Page 38 - Forensic Structural Engineering Handbook

DESIGN-CONSTRUCTION PROCESS 1.19

invitation to bid are essential to win. The most important initial step for the contractor is to
study the selected delivery method, knowledge of which will provide understanding of the
risks involved, services to be provided, and awareness of how the delivery system works
(who are the members of the team, their respective responsibilities, and what is required in
order to perform the work).
It is important to know the specific requirements pertaining to procurement laws,
prerequisites, and restrictions in each state. For detailed definitions of a general con-
tractor and subcontractor, licensing requirements, individual and state regulations,
refer to the The Design Build Process, A Guide to Licensing and Procurement
Requirements in the 50 States and Canada, by John R. Heisse, II, editor. 19 In this
Guide, a general contractor is defined as “any person engaged in the business of con-
struction, structural repair, structural restorations, dismantling, demolition or addition
to a structure that exceeds the threshold limits contained in the state’s general statutes
and agency regulations.” A major subcontractor is defined as “any person who, under
the direction of a General Contractor, performs any work that impacts upon the struc-
tural integrity of the structure or addition,” including repairs, alterations, dismantling
or additions that exceeds the threshold limits contained in the state’s general statutes
and agency regulations.
A reputable general contractor’s organization must have the ability to perform estima-
tion, procurement, scheduling and planning, contract administration, accounting services,
and general administration.
The general contractor must have operating capital and the financial strength to pro-
vide bonding if and when requested by the owner. After winning a bid or successfully
negotiating a contract, the general contractor is left alone in the construction arena.
They must perform and complete the project on time and within budget or it may be the
last project they will ever do. The total dependency on the selected subcontractors and
vendors for delivery of materials and services can make or break the project. It is there-
fore absolutely necessary for the general contractor to study the drawings and specifi-
cations in order to be able to accomplish their goals: the construction of a safe and
profitable project.
Providing means and methods of construction, guarantees and warranties, quality control,
and safety measures are some of the fundamental responsibilities that the general contractor
will fulfill.
In addition, the general contractor is to comply with local laws and ordinances; obtain
permits; provide shop drawings, equipment cuts, and material samples; provide underpin-
ning and shoring drawings and calculations, if required; provide fastening devices; effect
overall construction coordination with other trades; provide manpower; prepare reports;
prepare requisitions; plan the project; prepare and submit schedules; and provide general
project supervision and administration.
All of the foregoing is the general contractor’s responsibility. The subcontractor is a
“mini” general contractor and as such must perform the same tasks as the general contrac-
tor but only within the subcontractor’s own trade.
A well-organized general contractor or construction manager will, in conjunction with
the construction team, administrate and maintain project documents for years to come.

DOCUMENTS AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE

In order to properly manage any construction project, seven basic categories of documents
are required: design documents, contracts, submittals, contract claims and credit docu-
ments, logs, and schedules. The essence of these documents is highlighted below.