Jobs And Interview

admin · Site Admin Joined: 05 Jul 2005 Posts: 689

We have worked on several projects as the engineer in design/build packages, with contractors as our clients; and these working relationships have been satisfactory, from our standpoint. However, from the point of view of the owners, it is definitely in their best interests if we had been hired directly by them, for the following reasons:

An independent design, from which prospective contractors bid, ensures an "apples to apples" bid. The owner knows exactly what scope of work that a successful bidder must provide; as mandated by the construction plans and specifications. Thus, the owner does not lose control of the quality of the project which is to be constructed. He does lose control of quality if a contractor provides the design.

While most contractors are fully qualified and experienced to construct projects from design plans and specifications which have been prepared by an engineer, they do not have the required training as design engineers themselves to properly and fully address all of the important design issues. Many, if not most, projects designed by contractors result in disastrous consequences, due to a multitude of unforeseen variables, which were not adequately planned for.

Because of their lack of design and engineering training, as cited in point #2 above, many contractors hire engineering firms themselves to provide the designs in their design/build packages. The contractors then attach their profit to the design fee; thus actually raising the design costs to the owner. These costs may not be seen in the billing invoices to the owners, but they are charged for by the contractor nevertheless, incorporated within other chargeable items.

A designer who is hired by a contractor will tend to look more to the best interests of the contractor than that of the project owner. Thus, there definitely is a conflict of interest, with respect to the owner and project.

Materials and construction procedures, as mandated by plans and specifications from an independent engineer/consultant, are more likely to be of higher quality than that called out by a contractor.

Material and construction quality standards are more likely to be implemented if spelled out on the plans and in the specifications, and enforced by inspection during construction. This is all normal practice for independent engineering consultants. Such practice is definitely in the best interests of the owner/developer; while it is often contrary to the best interests of the design/build contractor.

Any warranty of the project or guarantee of its components are more likely to be in the owner's interest if spelled out by a consultant hired directly by the owner. They are more likely to be in the contractor's interest if spelled out by the contractor's agent.

Procedures for the enforcement of warranties and guarantees are generally included in the documents provided by an independent engineering consultant. Since these procedures place the general contractor on the defensive, such procedures are often not included in design/build packages, or they are written with a lower degree of enforcement.