Experience Matters

The project centered on the contract to design and build a 663 MW sub-critical pulverized coal-fired plant addition to an existing brownfield facility. This was a full EPC contract involving multiple stakeholders including a joint venture between the major contracting entities and power island suppliers. Managed a team engaged to provide risk management and claims avoidance advisory and training services to the on-site project teams. Services also included claims avoidance management both on a term and “as required” basis to facilitate early settlement of project problems and avoid lengthy disputes. The project was completed with no major claims or dispute issues.

On behalf of an owner, analyzed a mechanical contractor’s $7 million marine lien delay and disruption claim against a major oil company on an offshore oil production project. The claim involved the value of equipment, piping, and structural installations on two refurbished rigs.

Provided claims prevention training seminars for a mineral processing engineering firm in Denver, Tucson, and Mexico City. Recommended clauses to resolve potential inconsistencies, ambiguities, and conflicts. Prepared clauses for cost and schedule control procedures.

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.

On behalf of a European/Japanese joint venture EPC firm, evaluated a $75 million claim on a refinery upgrade project. Assessed the technical entitlement of over 100 change orders forming the basis of the claims as well as the schedule analysis to demonstrate entitlement to an extension of time and delay damages. Evaluated the contractor’s methodology for performing its schedule delay analysis and quantum calculations, and its loss of productivity analysis for proof of damages for labor cost overruns.

On behalf of a government controlled nuclear management company, performed a third-party review and upgrade analyses of its bidding processes and contract conditions for the decommissioning and new construction of nuclear power plants. Reviewed the contract/bidding documents and provided an independent risk management report covering best practices, PMBOK application, project success goals, and general procedures for upgrading contractor performance.

The mechanical subcontractor executed a contract with a power contractor to complete outage work and repowering of CFB Unit #1. The power contractor caused project delays and interferences that delayed the required work to a period outside of the specified outage period and resulted in a shortage of manpower. The mechanical subcontractor accelerated work to maintain the work planned for the outage period. This required additional coordination of utilities and steam blows and functional tests of fuel system, oil-fired burners, CFB boiler, air ducts, flue gas system and stack, feed water systems, etc. Engaged to provide claims review services. Evaluated owner and contractor claims, including a review of the CPM schedule submittals. Produced a schedule delay and productivity analysis to determine responsibility for project delays. The claims team found that power contractor delays and interferences were primarily responsible for the acceleration effort and difficulties experienced by the mechanical subcontractor during the mechanical completion and operational testing phases of work.

On behalf of an owner, performed an assessment of a Change Order Request for Labor Productivity Impacts and Extended General Conditions Cost. The assessment revealed that the contractor did not follow the MCAA instructions on the use of MCAA’s Labor Factors found in MCAA Management Methods Manual Bulletin No. PD2 (Revised 2011). The assessment also identified that the claim for General Conditions Cost was not supported by any schedule analysis and was a total cost claim even though there were numerous executed change orders, which included a 14 percent markup for supervision, quality control, and safety.

Provided claims analysis and cost and schedule analyses. Prepared a rebuttal report regarding insurance claims related to defective flue gas desulfurization systems on four coal-fired power plant projects.

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.