Training on Construction Bidding and Contracting

I am teaching three courses for NIGP at various locations across the country.  If you're interested in having me teach any of these classes for your NIGP chapter or public agency, please contact Faye Jackson at NIGP directly at FJackson@nigp.org.  If you're within Washington state, contact me directly. Here's a description of the courses.

Maryland State Capitol
in Annapolis

When Bad Things Happen to Bids: Strategies for Ensuring Successful Public Construction Projects:   I was in Annapolis, Maryland on September 12, 2014 teaching this course.  Here's an outline of this one day course: 

Why Aren’t Bidders More Careful?

• Why Do Bidders Make Mistakes?
• Missing Bid Prices
• Conflict Between Numbers and Words
• Bid Calculation Errors
• Claims of Error

Is Your Bidder Playing Games?

• Bid is Too Low
• Incentive Payments
• Unbalanced Bids
• Conditioned or Qualified Bids

Will the Real Low Bidder Please Stand Up?

• Additive and Alternate Bids
• Tie Bids
• Responsive Bids
• Responsible Bidders
• Local Bid Preferences
• Bid Protests and Appeals
• Conflicts of Interest

What Can You Do to Manage Bidding?

• What Should Be on the Bid Form?
• Why Should You Limit Submissions with the Bid?
• On What Days Should You Not Receive Bids?
• When is a Bid Late?
• When Should You Take a Bid Guaranty?

Best Practices in Developing Public Construction Bid Documents:  I'll be teaching this course on October 27 in Savannah, Georgia.  Here's an outline of this one day course:

Principles of Preparation

Formats and Structures

• Organizational Structures
• Content Based Systems
• What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Industry Approved Documents?

Components of Bid Documents

• Advertisement for Bids
• Instructions to Bidders
• Bid Form
• Payment and Performance Bonds
• Bidding and Contract Reporting Forms
• Contract
• General Conditions / Specifications
• Technical Specifications
• Prevailing Wages
• Specialty Reports and Studies
• Addenda

Project Review of Bid Documents

• Do the Bid Documents Reflect Your Objectives?
• What Provisions Should You Tailor to a Project?
• Who Should Review the Documents Before Advertisement?

Long Term Review of Bid Documents

• Baseline Review
• Annual Review
• Internal and External Consistency
• Training

Document Management and Control

• How Can You Protect Your Standard Documents?
• Where Should the Standard Documents be Electronically Stored?
• Who Should Make Changes to Your Standard Documents?
• How Can You Keep Track of Changes?

Procurement Tools for Ensuring Contractor Performance on Public Construction Projects:  I'll be teaching this class on November 3 in Phoenix, Arizona and then again on November 17 in Hagerstown, Maryland.  Here's an outline of this one day course: 

Is the Contractor Qualified?

• Pre-qualify Bidders
• Establish Bidder Responsibility Criteria
• Specification Qualification Requirements
• Subcontractor Approval Process

How Can You Manage the Bidding Process?

• Develop Clear Bidding Documents
• Optional vs. Mandatory Pre-Bid Meetings
• Craft Clear Addenda
• Accept Bidder’s Claim of Error

How Can Bonding Companies Help?

• Bid Bonds and Other Bid Guaranties
• Performance Bonds
• Payment Bonds
• Warranty Bonds

What Financial Tools Are at Your Disposal?

• Withhold Retainage
• Determine and Assess Liquidated Damages
• Assess Actual Damages
• Obtain Release of Claims Prior to Payments

What Are Effective Construction Management Practices?

• Avoid Front-Loaded Schedule of Values
• Inspect Work Performed
• Review Pay Applications for Work Completed
• Manage Claims Process
• Control Change Orders Approved

Can You Evaluate Contractor Performance?

• Features of Effective Contractor Performance Evaluation Programs
• Using Results from Contractor Evaluations

When Can You Award Based on Price and Qualifications?

• Best Value Procurement
• Design-Build
• Construction Manager at Risk
• Job Order Contracting

Mike Purdy's Public Contracting Blog
© 2014 by Michael E. Purdy Associates, LLC
http://PublicContracting.blogspot.com