![]() Subcontractors often play an important part in the success or failure of construction projects. It’s therefore vital to ensure that not only is care is taken to select the right subcontractor, but also to ensure the subcontractor is managed correctly. Unfortunately often subcontractors are selected only on the basis of price – the subcontractor with the lowest price is awarded the project. This is often the same problem when clients, owners and developers select the General Contractor or Main Contractor where the cheapest price is often the deciding factor. Failure to select the right contractor for the project and only considering the contractor’s price is often a recipe for disaster which can result in delays, additional costs, disputes, poor quality and even accidents. Choosing the wrong contractor can lead to regret long after the project is complete. Questions to ask your contractor or subcontractor
The more that can be discovered about the contractor before they are awarded the work the better. Not only can the capabilities of the contractor be researched, but it may be possible to discover their strengths and weaknesses which will, in turn, enable them to be better managed on the project. Past performance, however, is not always indicative of how a contractor will perform on a project and I have, on occasion, had good subcontractors that have performed poorly, due to them being over-committed on other projects, which meant they had insufficient and poor quality resources for my project. Adjudicating subcontractor and contractor quotes Sometimes contractors don’t adjudicate their subcontractor’s prices correctly. When comparing quotes are you comparing ‘apples with apples’? A price may appear cheap but when all the factors are taken into account the total price may be more expensive than the other prices. When adjudicating prices check that the supplier, contractor or subcontractor has:
Compare the price with prices received from other contractors. A price substantially lower than the others should set off alarm bells and it is worth investigating why the price is so low. Sometimes contractors are desperate for work and submit a low price – this however comes with risks and a contractor whose price is too low may be tempted to take short cuts to make money – using inferior materials and skimping on resources. A contractor whose price is too low may also become bankrupt part way through the project which will void warranties and cause delays and additional costs to the project while a replacement contractor is appointed. Of course there is nothing wrong with awarding the work to the contractor with the lowest price (even if their price is much lower than other prices), providing that you have ensured that they are the right contractor for the project, that there are no hidden extra costs which will be incurred later and that the contractor can deliver the project for their quoted price. Documentation It is important that the documentation included with the request to price (request to tender) is complete and includes the terms and conditions for the project as well as the full scope of works, the project conditions and the obligations of both parties. Projects often incur additional costs and even sometimes lengthy contractual disputes because of poor contract documentation which is incomplete or ambiguous. (I will discuss subcontractor documentation in a future article.) Conclusion Selecting the right contractor, adjudicating their price thoroughly and appointing them using an enforceable contract which is complete with all the project’s terms and conditions can usually avoid delays, additional costs, extra management time and disputes later. Don’t simply select the cheapest contractor – it may be a very expensive mistake! Please share this post To read more about the author’s books and find out where you can purchase them visit the pages on this website by clicking the links below: 'Successful Construction Project Management: The Practical Guide' 'Building a Successful Construction Company: The Practical Guide' 'Construction Book reviews' To read more about the author visit the page 'Paul Netscher' Want to contact Paul Netscher please enter your details on 'Contacts' Find out how Paul Netscher can help you Order your books from Amazon Order your books from Amazon UK © 2016 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.
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The opinions expressed in the attached articles are those of the writer. It should be noted that projects are varied and different laws and restrictions apply which depend on the location of the contractor and the project. It's important that the reader uses the supplied information taking cognisance of their particular circumstances. The writer assumes no responsibility or liability for any loss of any kind arising from the reader using the information or advice contained herein. "I have what I consider some of the best books on construction management."
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