Job Book 9th Edition - Book - Page 215
ONLINE VERSION
Stage 4 > Technical Design: Supplementary Material: 4/SM1
Supplementary Material
4/SM1: Design information – implications of procurement method
The production of information, its amount, type and timing, are likely to be
directly affected by the procurement method chosen, and ultimately by the
type of contract selected.
For example, the extent to which there is to be contractual reliance on drawings
might determine their form and detail. Whether bills of quantities or schedules
of work will be needed will depend on the form of contract and the nature of
the work.
It is important to identify at detail design stage who will have responsibility for
producing what information – architect, other consultants, contractor, specialist
firms, etc.
The more complex the pattern of information required, the greater the risk of
omissions, errors and inconsistencies between documents. Greater, too, is the
need for collaboration in order to bring about integration and coordination of
design information.
Ideally all information necessary for the construction of the project should be
completed before construction work begins. In practice this ideal is rarely, if ever,
achieved, but if a great deal is left to be prepared during the construction stage,
then very high levels of management skill will be needed from all those involved.
Even in traditional procurement it is rarely possible to bring a lump sum project
to a fully designed state pre-tender. Most building contracts accept the need for
further information to be issued during progress of the works.
With design and build, or management contracts, it is recognised that a
substantial amount of detail design work will take place after the main contract
has been let.
In an attempt to control the amount and flow of information, and recognising
that everything will not always be available at the start of a contract, a schedule of
information still to be provided is sometimes agreed beforehand by the architect
and the contractor. This has now been embodied in many JCT standard form
contracts as an optional Information Release Schedule.
Sometimes the successful tenderer is required to inspect the documentation
and provide the client with verification that it will be sufficient to carry out and
complete the project. Then, should it be necessary to produce further drawings
or calculations, this will be the contractor’s risk. However, the architect will then
be involved in checking the contractor’s submissions to ensure that detail design
is not compromised.
203
4
