Portfolio
Examples of some of the projects in which our consultants have been
involved are outlined in this section
Consulting
Invalid Termination and Proper Valuation
Overview
A UK building contractor was removed from site and its construction contract terminated by the client.
Brief
In the first instance the contractor appointed QUALSURV and requested an adjudication on wrongful termination of the contract.
The contractor, our client, then required to seek payment for the work completed up to the point of removal. This would involve maturing the account to arrive at an accurate valuation of the work.
Project
QUALSURV Consulting’s adjudicator found in the contractor’s favour, awarding payment of £120 000 (against a proposed £200 000). However, no payment was received. A summary judgement was therefore requested, which again found in the contractor’s favour, awarding payment plus costs.
At this point, the contractor received notification of an upcoming adjudication from its client for repudiatory breach of contract and seeking £900 000 in damages. Despite best efforts, we were not able to stop the adjudication. However, the contractor was not found to be in repudiatory breach of contract, ensuring that the summary judgement still stood.
This project allowed QUALSURV Consulting to deploy a range of skills and ensured that our client had a positive outcome.
Contractual Advice and Claims Management
Overview
Our client contracted work on a PFI funded project to construct a radiology facility at a hospital. The total project was budgeted to cost £7 million. It was scheduled to take 62 weeks to complete and was completed on time.
Throughout the life of the project, over 500 variations and changes to the original specification were made. The contractor estimated these to cost an additional £3 million. Our client held that there was no entitlement.
Brief
Our client commissioned us to examine both sides of the argument and determine an accurate figure to be paid if required.
Project
Over a period of 6 months, QUALSURV’s consultants examined all the principal contractual papers and the alleged changes. The conclusion was reached that the contractor was entitled to £75 000.
Over the following 6 months, negotiations took place between QUALSURV’s consultants, our client and the contractor. At the end of these discussions, our client agreed to pay £200 000 to the contractor. The project was seen as a good result for our client.
Our work had successfully avoided the need for adjudication, a process that could have resulted in our client having to pay a great deal more than £200 000.
Rationalisation of Management Systems
Overview
A national contractor to the property industry had grown both organically and through acquisition. At the point when QUALSURV Consulting was commissioned, the company had 12 branches nationwide, each operating its own management systems. Consequently, there was little or no coherence or understanding between the various branch systems.
Brief
QUALSURV Consulting was commissioned to standardise the company’s management systems and create a streamlined and workable set of processes. The aim was to create a system that would be high on use and low on procedure and that would ultimately bring cost-savings and enhanced company branding.
Project
Following an extended consultation process involving site visits and client discussions, QUALSURV’s consultants created a comprehensive company manual. The process found over 600 separate processes and refined this to just 150. The manual, which is available on the company’s intranet, enables staff to carry out their tasks more efficiently and effectively. To ensure that the manual remains useful and current, feedback forms allow staff to suggest potential revisions.
Pre-Contract Advice
Overview
QUALSURV’s client, a national contractor, tendered for work as a major sub-contractor on a large NEC3 cost reimbursable construction project. The total cost of the project was in the region of £100 million.
Brief
The client commissioned QUALSURV to review the contractor’s terms and conditions to determine the potential risks before agreeing to undertake the work.
Project
The work undertaken by QUALSURV highlighted to the client potential risks. This enabled the client to review and agree contract conditions with the contractor. This in turn ensured that the project was delivered with all risks being managed and/or avoided, which ultimately ensured efficient and effective completion.
Environmental Solutions
Asbestos Demolition Survey
Overview
Large Industrial Unit site, Pudsey, Leeds.
Project
The site above was a former Textiles Manufacturing establishment located on a 14 acre plot consisting of several manufacturing floor areas, multi storey offices, and storage and distribution facilities. All buildings were to be demolished and basement voids filled to provide a flat brown field site for housing development. The site had been un-occupied for several years and had suffered from extensive vandal damage.
QUALSURV Involvement
QUALSURV Environmental Solutions were commissioned by the appointed Administrators and Receivers to undertake an Asbestos Demolition Survey (formerly a Type 3 Survey) and project management of the Asbestos removal process including air monitoring and 4 stage clearance work activity. The value of Asbestos materials removed was in excess of £325,000.00.
Asbestos Management & Refurbishment / Demolition Survey
Overview
International Power Distribution business - Staffordshire.
Project
The client above required a combination of Asbestos Management Surveys and Refurbishment / Demolition Surveys at their main offices in Staffordshire. The site was undergoing a transformation of use and a major alternation and refurbishment work planned.
QUALSURV Involvement
QUALSURV Environmental Solutions were commissioned by the Client appointed project manager to undertake an Asbestos Management Survey (formerly a Type 2 survey) to specific office buildings and Refurbishment / Demolition Survey (formerly Type 3 Survey) to the original manufacturing plant buildings, including basement areas and storage facilities. Subsequently QUALSURV Environmental Solutions were commissioned to Project management the removal of Asbestos materials found including re-assurance air monitoring and 4 stage clearance works.
Asbestos Management or Refurbishment Survey
Overview
Local Authorities in the Yorkshire and Humberside regions.
Project
Carry out Management Surveys or Refurbishment Surveys within domestic properties and communal areas owned by Local authorities as part of their refurbishment programme. Properties could be either occupied by tenants or void. A flexible approach, whilst working with general public is paramount to successful delivery of survey reporting and guidance.
QUALSURV Involvement
QUALSURV Environmental Solutions were commissioned by several Local Authorises to undertake an Asbestos Management Survey (formerly a Type 2 survey) to tenanted properties or Refurbishment / Demolition Survey (formerly a Type 2 Survey) to void properties. QUALSURV Environmental Solutions also undertook bulk sampling where required.
Asbestos Management & or Refurbishment Demolition Survey
Overview
National support for high Street Frozen Food Retailer.
Project
Carry out Management Surveys or Refurbishment / Demolition Surveys within High Street Retail premises as part of their ongoing asset management programme.
QUALSURV Involvement
QUALSURV Environmental Solutions were commissioned by leading Frozen Foods Retailer to undertake asbestos Management Surveys (formerly a Type 2 survey) and Refurbishment / Demolition Surveys (formerly a Type 3 Survey). The number of surveys recently carried out throughout the UK was c.420.
Project Services
Centre Park, Warrington, Cheshire
Project
Centre Park was constructed on the site of former paper mill adjacent to the River Mersey close to Warrington Town Centre. To develop the site extensive remediation was required together with design and construction of a 30m span through truss steel bridge, a network of adoptable roads and sewers and extensive landscaping.
Centre Park is now a very successful town centre office park, which has seen each speculative phase of development fully let, with further development planned. Detached office buildings of 5-10,000 sq ft are arranged around a quality landscaped environment, and complemented by facilities provided by a Village Hotel and Leisure Club, Travel Inn and Beefeater public house.
QUALSURV’s involvement
QUALSURV’s Operations Director, as the Employer’s Representative, was responsible for planning, design, marketing and construction of the initial phase of the project, the infrastructure, the Village Hotel, bespoke and speculative offices and commercial premises.
Chipping Warden / Portbury Docks
Project
Chipping Warden is the site of a disused World War II airbase and is one of a number of logistic depots operated by Autologic Holdings.
Portbury is one of largest facilities operated by Autologic Holdings and QUALSURV acted as Employer’s Representative managing a number of schemes within the site.
QUALSURV’s involvement
QUALSURV was responsible for a range of schemes for upgrading parking and transit areas within the complex. Our role included site appraisal, investigation and survey, production of drawings, specification and tender enquiries.
Proposed Rail Crossing, Hill Top Development
Project
Proposals for an at-grade rail crossing to provide new access to industrial and commercial development land currently served by an underbridge with restricted headroom. The new crossing and future station will be approached by a new highway constructed on embankments adjacent to Midland Metro Line 1.
QUALSURV’s involvement
QUALSURV assisted the Client with an HMRI Application and a Legal Agreement with the infrastructure owner and Duty Holder. In addition, it provided pretender construction, contractual and procurement advice to client Metropolitan Estates Ltd including a detailed tender programme for the installation of the proposed level crossing on the live railway.
Rugeley Power Station, FGD Civils Works
Project
As part of the Government’s drive to reduce the UK's contribution to acid rain, coal and oil-fired power stations in the UK became subject to much tougher sulphur dioxide emission targets from 2008 onwards. Flue Gas De-sulphurisation (FGD) is one of the techniques being used to control these emissions. Installation of FGD has enabled continued clean coal fired generation at Rugeley. This in turn increased fuel diversity in the UK.
The civil engineering element of this project included the construction of massive reinforced concrete foundations for the Absorbers, Process Plant and Equipment, together with a materials handling depot adjacent to freight railway tracks.
QUALSURV’s involvement
QUALSURV staff were very closely involved in securing the £12.5m civils package through EPC Contractor Lentjes (UK).
A69 Haltwhistle Bypass
Project
The A69 Carlisle – Newcastle was the first contract in the £1billion Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) programme. The contract was awarded to Road Link (A69) Ltd a consortium of six companies comprising Morrison Construction, Christiani & Nielsen Ltd, Henry Boot Construction, Impregilo S.p.A, ASTM SINA and Pell Frischmann.
The Bypass (built to relieve traffic using the A69 through Haltwhistle and reduce accident, congestion, air pollution, noise and vibration) is approximately 3.5 kilometres long and required the construction of 3 major structures; 2 bridge crossings of the river South Tyne and a bridge crossing the Newcastle to Carlisle Railway. The bypass is a single carriageway with metre wide strips over the whole length.
QUALSURV’s involvement
QUALSURV staff were closely involved in both the construction and commercial management of the project.
A550 Deeside Park Interchange
Project
This £12m Design and Construct highway project for the Welsh Office consisted of the construction of a grade separated interchange over the existing A550 trunk road together with the construction of a dual carriageway link to the Deeside Bridge crossing.
QUALSURV’s involvement
QUALSURV staff were responsible for the management of this lump sum contract, which included detailed design and statutory undertaker’s diversionary works.
Renewable Energy Park, Warwickshire
Project
QUALSURV have been appointed as Project Managers by their client, Park Top Ltd, to provide strategic advice and project management services for this Renewable Energy project.
This £25m development consists of the remediation of a former colliery shale tip, the formation of a 3ha platform suitably prepared for the construction of Anaerobic Digestion and Biomass waste to energy plants, screened by extensive earth mounds, together with drainage and highway works.
QUALSURV’s involvement
QUALSURV have devised the procurement strategy, prepared the project budget, procured and managed the site investigation, procured and managed the civil engineering design contract and are currently finalising tender documentation for a civil engineering infrastructure enquiry.
International
Cross-Island Road Project, St Lucia
Project
Provision of a new road to connect the north and south of the island of St. Lucia in the Caribbean.
QUALSURV involvement
QUALSURV’s consultants were commissioned by the principal contractor to prepare a series of claims for the settlement of final account against the St Lucian authorities for delays and changes to the original design.
As with all such projects, we were commissioned to research the issues, analyse their time and quantum effects, then draw up a claims entitlement based on the terms and conditions. Our work enabled our client to enter the negotiation phases with confidence.
Disneyland Construction Project, Hong Kong
Project
Hong Kong Disneyland is a joint project by The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong government.
QUALSURV was commissioned by contractors working on the project to prepare claims submissions against the developer for varied works associated with "front" and "back of house" sections of a number of the theme park constructions.
QUALSURV involvement
QUALSURV consultants' involvement for the contractor provided the detailed information they needed to pursue claims submissions with confidence.
High Speed Rail Link, Taiwan
Project
The new high speed rail link was an ambitious construction project to connect both sides of the Island of Taiwan. It involved the wholesale construction of a rail link including elevated sections, stations and goods yards.
QUALSURV involvement
QUALSURV’s consultants were commissioned to prepare claims by contractors working on civil engineering aspects of the rail line and a new station.
We provided the expertise necessary to research and prepare claims submissions against the developer for delays and earthquake damage.
Our work provided the contractors with detailed information that considered the issues, together with time and quantum effects, thereby providing an accurate summary of claims entitlements.
Tower 101, Taiwan
Project
Construction project for Tower 101 in Taiwan. For some time after its construction, Tower 101 was the tallest building in the world.
QUALSURV involvement
Commissioned by the principal contractor QUALSURV consultants prepared claims entitlements in relation to a variety of matters including design changes and delays.
Our involvement required us to research and assess the issues, before drawing up a reasonable claims entitlement for the contractor to take to the negotiating table.
Tunnel Construction Project, Singapore
Project
This project was commissioned for the creation of a new tunnel in Singapore.
QUALSURV involvement
QUALSURV’s consultants worked in conjunction with the tunnelling contractor to prepare significant time and cost claims against the employer for delays relating to ground conditions.
Our work involved researching the issues and their effects and compiling claims entitlements. Our consultants’ expertise was invaluable in drawing up comprehensive, well-researched and reasonable claims entitlements to take forward.
Q7 Offshore Wind Park bv, Holland
Project
Holland’s largest offshore wind farm was completed in June 2008 and consists of 60nr 2MW turbines located 23km off the Dutch coast in up to 23m of water. The Offshore Wind Park Q7, renamed Princess Amelia on opening, is a joint project of sustainable energy group Econcern, investment company Energy Investments Holding and utility Eneco. The project owners contracted marine contractor Van Oord to construct the foundations for the offshore wind farm and provide the electrical infrastructure. A separate contract was placed with world leading turbine manufacturer Vestas, to supply and install the towers and wind turbines.
QUALSURV involvement
QUALSURV provided specialist contract and commercial advice on behalf of the employer throughout the course of the construction phase of the project including agreement of variations, dispute resolution and critical path delay analysis.
