The Project
The Challenge
The existing paving to the quadrangle at the school represented a trip hazard, health and safety issues and serious drainage problems.
Graham Ellis Associates (GEA) were commissioned by Stewards Academy to prepare an application to the ESFA, to secure grant funding via the CIF for an urgent external paving project at the school.
The CIF Bid
The Application for Grant Funding required the format of the Bid to focus on the following criteria:
- Project Need
- Project Planning
- Value for Money
Project Need – required GEA to provide information on the urgency of the need, strength of evidence of the need and the nature and extent of the impact the refurbishment works would have on the school.
Project Planning – needed to address the appropriateness of the solution put forward by GEA, the time scales and a delivery plan.
Value for Money – GEA competitively tendered the project prior to submission of the Application to give ‘cost certainty’ before works started on site.
The preferred Contractor after analysis of the tenders was R Jones and Son (Groundworks) Ltd.
The accepted tender was within Budget.
GEA were successful in obtaining £87,263.17 in funding for the school via the ESFA for the works and the school was notified.
The Remedy
Scope of Works
The project consisted of resurfacing 1000m2 of external paving with a resin bound solution to include works to the external staircases.
An initial budget was set of £90,000.00 to include resurfacing/relaying to the main playground, stairs and pathways.
GEA were tasked with providing the most cost-effective solution to deal with the problems encountered the uneven paving, trip hazards and drainage issues at the Academy.
A resin bound aggregate solution was adopted, which overlaid the existing flag paving to give a ‘non-slip’ finish and carried a 25-year guarantee.
The works comprised the following:
- Preparing the existing paving to accept new resin
- Take up existing flagstone paving’s and remove from site;
- Take out any loose or broken flagstone paving and regulate with open grade
- Raise and refurbish the existing manhole and inspection chambers to the required
Consultancy Services – Pre and Post Contract
The services provided by GEA on this project were as follows:
- Budget Estimates, Feasibility Studies.
- Surveying the existing paved areas.
- Preparation of Specification, Description of Materials and Workmanship.
- Agreeing design/specification.
- Advice on Procurement and Contract Selection.
- Preparing Tender Documents.
- Analysing Tenders returned, preparing Tender Report with recommendations.
- Producing Specific Scope of Works for the site and agreeing Contract Sums with the Contractor.
- Monitoring Contractor’s Progress on site.
- Cost control – Interim Valuation payments and Monthly Financial Statements.
- Monitoring Health & Safety on site.
- Agreement of Contractors Final Account.
- Sign-off at Practical Completion.
Before Commencement on Site
GEA chair a pre commencement meeting on site, with all the parties present, to establish and agree the following:
- The Contractors Programme
- To sign the Contract Document
- To discuss any obligations imposed by the Employer on the Contractor working at the School
- To discuss the site access route and position of compound
- To agree Health and Safety rules, CDM Compliance
- To agree a start date on site after mobilization of the Contractor
During the Project:
Weekly site visits were made by GEA to monitor progress on site.
A photographic record was maintained throughout the contract period on site.
Monthly site meetings were chaired and minuted by GEA and distributed to the school and the project team.
Monthly Financial Reports were provided to the Client to ‘firm up’ costs of any provisional sums or variations and to forecast the anticipated Final Account figure.
The End Result
The project achieved Practical Completion on time and to an excellent standard of workmanship.
The project was completed within the specified contract sum, with the Academy being kept fully informed with monthly financial reports during the construction phase, as to the anticipated final cost.
The before, during and after photographs show a vast aesthetic improvement to the Quadrangle together with improvements to health and safety by removing ‘trip hazards’ and improving drainage etc.
Please visit www.geaonline.co.uk for further project profiles and services provided by GEA.
Description
CLIENT: Stewards Academy
LOCATION: Parnall Road, Harlow, Essex
Start Date: 23rd June 2017
Project Duration: 24 Weeks
Completion: 8th August 2017
Project Value: £87,263.17
The Professional Team
Once notification had been received via the ESFA, that funding was available for the project, GEA were appointed as Contract Administrators, Quantity Surveyors, Principal Designers and Project Managers.
The Construction Project was carried out using the JCT Minor Works Building Contract with Contractors Design 2016.
Fees were charged at 10% of the Contract Value (in line with those recommended by the ESFA).
