Although we do not design or construct buildings ourselves, we think it helps explain our services to use a building project as a SIMPLE metaphor for the enabling infrastructure we provide.
A building project owner can use its own resources to assemble all the pieces or it can engage a one-stop, turn-key provider to handle everything.
Between those extremes, of course, lie myriad possible combinations of packaging and bundling options as well.
In the same way, a company can put together a contracting infrastructure from many different and disparate sources or it can engage a consultant to provide a single, integrated solution. PROVIDING THAT INTEGRATED SOLUTION FOR OWNER AND BUILDER CLIENTS IS OUR SPECIALTY.
If you only need us to provide certain contracting infrastructure elements or to improve your existing contracting elements, we’re ready to help in that way, too.
Scroll down the expandable sections below [ + symbols ] for the details of each services category
CATEGORY 'A' services document WHY things need to be done the way they will be once enabling infrastructure is deployed
These are the documents of intention
FOUNDATION
No matter how elaborate or adventurous the rest of the building is, it all must come to earth at the foundation level
In the same way, procurement policies support and set the limits of everything else in the contracting infrastructure
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Documented library of robust construction procurement policies that are:
- Coordinated with your company’s business needs
- Supporting standardization of contracting strategies
- Integrated with contract templates and training
- Readily understandable by staff, managers, consultants, contractors, and suppliers
More confidence for executives and governance managers
- Because clear, complete policies enable effective process and reliable procedure
Quicker project starts
- Because management direction-setting will be reflected in business processes
Better supplier pricing
- Because seeing policies honored will make projects more predictable for suppliers
- Because supplier trust will be improved by clear policies and coordinated contracts
- Corporate policies
- Sourcing and qualification requirements
- Standard project delivery approaches and compensation
- Central and project decision-making and approval models
- Risk transfer and mitigation solutions
- Dispute escalation and settlement structure
ENVELoPE
The building's exterior shape depends on the foundation and is both product and basis for the building's structure
The contracting strategy defines the shape and form that the other elements must support, but it cannot stand or function alone
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Documented set of comprehensive contracting strategies that are:
- Aligned with your procurement policies
- Integrated with contract templates and training
- Standardized to ensure consistent usage
- Readily understandable by staff, managers, consultants, contractors, and suppliers
More confidence for executives and governance managers
- Because standardized solutions enable monitoring and control of project variances
Quicker project starts
- Because staff and managers have clear, default solutions for typical scenarios
Better supplier pricing
- Because seeing policies honored will make projects more predictable for suppliers
- Because supplier trust will be improved by clear policies and coordinated contracts
Matrix of standardized default contracting strategies for the full spectrum of anticipated procurement and compensation scenarios
Decision-making guidelines and aids (when Choosing by Advantages isn’t used)
Quick-reference materials for management, staff, and supplier communications
Index with cross-references to policies, templates, and procedures manual
CATEGORY 'B' services define WHAT things need to be done, by whom, when, in what form and measure
These are the documents of action
STRUCTURE
The structural framework supports and limits external shape (enclosure), functional platforms and boxes (floors and walls), and building systems and services
Contract templates fulfill the same role of connecting strategy (shape) to policies (foundation) in a manner that makes the system stable and functional
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Comprehensive template and forms library that is:
- World-class in its quality
- Reflecting the best of industry state-of-the-art
- Tailored to your business needs
- Compliant with your policies
- Supporting your standard contracting strategies
- Readily understandable by staff, managers, consultants, contractors, and suppliers
Quicker negotiations
- Because suppliers can agree to terms and conditions pre-project if the forms to be used on projects are standardized
- Because having standardized contract forms discourages ad-hoc/ project changes
Reduced legal overhead
- Because front-line staff will require less legal support for closing deals and administering contracts when using the standard forms
- Because our services are a cost-effective way to stretch the legal support budget
Lower procurement and administration costs
- Because less senior front-line staff can close deals on their own when using a readily understandable standard contract forms
- Because less senior front-line staff can administer contracts on their own when using practical suite of standard contract forms
Fewer contractual claims
- Because terms and requirements will be better aligned and better adhered to
Lower training costs
- Because consistency across projects means lessons and skills are portable to others
Improved supply base
- Because using industry-oriented forms with equitable risk apportionment will be more attractive to better suppliers
Scopes of work and services
- Project feasibility and planning services
- Design and related consulting
- Large project construction
(base building and installation work) - Small project construction
- Facility equipment purchase
- Construction project support services
Contractual arrangements
- General contractor
- Design-builder or EPC
- Construction manager or EPCM
- Multiple-prime trade contracts or subcontracts
Risk/ relationship models
- Collaborative/ integrated/ risk-sharing
- Traditional/ risk-transferring
- Hybrids of both different models
Compensation methods
- Lump sum/ fixed price
- Cost-reimbursable, with or without GMP
- Unit Price or job-order
- Pass-through time & materials
- Hybrids of different methods
Sources and foundations
- Industry-based forms (ConsensusDocs, FIDIC, AIA, etc.)
- Proprietary forms
- Legacy form adaptations
Various components
- Agreement forms, appendices, schedules
- Terms and conditions and supplements
- Administrative forms
- General and procedural requirements
SYSTEMS
The building systems and services make the building habitable and useful, but must work within structure and envelope boundaries
The processes and procedures do the same — without them, the system won't be functional; kept in proper tune, they enable productive and comfortable application
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Comprehensive governance and guidance manual that is:
- Compliant and consistent with company policies
- Effective and efficient to apply and comply with
- Integrated with your standard contract templates
- Supported by your standard training
- Readily understandable by staff, managers, consultants, contractors, and suppliers
Lower project cost
- Because of standardization benefits that will be achieved in both internal and externally-facing business processes
- Because seeing efficient processes and procedures followed consistently will make projects more predictable for suppliers
- Because supplier trust will be improved by clear processes and procedures that are coordinated with contract forms
Higher governance and executive confidence
- Because managers who are not necessarily well-versed in subject matter can oversee work with confidence
- Because the processes and procedures will be made simple yet effective
Consistent results between projects
- Because standardization enables portability of personnel and lessons-learned from project to project, even in different locations
Reduced auditor assessment time
Because the clarity and lean-ness of the contracting processes documentation allow focus on compliance instead of requirements
Functions:
- Project management
- Project procurement
- Project contract administration
- Project estimating
- Project accounting
- Corporate procurement
- Corporate (central) legal
Activities:
- Supplier sourcing and prequalification
- Procurement
- Procurement estimating
- Signatures and approvals
- Contract administration
- Contractual notices and claims
- RFI’s and submissions
Category 'C' services communicate HOW things need to be done, where information resides, what each person is expected to do, where responsibility lies for critical performance elements
These are the documents of results
MOVEMENT
The movement systems (stairs, elevators, material handling) allow the flow of people and objects needed for the building to serve its purpose
The instructional training moves knowledge and understanding of the system and its elements to the people who put them into practice
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Centrally-deployed or project-based training that is:
- Best-in-class quality and level of detail for both content and delivery
- Stand-alone effective while still being compatible with leading specialist coaching
- Integrated with all of your policy, process, procedure, and contract requirements
- Modular in design – can be applied as broadly or as deeply as current and future needs require
Lower training and instruction costs
- Because no additional training services outside our consultancy will need to be contracted to have a complete package
Better comprehension
- Because our international experience, cross-cultural sensitivity, and communication skills ensure that staff in each country will hear an appropriately targeted message
Reduced legal overhead
- Expertise is sufficient to free legal from having to supplement; experience is enough to work well with them when they chose to do so
Improved turn-around on hot topic instruction
- Because of our ability to combine subject matter expertise with presentation skills
- Self-service application handbook for each strategy
- Self-service user guide for each standard template
- Presentation slideshow for each template user guide that recaps the guide and aids project team members in comprehension of the template content
- Self-service frequently-asked questions list and a compendium of essential practice notes for the process and procedures manual
- In-person training sessions
- Remote training sessions
MAINTENANCE
Building maintenance and repair – along with remodeling, protecting, cleaning, and even paying taxes – are essential for keeping the building "alive"
Content management gets the system elements in the hands of those who need them and keeps it current with laws, policies, business and environmental conditions, and lessons that have been learned from past application
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Up-to-date contracting infrastructure that is:
- Available on‑demand to global procurement team
- Properly change-controlled
- Kept well-coordinated within and across its scope
- Current with internal and external requirements
Better compliance
- Because standard contracts will promptly reflect new or updated company policies
- Because procurement staff and managers will always be aware of changes and additions
Lower overhead costs
- Because the library can be an easy-to-use, self‑service web deployment.
- Update policies and standard contracting strategies
- Update processes and procedures manual
- Update contract templates
- Update training
Disclaimer: Working closely, successfully, and cost-effectively with attorneys is our specialty, but we are not and do not provide licensed attorney services. The client will need to obtain whatever licensed attorney endorsement or oversight it determines is required with respect to our services.