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BUSINESS AND TRAINING
‘ general provisions ’) Check the Preliminaries to ascertain what has been included , and more important , from your experience , what has not been included , but is required , and will cost you money if not included .
Health and safety Pay attention to the Health and Safety section – compliance with the Covid-19 statutory requirements costs you time and money as fewer workers are allowed on site , and this may extend the construction period . Recent research in the UK suggests that projects may take about 20 % longer and cost up to 35 % more to include staggered working times , delayed delivery of materials and goods , additional transport costs , additional personal protection equipment , sanitisers , and staff facilities on site , amongst others .
Trade bills of quantities Carefully scrutinise the tender documents . Check the trade bills to ascertain if :
• Specified items are readily available or must be imported .
• The time required to deliver materials .
• If there are any forex payments that require an advance payment from the employer .
• Whether there are any handling fees .
• If any equipment will have to be installed and / or commissioned , which may require disposable materials and / or access to utilities .
• And importantly , judging from your experience , has anything not been included that may be required , and which will incur additional costs .
Programme Ensure that the time to completion is realistic , considering any Covid-19 restrictions , the time needed to import items , and so on .
Project location Consider the location of the project and ease of access to site ; the safety of the site ; the appointment of local labour – generally unskilled – which may be an employer requirement , and the safe storage of materials and goods .
Design of the works Review the design and note anything that , from your experience , may not comply with regulations or be impractical , such as a specified product that may no longer be available – and raise such matters with the project manager , engineer , or quantity surveyor before finalising your tender . Remember that , on completion of the project , you may have to issue or instruct others to issue a certificate of compliance .
Risk assessment From your experience , undertake a risk assessment of the project and of items or tasks that could go wrong , and the possible consequences , such as any design and specification issues , adequacy of documentation provided , site conditions , location , and access , surrounding settlements and safety .
Consider the Standard-form Contract to be used as well as any unilateral modifications .
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline February 2022 Volume 27 I Number 12