of Bills of Quantities which are prepared in accordance with the standard methods of measurement where each quantified item can be priced to include all labour, materials, plant, overheads costs and profit or in the form of Specifications with schedules of work. Each include materials and workmanship preambles, preliminaries details and the client’s standard and particular contractual requirements.

Obtaining or Negotiating Tenders

Chartered Quantity Surveyors are also able to obtain tenders for building and/or civil engineering projects precisely in accordance with the client’s requirements and obtained from a number of selected contractors on a comparable basis.

Alternatively we are able to negotiate tenders with contractors using our experience and knowledge of current rates and prices.

Reporting, on Tenders Received or Package Deal / Design and Build Offers

On receipt of tenders we check the priced build ups arithmetically and technically and report on any unusual pricing or omissions.

Package deal or design and build offers are sometimes sought by clients and we can report on these whilst also checking the client is being offered everything he requires and he is aware of "loopholes" which may arise and lead to future increases in costs or an exceeding of the project budget. Package deals and design and build offers are also not necessarily on a comparable basis and we can advise on the relevant construction economics.

Valuing Construction Work

During the course of a contract we are able to value any variation
which may arise using our experience and knowledge of current rates and prices.

Preparing and Agreeing Accounts for or With Contractors

Throughout and following completion of a contract we are able to measure, value and agree interim valuations, variations and/or final accounts for or with employers, contractors and subcontractors.

Preparing Expenditure Statements for Tax Accounting Purposes

In advance or following each interim valuation of final account we are able to apportion expenditure into tax or accounting categories of our client’s choice.

Periodic Financial Reporting

Throughout a contract we report periodically on the estimated final cost overall in a form which shows the client where monies have been saved and where additional monies have or will require to be spent. The costs of individual items can also be presented prior to decisions being required or options costed and reported thereon.

Technical Auditing

Chartered quantity surveyors are able to technically audit accounts submitted by contractors and/or subcontractors.

Assessing Replacement Value for Insurance

Chartered quantity surveyors can more accurately assess the replacement value of construction works and buildings for insurance purposes. It is simple for a client to under insure with disastrous results in the event of a claim or over insure and pay far too much in premiums.

Project Management

Financial management is obviously crucial but the complexity of modern construction is such that the client can be overwhelmed by the number of consultants and other specialists involved and reporting to him, often in unfamiliar terms. The appointment of a project manager can greatly ease the burden by providing a single link with the construction team. Chartered quantity surveyors are particularly well qualified by training, experience and above all by their overall knowledge of the whole construction industry to act as project managers.

Giving Expert Evidence in Arbitrations, Adjudications and Legal Disputes

When legal disputes arise and / or an Arbitration or Adjudication is necessary we are able to provide expert evidence which is usually preceded by a detailed written report which often gives greater strength to a case or brings about a realisation of the weakness of a case which could be expensive to pursue.

Preparing/Defending Against Construction Contract Claims

Chartered quantity surveyors are experienced in preparing construction contract claims and also in defending against them using their knowledge of the various forms of contract conditions and their expertise in quantifying logically.

Acting as Partnering Adviser

Chartered quantity surveyors are ideally suited to act in the key role of Partnering Advisers in the developing partnering approach to projects as recognised by both “Rethinking Construction” and the “Construction Industry Council”.

The role of the Partnering Adviser is specifically referred to in PPC2000 (the ACA Standard Form of Contract for Project Partnering).

The range of the Partnering Adviser’s advice and support, as set out in PPC2000 includes:-

• selection of Partnering Team members, team-building and review of Specialist Contracts for consistency with the Partnering Documents;
• preparation of the Project Partnering Agreement and preparation of any Partnering Charter;
• preparation of any Joining Agreements, Pre-Possession Agreement and Commencement Agreement;
• provision of fair and constructive advice as to the partnering process, the development of the partnering relationships and the operation of the Partnering Contract;
• attendance at such meetings of the Core Group and the Partnering Team as their members consider appropriate;
• assistance in the solving of problems and the avoidance or resolution of disputes.

In accordance with the recommendations of the Construction Industry Council the Partnering Adviser should be independent from and acceptable to all Partnering Team members. In practice, the Partnering Adviser may be recommended by one or more Partnering team members on the basis of his or her reputation and previous work. As in the selection of the Partnering Team members themselves, prior knowledge of the Partnering Adviser is a preferable basis to establish the personal trust and confidence necessary for proper fulfilment of his or her functions. In any event , the Partnering Team members should make a selection that is acceptable to all of them.