The Contractor's Duty to Ask Questions

​Often disputes and Claims arise on construction projects because of misunderstandings. (Avoiding disputes on your construction project.) Why are there misunderstandings? Well usually because of poor communication. This may be because information isn't provided, or the information is incomplete, or there is conflicting information. Sometimes the Contractor in their haste to construct the project has not taken the time to fully interpret the information provided, or perhaps search for missing information. The problem could even be within the Contractor's team where information has not been passed to those doing the work. (the importance of good communication on projects)

Whatever the case, misunderstanding the information provided, or interpreting the information incorrectly, or making the wrong assumptions when there is conflicting or incomplete information, could be very costly for the Contractor, resulting in delays and work being redone.
​#constructionprojectmanagement #constructiondisputes

Asking Questions May Avoid Mistakes

Often Contractors assume something incorrectly, leading them to make mistakes that a simple question could have avoided.

• If something isn’t clear in the contract document, in the specifications, or on construction drawings provided by the Client then the Contractor must seek clarification.
• It is essential that these questions and the answers to the questions are in writing and recorded as an Request for information (RFI), Engineering Query or similar. These should be dated with proof when they were submitted.
• Simply because the information wasn’t clear or was missing doesn’t absolve the Contractor from performing the work correctly and as the Client intended.
• It’s therefore essential that the Contractor ensures that their Team asks questions when they are uncertain of something, and raise a query when there are discrepancies, or an item doesn’t appear to be correct.
• The contractor’s Supervisors and Foremen are often in the forefront when they work from drawings and specifications provided. In the rush to complete the work they sometimes misinterpret or misunderstand what is on the drawing, or, in some cases even make their own plan when something on the drawing is obviously incorrect.
• It’s also important to query discrepancies between drawings, or between drawings and the specifications

#constructionmanagement

Lack of Clarity When Pricing Construction Projects

Sometimes Contractors make errors when they price construction projects. They incorrectly assumed something resulting in them pricing a project too low, or submitting a construction schedule which isn't achievable. Unfortunately sometimes information provided by the Client for pricing the project is incomplete, or unclear. Some critical project information could even be missing.

The contractor should not assume anything when pricing a construction project.

• If the scope of work isn’t clear, specifications aren’t included, there is a lack of clarity to what the Client is supplying, or there are contradictions between drawings, documents or specifications then it’s important the Contractor seeks clarity before submitting their price.
• Should the Client not provide the information requested then the Contractor should include with their price the assumptions they made in arriving at their quoted price, or ensure that it is clear what they have priced, what they are providing and what the Client should provide. 
• In some instances the contract document and scope of works may be so poorly prepared that the Contractor should consider not pricing the construction project.
• Being awarded a construction project where the pricing documentation is seriously flawed will almost certainly lead to a construction project with numerous change orders and disputes.

​#pricingconstructionprojects

Wrong Assumptions Lead to Expensive Construction Errors

Never assume anything. Query things which you are unsure of, or which don't look right. No question is stupid, but mistakes are stupid and cost money. Take a little extra time to check what you are doing is correct.

​Contractor's have a duty to ask questions.
​#constructionmanagementtips

Other useful articles
​Conflict Resolution and Prevention on Construction Projects
Avoiding the unexpected in construction
Did you make a difference on your construction project today?​

​This article is an extract from the author's books 'Successful Construction Project Management' and 'The Successful Construction Supervisor and Foreman'.

​© 2021 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author.

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