760
Special Procedures: Construction Management
762
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
762.1
One of the present major sources of production delay, not to mention
difficulty of cost and quality control, is the fragmentation of project
management brought about by the traditional shifting of the major burden
of responsibility, first from the VA to the A/E and then to the general
construction contractor. If phased bidding, with consequent elimination of
the single prime contractor, were to be introduced directly into this context,
it could do more harm than good.
762.2
First, the construction management role of the prime contractor must be
preserved even though the person or group assuming this role does not
contract with the VA on the basis of a lump sum bid for the delivery of a
completed building. He may be by profession a general construction
contractor, and he would have a contractual arrangement with the VA for
provision of management services on a fee basis, but he need not
personally provide any portion of the actual construction work. He is
simply a "construction manager."
762.3
Second, the relation of the construction manager to the series of
contractors introduced by phased bidding must be recognized as different
in certain key respects from the traditional relation of a prime contractor
with his sub-contractors. The construction manager would recommend to
the VA the specific way in which work is to be subdivided into bid
packages, and he would manage the phased bidding procedures in
accordance with his knowledge of local conditions. All contracts are
directly with the VA, but the construction manger would act as the VA's
agent in ensuring that each contract is properly executed, e.g., he may
control progress payments.
762.4
Finally, the role of the construction manager must be expanded to include
consulting services to the Office of Construction and the A/E Contractor.
In fact, the O/C, the A/E and the construction manager should constitute a
management and production team following the entire project through
without any major shifts in burden of responsibility along the way. It is
conceivable that A/E's and construction managers may offer joint services
so the O/C may deal directly with an "A/E/M Contractor."
762.5
These procedures are possible because it is not necessary to wait for
completion of conventional working drawings and specifications to bring
the capabilities of a local general contractor to bear on the development of
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