Page 34 - Water and wastewater engineering

THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PROCESSES 1-5

In alternative approaches such as design-build, economy is achieved by alternate delivery
methods.
At the beginning of a project, on approval of the selection of a specific consulting engineer,
it is customary to hold a “scope meeting.” At the scope meeting a typical agenda includes (Fir-
mage, 1980 and Sternbach, 1988):

• Identification of primary contacts for the owner and engineering firm.
• Scope and extent of engineering work.
• Starting and completion dates.

• Construction inspection.
• Responsibility for allied engineering services.
• Procedures for out-of-scope requests.
• The fee.

Many times these items are addressed in the engineering firm’s proposal. In the proposal pro-
cess, the clarity with which these are addressed may serve as a basis for selection of the engi-
neering firm.
The scope and extent of engineering work should be explicitly defined, in writing, to
avoid misunderstanding. The scope ensures that the client understands the limits of the work
the engineer is willing and/or able to perform. It provides the engineer with a framework for
establishing the fee and level of effort to be provided as well as ensuring that the engineer is
not expected to perform work outside of the area of competence. It may include such things as
personnel assigned to the project, their qualifications and responsibilities, evaluation of alterna-
tives, design of the facility, preparing detail drawings, cost estimates, evaluating bids, as well as
bidder qualifications, surveying, staking the project, preparation of operation and maintenance
manuals, attendance at meetings, and documentation.
The starting and completion dates provide both the client and the engineer with realistic
expectations as to the progress of the project.
The scope meeting should identify the design engineer’s responsibilities for construction
inspection. Typically, the design engineering firm provides a field engineer and/or a construction
observer to diligently observe and, to the best of their ability, assure the owner that the construc-
tion is taking place in accordance with the plans and specifications as the project is being built.
Although a field engineer from a firm not involved in the design may be retained, it is preferable
that the design firm provide the engineer to ensure continuity. While construction observers may
be competent to do routine examinations of the progress of work, they generally do not have the
technical background to assure compliance with design specifications unless they are given spe-
cific training. For large projects, a full-time field engineer is on site. For small projects, periodic
inspection and inspection at critical construction milestones is provided.
Small engineering firms may not have the expertise to provide the design specifications for
all of the components of the design. In this instance, the responsibility for providing allied engi-
neering services such as geotechnical/soils consultants and electrical, mechanical, and structural
engineering as well as architectural services should be spelled out in writing at the scope meeting.
The professional engineering qualifications of those supplying the allied engineering should also