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Dodgy (construction/project manager) Procurement Practices???

Subject to claims of corruption, a review of the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre expansion project (Canada) by independent quantity surveyor has revealed the town has “received a fair price for the project, BUT NOT the lowest possible price in some sections.” The report by Marshall & Murray Inc valued the pool at $19.4m, report says.

The reports author suggests the town should conduct further reviews of the subcontractor summaries for a clearer and more accurate understanding of the identified costs. “There are areas that require further discussions, and those discussions will “definitely happen.” The forensic audit will be another indicator of what’s going on,” a report commentator is quoted as saying. Latest news [QS Link].

If you missed our earlier references to this story here is a link that details the newspapers allegations. The accusations [QS Link].

The company accused of corruption has commenced legal action against the newspaper that exposed alleged corrupt practices. Reading between the lines, this story has some way to go and is directly relevant to QS procurement reporting practices as between contractor and client and contractor and subcontractor.

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Weather-tightness Requirements for all school property construction

The Ministry of Education has developed, in consultation with industry technical experts, Weather-tightness Requirements for all school property construction [Download PDF; 2.3mb]. From 11 April 2011, schools and their project managers must include the Weather-tightness Requirements in all requests for proposal for school property construction or improvement projects.

The Ministry of Education has transitioned from reactive to proactive in addressing durability issues in school infrastructure. It started with their first leaking school and interfacing with the private sector resources to resolve the problems, onto developing their own strategies for identifying buildings possibly at risk but not yet showing signs of leaks or other signs of fabric failure.

In the Ministry of Education’s search for excellence in weather-tightness basics, there is now a new mandatory set of standards that must be followed in addition to any code compliance rules otherwise applicable for ALL Ministry buildings. Quantity surveyors need to be aware of these minimum standards to ensure their estimates reflect these requirements and not some other “lesser cost” code compliant option. A must read document with one or two surprises.

Members should download, print, read, learn, and enter this activity into their CPD Diary, followed by ensuring their practice reflects these requirements in their education project estimates.

[CPD Diary Webpage] Update your diary now!

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QS Snippets – or BIMlets

1.    “Institute Calendar” Update. 30 June, Wellington, Branch Quiz Night. 1 July, Otago, mid-winter do. 14 July, Auckland, Try before you build. [QS Link];

2.    Construction unprepared for Bribery Act UK. Rod Fletcher, head of the business crime & regulation team at Russell Jones & Walker, said: “Businesses cannot avoid the rigorous demands of the act - it demands a change in mind set, risk management tools, policies, training and procedures, and these requirements fit squarely into an international context that is less and less accepting of both bribery and systems that fail to guard against the risk of bribery. Business as usual is no longer an option.” [QS Link];

3.    BIM disputes are inevitable. As BIM has been used in the US for a number of years, it was inevitable that it would be litigated at some point. So I was intrigued by news of a recent case in America. The facts of this case though suggest that the real problem was a lack of communication between the parties, something that can be simply solved, and perhaps the lesson to be learned is that a systematic approach to procurement such as starting off with a detailed risk analysis and reviewing that regularly during the project will pay dividends. Full comment [QS Link]

4.    Magee surveys secret to property wealth. “So few Australian property investors know about quantity surveyors ... neither do about 80 per cent of real estate consultants,” Mr Magee said. “It’s one of the secrets that has helped many ordinary Australians become property investors with multi-million dollar assets.” [QS Link];

5.    Out with the old, QS. In May, chief UK construction adviser Paul Morrell announced that within five years all government construction projects would have to use building information modelling, a way of working that involves the entire project team using a 4D model that can do many of the traditional number-crunching functions of a QS - automatically. [QS Link];

6.    NZIQS QS in the News. The long-awaited redevelopment of the Hawke's Bay Museum and Art Gallery started today with the first stages of a three-week demolition of the former Lilliput and Planetarium building on Napier's Marine Parade. Spot Project manager and senior quantity surveyor Derek Lawson, (MNZIQS) Gemco Construction Ltd in the article photo. [QS Link] and [For ALL your QS in the NEWS on Facebook];

7.    Social accountability meets construction corruption head on. From a conference on contract monitoring networks for East African countries. The object of the meeting was to get the private sector and anti-corruption agencies in the region to come up with plans on how to monitor public contracts so that society could be sure that the executing agents were giving back value for money. [QS Link];

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“Your house is fixable... Believe It or Not...”

North Island Architect Writes…

Subject: Believe It Or Not...  The source shall remain anonymous, but I have it on good authority that this is coming out of EQC...

“your house is fixable, but we need to take off the roof and put it to one side and fix it, then shift the rest of the house off the foundations and put that to another side and fix that, rebuild the foundations then lift the house back onto these, then lift the roof back on” - I’m serious, this is what they are telling people.

Christchurch QS responds…

Dear architect, You sound surprised?

You might want to tell your source to include the 10m to 12m deep 200 dia timber piles that are also being driven prior to the house being located back onto the new foundations.

In some cases this is exactly what we are pricing for. It is however limited to those fortunate individuals with tennis courts though. There’s usually no more room on the site for the roof so we allow to remove the cladding (if say Marseille tiles) leaving the framing.

Bear in mind I have only heard of one house where this has occurred. In most cases the cost to fix (using this method) is more expensive than a rebuild.

Sounds like you and your source need to spend some time in Christchurch so you can see for yourselves the extent the Engineers, Loss Adjustors and QS’s are going to, to provide the Insurers with ALL possible options.

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Updating standards – DBH consultation (opportunity knocks)

There are over 200 Australian and New Zealand Standards cited in the Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods of the building code. There are 60 Standards of these have recently been revised and the Department must review them to determine whether it is suitable to continue to be cited in the Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods. Having considered those revisions, the Department has reached the preliminary view that is appropriate for the revised Standards to be incorporated into the relevant Compliance Documents by updating the current references to those Standards. The Department is seeking feedback on that view.

This consultation closes on 11 July 2011.

You can view the details at http://www.dbh.govt.nz/current-consultations and use online or download a word doc form to make a submission with can be emailed to consulting@dbh.govt.nz.

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Golden Opportunity for QS’s to send DBH the FREE Standards Message

We think this is a golden opportunity to send DBH a clear message about making standards free to lift industry sector productivity. So we have prepared a basic statement we hope you can support and send to DBH now via email.

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“Dear DBH,

Regarding Updating Standards cited in the Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods of the building code.

The process of Updating Standards cited in the “Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods of the building code is vital for a more efficient and productive building industry that builds it right first time, and stands behind the quality of its work”.

But DBH must take this initiative further to be effective in reaching its “above” stated goal  by ensuring that the standards that underpin the building code are made available on the same basis as the building code is.

Standards cited in the building code must be made freely available online in PDF format.

We trust this feedback is useful to you and we look forward to your response to our suggestion.

Regards, [members name and status]”

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You can copy this and send it to  consulting@dbh.govt.nz.

OR

Dear Council, please make a submission on behalf of Members to DBH supporting the call for FREE standards with regards to this DBH consultation updating cited Standards in the building code.

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XD Notices – From the Executive Director

During the conference and agm there were vigorous and interesting discussions about a variety of topics. The term Quantity Surveying as the basis for this profession in New Zealand and therefore the name of the institute was reinforced. It seems that members are concerned that ‘the public” has no knowledge of your profession and skills, and the Quantity Surveyor” in all of their roles is poorly recognised in New Zealand. Although I do not share that perception from my discussions with the members of the Construction industry Council and elsewhere, we will be conducting a small marketing campaign during the next year to explain to target audiences what a modern and experienced member can and does do. Although the construction industry is well aware of your skills and there are more QS students nationally than at any time in the past, so students and schools are sufficiently aware of the career I would be interested in YOUR perception of the target audience for various releases and what message YOU would like to promote. Send your view to XD.

The message last bulletin regarding recognition of the Associate qualification hit a nerve with 12 members. The possibility of a Diploma recognizing those who qualified as Associates prior to 2003, by examination or assessment, was received warmly but most respondents would not voluntarily change their ANZIQS status regardless so the only QSs who might gain from another Diploma are those who have left the Institute and who therefore are not entitled to use the term ANZIQS and those who have voluntarily transferred to MNZIQS. Another 5 Associates have requested to change to MNZIQS.  More comment in due course.

John Granville   john@nziqs.co.nz   0800 469 477

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Fantastic opportunity with a great PQS firm – (Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch opportunities) I’m working exclusively with an exceptional PQS company with an excellent culture who are in the market for 4 quantity surveyors.  If you have been exposed to estimating, cost planning and pre/post contract document work, we need to hear from you. This is a superb opportunity to take your career to the next level, developing your skills and knowledge.   You will need to have come from a PQS background and have developed your skills with ideally commercial projects. However, if you are looking for a move away from main contracting, this could be the opportunity.  So if you enjoy living in the city or in reach of the mountains, then this client could be just the perfect match for you. Quantity Surveyors with experience from outside New Zealand are encouraged to apply. Please contact Nick Gillingham for a confidential conversation on 09 306 5500 or contact me via e-mail nickgillingham@momentum.co.nz or via linkedin.

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Agknowledging Members who have transferred from Associate

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Associates Feedback Requested

I agree something needs to be done to meet the needs of the few who fall into the category of seeing Associate as a "qualification" to get them out of the scene and avoid confusion especially now we have more membership categories.

PPQM Past Professionally Qualified Member is my suggestion and the actual award would have an explanation with words something like

"This award is limited to members who, under previous rules, completed the necessary academic requirements and an interview conducted by the NZIQS and gained Associate status ANZIQS

This level of membership at the time was recognised as being the category of a senior professional quantity surveyor.”

Be aware that members who have already abandoned their associate status could ask for this also and rightly so.

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Can you offer some feedback too?

My Feedback about Associate status and transfer to Member status…

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Online CPD 2011 Module 6: Healthcare environments

CPD 2011 Module 6: Healthcare environments. Deadline 1 July 2011

BD Reviews’ free continuing professional development distance learning programme is open to everyone who wants to develop and improve their professional knowledge and skills.

We share this sponsored UK CPD online service because the modules are well constructed, informative and provide and easy to learn online option for members CPD.

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Conference Partners Programme

Martinborough Wineries and Garden Tour - Day Two

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Conference Gala Dinner

Barry McLean, Yvonne McLean, Christine Russell and Brian Gibbons

Brent Catchpole, Cathy Giddens, Peter Degerholm and Caroline Degerholm

They are ALL smiling because the venue, the company, the food, the refreshments and the entertainment were all first class. Well done Wellington!

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Let’s Get this Party Started – Yeah, Yeah, Yeah…

John Granville and Alana Cuthbert get the party started on the dance floor.
Now that’s leadership!