Management contractor

[edit] What is a management contractor?

Management contracting is a procurement route in which the construction works described in a contract are constructed by a number of different works contractors who are contracted to a management contractor appointed by the client (or employer).

[edit] What are the advantages of a management contractor?

The management contractor is generally appointed by the client early in the design process so that their experience can be used to improve the cost and buildability of proposals as they develop, as well as to advise on packaging (and the risks of interfaces).

Appointing a management contractor early also enables some works contracts to be tendered before others, and sometimes, even before the design is completed. For example, piling might commence whilst the detailed design of above ground works continues. This can shorten the time taken to complete the project, but does mean that there will be price uncertainty until the design is complete and all contracts have been let.

For more information see: Management contracting - pros and cons.

[edit] What is the difference between management contracting and construction management?

Management contracting differs from construction management in that management contractors contract works contractors direct, whereas construction managers only manage trade contracts, the contracts themselves are placed by the client.

In legal terms, the management contractor is acting as a principal whereas the construction manager is acting as an agent. This means that on a management contract, the client only has one contract to administer, whereas with construction management there can be many contracts for the client to administer, but they might want warranties from the works contractors so that they can make a direct claim against them, for example, if the management contractor becomes insolvent.

[edit] How is a management contractor appointed?

The agreement between client and management contractor is likely to cover both pre-construction and construction activities, with a notice to proceed between the two, before which works contracts cannot be let. In addition, the client is likely to define the works contract terms and any requirement for works contract warranties.

There is a body of opinion that believes that if a management contractor operating on a cost plus fee arrangement pursues a works contractor in court for non-performance, the management contractor is unable to prove loss and damages. This is because the loss is simply passed on to the client, and so it is the client that has incurred the damage. This has increased the tendency for clients to require direct warranties from each works contractor.

A management contractor might be reimbursed on the basis of fixed or variable costs (the works contract costs), plus either a percentage fee, a fixed fee, or on a target-cost basis. The terms of the appointment must be clear about what is to be provided by the management contractor (such as the provision of site facilities) and whether activities constitute pre-construction or construction services.

[edit] What services does a management contractor provide?

The services of a management contractor might include:

• Advising on the development of the brief (if appointed at this stage).
• Advising on appointments (such as site inspectors).
• Advising on the feasibility, interfaces, buildability, cost and programming of the design.
• Advising on statutory approvals.
• Defining key performance indicators for works contractors.
• Advising on the need for mock ups, samples, tests and inspections.
• Acting as the principal contractor.
• Cost planning and cost control.
• Preparing a construction programme and defining methods of working on site.
• Advising on the packaging of production information.
• Tendering works contracts.
• Consenting to sub-contracting of work by works contractors.
• Arranging for site accommodation, welfare facilities, fences, hoardings, roads and walkways, drainage, power and water supply.
• Co-ordinating setting out.
• Arranging labour for certain site activities (such as cleaning).
• Managing site inspectors.
• Co-ordinating the release of information.
• Managing and co-ordinating works contracts, including acting as contract administrator, carrying out inspections, issuing instructions and certificates etc.
• Co-ordinating the work of statutory undertakers.
• Witnessing tests and co-ordinating commissioning.
• Collating as-built information, building owner's manual, building users handbook, project handbook, health and safety file, pre-construction information, site waste management plan and construction phase plan.
• Monitoring key performance indicators.
• Managing the site.
• Chairing site progress meetings and preparing progress reports for the client.

[edit] Should a cost consultant be appointed as well as the management contractor?

A decision needs to be made as to whether the client wishes to retain the services of both an independent cost consultant and a management contractor or to transfer cost planning, reporting and cost control as a service to be provided by the management contractor.

A judgement has to be made on the competence and experience of the management contractor's proposed quantity surveying and cost estimating team and whether the client has a competent individual to police the financial aspects of the management contractor’s consultancy agreement. Sometimes, cost consultants who were appointed prior to the concept stage, advising on budgets and design concepts, are retained because they have the confidence of the design team and client.

[edit] How to select a management contractor

The most important aspect of selecting the management contractor is the quality and cost of the project management team they put forward. The team leader, the financial manager and the planner are crucial throughout the process as is the field production manager during the construction stage. The management contractor's staff costs during construction are likely to be between 5% and 7% of construction costs, but the quality and effectiveness of staff could easily change the financial outcome of entire project by 10%.

A mock meeting with consultants and the proposed management contractor's senior project team members can be an effective means of discovering how a team performs under pressure. This should only be done when prospective candidates have been whittled down to two or three. This technique often produces a unanimous verdict in terms of selection.

NB: For a detailed description of the sequence of tasks necessary on a management contract, see the free work plan: management contract: outline work plan.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Collateral warranties.
• Construction manager.
• Construction manager at-risk.
• Design management.
• Early contractor involvement.
• Management Building Contract.
• Management contract: outline work plan.
• Management contracting - pros and cons.
• Managing the procurement process.
• Open-book accounting.
• Procurement route.
• Tender.
• Trade contractor.
• Two-stage tender.
• Types of contractor.
• Works contractor.

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