R. L. Townsend & Associates, LLC
Construction Cost Control Advisors
R. L. Townsend & Associates, LLC
Construction Cost Control Advisors
Services
Our goal is to provide quality cost effective construction cost control and construction project related contract compliance cost verification services for our Owner customers. Our consulting practice includes pre-contract advisory services, on-going project cost control and related construction cost verification services, and comprehensive construction contract close-out cost control reviews.
RFP & Contract Services
We continually work with our customers to assist them in the process of enhancing the effectiveness of the contract language in their construction and engineering agreements. Our services include the review of the RFP & Cost Plus Contract prior to being issued for prime contractor proposals to improve the language and processes made which results in continuity and clarification of language and addition of Best Practices language and process.
Pre-Construction Services
The GMP is reviewed for reasonableness & compliance with the contract terms. In many cases, the GMP includes terms which may modify the contract terms resulting in excess cost to the owner. The preconstruction phase of a project includes all of the preparatory activities outside of the design process review that must occur before construction begins. During this phase of the project, we review the pre-construction, design, or construction agreements for contract compliance.
Construction & Close-Out Audits
A contract compliance cost verification review typically identifies potential overcharges, opportunities for cost avoidance, and/or cost recoveries. Whether you are using a cost plus fee construction contract or a lump sum/fixed price construction contract, there are numerous ways you can overpay or otherwise be overcharged by your contractor. Most overcharges are the result of misunderstandings, oversights, or misinterpretations. This is usually due to the significant number of details that are involved in properly managing and administering a construction project.
Change Order Reviews
Our change order pricing review services include reviewing change orders for CMAR, Design-Build, CSP, JOC and all other contract types. This can be part of a construction audit or as a stand-alone service for a project that may need only this additional service. This review can take place before approval or after the change order has been executed.
Process Reviews
Our goal is to identify only those control enhancements which will yield the highest return on investment of time on the part of your representatives. Perhaps the most effective manner of controlling construction costs is ensuring you have a well-balanced program of contract administration internal controls which help prevent overpayments from being made and help identify potential overcharges. We realize that a smooth paperwork flow for processing payment applications and change orders is critical, and Owners should not be burdened with unnecessary approval procedures.
Cost Monitoring
Knowing exactly what and how much you are being billed for construction is the important first step in determining whether or not you are being overcharged. Contractors' applications for payment to the Owner are often complex. Tracking and analyzing those costs and understanding their relationship with the contract documents can be a very demanding job.
We can perform these cost monitoring tasks, allowing you more time to focus on other important issues without being burdened with the detailed review of excessive amounts of paperwork.
Advisory Services
This construction cost control activity is intended to be proactive and is aimed at assisting Owners in the development of their construction contracting best practices. This service provides Owners with valuable input regarding their construction contracting strategy before they solicit proposals from their prospective contractors.
Training Services
We offer customized training workshops for our existing clients as one of the services provided by RLT senior staff members. These in-person workshop training services are available upon request and include such topics as:
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Best practices for reviewing payment application documentation for cost plus with GMP contracts.
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Best practices for reviewing change order request documentation submitted by subcontractors.
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Best practice recommendations tailored for your organization