ConstructionAdvisorToday

Guaranteeing Payment Down the Contractual Chain

Construction projects typically involve many parties and multiple tiers of contractual relationships. It is a stark reality that the farther down one is on the contractual chain, the greater the payment risk. Subcontractors and suppliers sometimes look up the chain to seek assurance of payment. Project owners and general contractors, for a variety of practical reasons, sometimes extend this assurance.

Archibus Compliant with COBie Standards

Archibus, a developer worldwide of real estate, infrastructure, facilities and environmental management software, announces that it is compliant with Open Standards Consortium for Real Estate's (OSCRE) Space Classifications (SPCL V1.0) criteria as well as with Construction Operations Building Information Exchange (COBie) standards.

Working with these two organizations will allow Archibus to help establish common data exchange standards for real property and facilities management data that improves administrative and operational efficiency, particularly in the federal government sector.

New 'Greening Our Schools' Guide Designed to Help State Legislators

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has published Greening Our Schools: A State Legislator's Guide to Best Policy Practices, debuting it earlier this month at the National Conference of State Legislatures' annual Legislative Summit.

The guide is intended to serve as a first-of-its-kind toolkit for green schools, a comprehensive guide for state lawmakers "who are developing policy solutions that improve the health, productivity, efficiency, and fiscal responsibility of schools in their state," USGBC stated. The toolkit is a product of USGBCs 50 for 50 Green Schools Caucus Initiative and is sponsored by the Turner Foundation.

Primavera P3 and SureTrak Sales To Cease December 31, 2010

It's official. Over the past two or three years, rumors have proffered the cessation of sales and/or support of Primavera P3 (Primavera Project Planner) and SureTrak; indeed, there have even been published dates, such as on Oracle's GSA schedule available on the Internet. Each year the rumors prove false or Oracle/Primavera has moved the published date back. This time, it appears to be official -- our sources at Oracle have confirmed Primavera P3 and SureTrak will no longer be sold after December 31, 2010. "Sustaining" support for P3 and SureTrak will continue indefinitely.

Liquidated Damages: Prudent Project Administration or Simply a Blunt Instrument

Liquidated damages come in many forms. With construction contracts, one thinks of a daily assessment against the contractor for late completion of the project. But any time actual damages will be difficult to measure precisely and the parties estimate those damages, at the time of contract formation, the resulting stipulated amount will be enforceable.

Jackson Recommends Going Green, "Early On"

It pays to plan for green construction as early in a project as possible, attorney Bryan Jackson told attendees during a recent Green Construction Contracts virtual event.  "In my studies, I've [found] that if you make changes [to incorporate green features] early on, it's at a very low cost with a very high level or ability to make change," Jackson said. "As you go further out into the construction design and construction process, it becomes harder to make change, and [it becomes] more costly. So, the time to green your project is at the very get go, at the inception of design rather than later as it starts to cost you more and you have less ability to make change. 

3D Engineering Solutions Expands Capabilities Across Multiple 3D Laser Scanning/Data Collection Platforms

3D Engineering Solutions has added new long-range 3D scanning services to its arsenal of laser-based portable CMMs, providing new 3D data collection, building information modeling (BIM), and facility-mapping services for their customers.

3D Engineering, a Cincinnati-based engineering services company, expanded its capabilities to broaden its range of metrology services to include the latest Laser Tracker and Long Range 3D Laser Scanning technology for 3D data collection in aerospace, nuclear, automotive, and industrial markets. These new long-range capabilities complement 3D Engineering's seven-axis portable CMM's with Laser Line Probes, 3D data collection, CAD modeling, and reverse engineering services, allowing an integrated approach for meeting customer needs.

Subcontractor Assumption of the Risk of Owner Nonpayment

Subcontract payment clauses which pass the risk of owner nonpayment through to the subcontractor have long been controversial. The subcontractor contracts with the prime contractor, not the project owner. The sub has little opportunity to assess the creditworthiness of the owner. But if the owner doesn’t pay and a pay-if-paid clause in the subcontract is enforced, the sub has no contractual entitlement to payment. This in turn defeats any mechanic’s lien or payment bond rights the sub might otherwise have had.

Condotte America Selects Prolog to Standardize Construction Management Processes

Condotte America has selected the Prolog solution to standardize construction management processes for its day-to-day construction activities. Condotte is working directly with Intuitive Systems, an authorized Meridian Systems Global reseller serving Florida and Latin America.

Condotte, a heavy and highway contractor specializing in bridge work, roadways, mass transit, and toll plazas, initially began using ProjectTalk, the on-demand version of Prolog software offered in a hosted environment. ProjectTalk allowed Condotte to better track change labor and materials, management issues, contract invoices, owner requisitions, email correspondence, and requests for information.

All DOE Facilities To Install 'Cool Roofs' -- Where Practical

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in late July announced a new policy to have all of its facilities outfitted with more energy-efficient "cool roofs" when it is cost-effective to do so. The policy is part of a series of initiatives under way at DOE facilities and buildings across the federal government.

Cool roofs use lighter-colored roofing surfaces or special coatings to reflect more of the sun's heat, helping improve building efficiency by reducing cooling costs and offsetting carbon emissions.