QSP5PCC Assignment 2: Produce a client facing professional style report including the following cost and contract management advice for the project..
Scenario
Your client is a developer who owns a greenfield site at Gregory Place on the edge of town. They have outlined planning permission to construct a two-storey apartment block as shown in the drawings (D0494, D0496, D0497 and D0498 – available on the VLE). The four apartments will be available for private rental. Initial site investigations have identified areas of ground with poor loadbearing capacity which will require piled foundations to part of the building.
Task Produce a client facing professional style report including the following cost and contract management advice for the project. Explain the processes involved, offering a reasoned justification of their relevance to this project. Clearly state your assumptions and provide examples to support your explanation or discussion. All back-up information and calculations should be submitted as an appendix to your report.
a. A critical evaluation of typical cost advice provided at this stage in the design of the project. Provide an explanation of an appropriate method of producing an estimated cost for the development. An example of the method selected should be included in an appendix.
b. Detailed calculations establishing the life cycle costs for two alternative window specifications. Include in your report a recommendation for an appropriate window specification considering its life cycle cost and the appropriateness for the building’s use. One specification being considered is painted, double glazed, softwood windows complete with all sills, ventilators, ironmongery and fixings with an initial cost of £530/m2 , redecoration costs of £11/m2 every 3 years, annual cleaning costs of £10/m2 and replacement required at 20-year intervals. You are to assume a second window specification with different initial costs and different patterns of maintenance and replacement to demonstrate your understanding of life cycle costing. All calculations should use the 5% discount tables provided with the module and be submitted within an appendix to the report.
c. An explanation of the contractor selection and contract administration measures that can be implemented to avoid quality issues and reduce time and cost over-runs experienced by your client on previous projects based on a traditional method of procurement for this development.
d. Advice to the employer on the procedure for pricing changes to the contract, including examples of the different methods. Also propose a solution that might avoid any disagreement over costs escalating into a dispute.