Helping Owners Realize the Full Value of Their Capital  Investments

Capital projects typically represent the largest investments that an organization will make.  However, for many organizations, it is an infrequent and poorly understood undertaking.  Design professionals, contractors, and construction managers, while interested in doing the best job that they can, at the end of the day are in business to make a profit and must look after their own interests.  At times, that can result in the vendor downplaying the best interest of the owner in order to tend to their own.

RPM Associates provides an independent, unbiased resource for owners.  Our core construction services include project management reviews, evaluation of project/program controls, construction contract compliance audits, and construction cost recovery services.

Construction Related Services

Services Provided

· Contract Audits and Cost Recovery Services
Our contract audits and billing reviews are designed to provide owners with the assurance that vendor billings are accurate and in compliance with contract terms and conditions.   Large construction projects typically involve hundreds of invoices on a monthly basis.  The potential for billing errors, duplication, and overbilling is significant.  Our contract compliance services assist owners in finding those errors and recovering costs, typically, anywhere from 3% to 6% of the invoice dollar values reviewed.  We have significant experience in the review of all forms of contracts, from lump-sum/fixed price to cost-plus arrangements to EPC and other forms of design/build agreements.

· Construction Program and Project Reviews and Evaluations
Whether an individual project or a full capital expansion program, RPM Associates can provide owners with an independent evaluation of the strengths and weakness of their construction management process.  Our evaluations cover the entire project lifecycle—scoping, design, construction, and commissioning—and focus on providing an objective evaluation of performance in he following key areas:

Þ Project Organization and Administration—Is the organizational framework optimized for the project?  Are roles and responsibilities clearly defined so that critical tasks don’t “fall through the cracks?”

Þ Cost Reporting—Are financial reports appropriately detailed to provide management the information they need to make informed decisions?  Are budget estimates based on realistic estimates to complete?

Þ Change Management—What is the process for handling change requests?  Are change orders tracked according to initiating source?  Are contractor cost estimates independently verified?

Þ Schedule Management—Is the level of scheduling detail appropriate to the size of the project?  Has the contractor provided a cost loaded schedule that can be used to accurately estimate the implications of changes and delays?

Þ Risk Management—Are formalized processes in place to accurately anticipate and track project risks?  Are event probabilities considered and quantified?

Þ Procurement Management—Are procurement procedures standardized?  Are materials specifications standardized where appropriate?  Is vendor performance tracked for the benefit of future projects?

· Project Controls Assessments
We provide an independent assessment of construction project controls, policies, and procedures.  Drawing on years of experience and a battery of previous projects, we can provide owners with an honest evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of their current controls, and provide specific solutions and suggestions for improvement.  We don’t just point out deficiencies, we provide owners with the tools to correct areas of weakness. 

RPM Associates, Inc.
PO Box 331605

Nashville, TN  37203

To contact us:

Tel: (615) 319-9869

Fax: (504) 754-7639

Email: inquiries@rpm-associates.com

Blog: Managing—Learning—Creating