Best Practices for Project Management, Design, and Construction of ...

• Examine requests for changes by owner stakeholders carefully. Changes create project
delay and increase costs. Evaluate whether any change is really needed or simply reflects
a preference. Often new staff or new technology can stimulate the "need" for change by
owners, but these should not be sufficient motivation. Determine whether the changes can
be made later, after the project is complete. Often the cost of making changes during
construction will be significantly greater than if the changes are made as a separate
follow-on project.
• Consider administrative support for the IOR program. The IOR, the primary interface with
OSHPD FDD and the project, conducts inspections, assists the design team with ACDs,
acts as the on-site representative for OSHPD FDD, and keeps the owner informed about
progress and problems. Consequently, allocating IOR resources is one of the critical
elements of success for any project. Hire competent IORs and ensure a sufficient number
to serve the project. Any weakness in the IOR program will lead to project delays,
contractor claims, and general chaos. The IOR is the primary interface with OSHPD FDD
and the project.
• Include the IOR inspection program as part of the contract. Inspections by the IOR are
required by the regulations and must be performed. This process will increase the cost to
the contractor and should be included in the contract. Establishing the inspection program
early and managing it daily will facilitate coordination with OSHPD and optimize the time
spent on the project by OSHPD FDD field staff.
• Schedule OSHPD FDD field staff time efficiently. OSHPD FDD’s available time at the
project site is limited. The owner, through the IORs, should ensure that priorities are
established and that all parties are ready when COs, DSEs, or FLSOs are on site so that
their time is efficiently utilized.
• Follow OSHPD FDD’s process for resolution of problems should they arise. These
processes are detailed on OSHPD’s Website. The first step on any issue is to meet with
the Compliance Officer and explain the issue. Many times the owner does not have all the
pertinent details and a discussion with the Compliance Officer could save the owner time
and possible embarrassment.
Other owner-related issues are discussed in detail in Section 7 of this volume.
Summary
The major problems associated with construction project delays are the following:
• Work not executed in conformance with the approved construction documents,
• Post approval changes, and
• Delays in processing deferred submittals and ACD documents.
(OSHPD Best Practices) Page 84 DRAFT FINAL, Sept. 2011