Page 135 - Civil Engineering Project Management, Fourth Edition

11
Starting the construction work

11.1 Pre-commencement meeting and start-up
arrangements

Once an award of contract has been made, a meeting is necessary with the
selected contractor to make preparations for starting the contract. Such a pre-
commencement meeting will be attended by the employer or his key staff
concerned, the engineer and his proposed resident engineer, and the contractor’s
manager and agent. This is to effect introductions and exchange information
about the principal initial matters concerning each party. Items which may need
to be covered by this meeting are as follows:

• Exchange of addresses, telephone numbers, etc. and establishing agreed
lines of communication.
• Clarifying the resident engineer’s delegated powers, and advising the
contractor of his proposed staffing and supervisory arrangements.
• The contractor’s report on the agent’s experience in the type of work
involved, in order that his appointment can be approved by the engineer.
• Any particular needs for temporary works designs or special methods of
construction proposed.
• Arrangements for provision of sets of contract documents to the contractor
and indication of any further drawings that will be supplied (e.g. bar
schedules).
• Progress by the contractor in obtaining bonds and insurance (this is espe-
cially important where early access to site is expected since this may not be
permitted until bond and insurance are secured).
• Proposed date for commencement, which, if not agreed, will be set by the
engineer after taking the views of the contractor concerning his readiness
to mobilize, and of the employer concerning the readiness of the site for
occupation.