Experience Matters

On behalf of an owner, analyzed rework costs caused by defective engineering and poor project management performance by the EPCM contractor of a LNG facility. Developed a basis for estimating the rework costs and prepared several comprehensive reports that the owner used to facilitate a large settlement against the contractor.

Provided pre-bid scheduling using Primavera for the $180 million San Diego International Airport expansion and infrastructure project. Also reviewed and approved the contractor’s schedules. This project included CIP bridge structures, utility relocations, demolition of existing bridge structure, grading and paving for detours and airport parking.

On behalf of an owner, analyzed entitlement, schedule delay and damages related to a contractor’s $12 million claim against a major international chemical company associated with the construction of two process units in an existing chemical plant. The initial EPC contractor was terminated and sought recovery of its cost overruns as a result of field change orders. The owner alleged that the work was defective as a result of engineering errors, field installation errors, and welding defects.

Assessed the delays a contractor experienced on a project. Provided delay analyses and opinions regarding owner-furnished engineering drawings and materials that the contractor identified that caused impacts to its ability to deliver the project on time and on budget. The assessment identified which delays were attributable to the owner’s actions or inactions and quantified the number of days for which the contractor was entitled to an extension of time.

On behalf of an insurance company, analyzed a contractor’s claim for costs associated with repairs to damage resulting from a tower crane jacking failure on a mixed-use development project in Atlanta. Prepared detailed analyses and reports to identify reasonableness of costs claimed in preparation of negotiation and settlement among the insurers, insured, and insured’s contractor.

On behalf of an insurance company, analyzed a $50 million loss for property damage and business interruption resulting from cracking to a reactor vessel at a glycol process plant facility in Alberta. Prepared deposition questions and assisted loss adjusters and counsel for the underwriters with cost and schedule analyses.

On behalf of an owner seeking to recover hundreds of millions of dollars in delay and disruption costs paid to an EPC contractor on an LNG plant, performed the following scope of work: 1) critique of the contractor’s compliance with industry practices in the preparation and updating of the project baseline CPM schedule and schedule updates; 2) preparation of a windows-based schedule delay analysis to quantify delays on the critical and near-critical paths; 3) assessment of delay, disruption, and project management performance issues by the EPC contractor; and 4) quantification of delay and disruption damages incurred by the subcontractors in the construction of the facility. Prepared an expert report to be submitted as part of arbitration proceedings.

Reviewed an owner’s contract for the EPC of a polyethylene plant. Recommended clauses to resolve potential inconsistencies, ambiguities, and conflicts. Prepared clauses for cost and schedule control procedures. Recommended changes to project management, scheduling, and project controls provisions to improve the owner’s visibility into project progress reporting.

Evaluated entitlements and prepared the claim analyses for a contractor for a U.S. Coast Guard wharf at the Port of Los Angeles. Analyzed entitlement issues and wrote expert reports.

Provided a claims prevention training seminar for project management and contract administration personnel of a major U.S. chemical company on new boiler addition to an existing chemical plant. Reviewed contract and procedures proposed to be used for the project and recommended clauses to resolve potential inconsistencies, ambiguities, and conflicts. Prepared clauses for cost and schedule control procedures.