Cannot tell Contractor "Means and Methods", how do you say there schedule will not work for on time completion then?

John,

schedule needs to be accompanied by a Basis of Schedule document outlining all major assumptions used in constructing the programme.

Also there should be a Construction Phase Plan (CPP) which sets out the construction methodology.

If it all hangs together then really it's the contractor's responsibility to finish on time by whatever means and methods he wants to use. After all he's gone through a pre-qual process, a tender process, a contract award process so what can go wrong!

Peter

Doing a school project.  Just finished a school project just like it, the current project is starting work later than the previous which did not finish in time.  It is difficult to say that, "in theory" things might be different, but I doubt it - do not know how to legally say "there is now way you are going to make it."  When owners due punish contractors for being late, they kind of learn to simply be late and deal with it.  Owners let this happen because having enough bidders is a big problem, and in the end this saves them money in the bid process on later projects.

I just did a project where the exterior masonry delayed the job because the lack of windows meant they couldn't get the humidity good to do the floors, and couldn't finish the drywall because the windows were not in etc.  Now, on a new project they want to put the masonry off as late as possible.  Sure if they come out with enormous forces it is different, but do not trust that happen.  Do you have to allow more risk because the contractor opts for more risk?  What if you care more about completion, most ld's are not high enough to put fear in contractors, plus they frequently are not enforced either way.

If you have any reasonable objection to any aspect of a contractor's program, which so often is flawed, you should say something. Other people, such as the project owner, are relying on you to say something. The tired old argument about not being able to interfere with the contractor's ways and means is a disingenuous argument which I have seen adopted by architects. It amounts to an abrogation of their responsibility. If the contractor won't respond to polite and reasonable requests, suggestions and recommendations, maybe derision and sarcasm will be needed.

Most contractors' programs are not just slightly imperfect with some minor faults and flaws. Usually, they are just junk.

I would like to ask for a small favor and cooperation in answering the survey with construction experience; kindly click the link: https://forms.office.com/r/cCdqqTeYgS

I would like to ask for a small favor and cooperation in answering the survey with construction experience; kindly click the link: https://forms.office.com/r/cCdqqTeYgS