Masonry Magazine September 2002 Page. 38
Contracting Vs. Management
strictly on the plans and specifications and presented on bid-forms that are most often created by the architect. Generally, anywhere from three to six but sometimes more-GC's are invited to bid. Sometimes many, many more! I've been to commercial bid lettings with as many as 28 generals! Now tell me, would you really want to be the low bid out of 28?
During the proposal development and bidding process, all proposals from sub-contractors and suppliers are received and processed by the GC. At that point, depending on their merit, the chosen proposals are incorporated into the GC's overall proposal, where they may or may not be marked-up.
The GC's bid is then delivered to the owner before a predetermined date and time, known as a bid opening or bid letting. These lettings may be open, where all bids are read aloud to the public, or closed, meaning only the owner's representatives know the results.
Most of the time, once the bids have been thoroughly evaluated by the owner's representatives, the lowest, qualified bidder is selected for the project. However, the owner almost always retains the right to choose the next higher bidder(s) if he feels he would receive better overall value for his money. That can be for reasons ranging from previous bad experiences with some of the bidders to simply feeling more comfortable with one contractor over another.
Once the project begins, the GC's line of communication with the owner generally runs through the architect who acts as the owner's agent although primarily he or she has his or her own interests at heart. The owner may or may not have an established and trusting working relationship with the contractor and often has very little to say about what sub-contractors and suppliers are chosen for the project. Therefore, the relationship the owner has with GC is often more detached than, as we'll see, it would be with a CM.
The GC oversees the project and coordinates all of the subs, suppliers and equipment. Almost all of the sub-contractor and supplier communication to the architect is funneled through the GC's office. The GC's own in-house employee will likely act as the job superintendent or foreman and, depending on workload and his abilities, the GC may perform some, if not all, of the work with his or her own crews.
In the end, if all goes well with the project-problems are kept to a minimum, schedule is maintained, and a final punch-list is worked up by the architect the GC addresses the punchlist comments, final payouts are made and the parties all go their separate ways.
If things don't go well, the situation can become quite adversarial. Remember, no attempt was made to establish an atmosphere of partnership between the GC, owner, and architect, so none exists. The closeout procedure will often turn into a mercenary money-grab, which is generally accompanied by a disproportionate level of saber rattling. In short, it becomes all men, women and children and builders for themselves!
Construction Management
THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER (CM) approaches his or her lead role a bit differently. The CM acts more as a fiduciary agent to the owner and remains responsible for almost all
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36 Masonry
September 2002
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