Owner Representation

 

Gafy & Company’s Owner Representation Service is staffed with industry professionals in the development and construction delivery process. Our goal is to help you bring your project in within budget, on time, and with minimal exposure to the inherent risks often encountered in construction.

 

To assess project feasibility and to mitigate risk, our Pre-Construction Services include analyzing and evaluating: the construction delivery process; entitlement procurements; retaining of designers; consultants, and constructors; project management; bonding; construction budgets; schedules; and contract documents to assess project feasibility and mitigate risk. Alternatively, we can provide an authoritative "second opinion" on any facet of a project. We also ensure the appropriate monitoring controls are in place during construction to ensure adherence to budgets, schedules, and the desired level of quality.

 

Another vital attribute of our service is our ability to assist your attorneys - who may not have a project management, construction finance, or technical background - with drafting provisions of joint venture, design, or construction agreements. We review and recommend contract clauses that serve to protect our client's interests, point out unacceptable risks, and we advise on commonly accepted industry practices and contract negotiations.

 

Pre-construction Phase

We will assist ownership with identifying, qualifying, selecting, and retaining the required resources to build the project team. Should we be brought in after the majority of the project team is in-place, we will determine whether project management, the contractors, and the designers have the experience, know-how, and staff to complete the job to your satisfaction.

 

Review of Agreements

Assist with the drafting of the partnership, design, construction, and construction loan agreements to make sure that you are protected for matters regarding cash-calls; change order review and approval; funding of stored materials, general conditions, and fees; and ongoing contract administration roles of the designers-of-record.

 

Budget Analysis

We provide an authoritative review of the project's indirect and direct costs as a result of monitoring over a hundred ongoing assignments and having an extensive, historical cost data bank containing the actual incurred costs for over a thousand projects. We will answer key questions regarding budget sufficiency, allocations, and contingency.

 

Review of Drawings and Specifications

We will provide an analysis for completeness and compliance with commonly accepted design practices and the goals and objectives originally established, including schedule.

 

 

Project Management Issues

• Bonding and insurance requirements

• Fast-tracking

• Site safety and security

• Dispute resolution

• Scope of general conditions

• Adequacy of contingency budget

• Contract allowances

• Payment requisition review and disbursement procedures

• Change order approval process

• Claims prevention

• Designer certification and acceptance

• Sharing of GMP savings, etc.

• Assessment of Environmental Risk

 

Testing and Quality Assurance

We review the quality control program for adequacy of third party testing and the roles of the various designers-of-record for conducting periodic site visits to ascertain compliance with the design documents and adherence to commonly accepted levels of workmanship.

 

Project Schedule Review

We advise on governmental permitting, design, and construction durations to determine if the construction schedule desired is achievable. We will determine whether the contractor's schedule is attainable, sufficiently detailed, and appropriate to address moisture-related issues during the "open" phase of construction.

 

Value Engineering

We will identify or evaluate proposed cost reduction opportunities to determine their impact not only on costs, but also on long-term maintenance/operating costs, their expected useful life and aesthetic or physical impairments to the building.

 

Construction Phase

Serving as your representative during construction, we offer customized Construction Risk Management (PMO) services tailored for your project and risk position. As an independent source of objective information and analysis, we monitor all aspects of the project to help you anticipate problems so that preemptive corrective action can be taken. Our progress status reports clearly and concisely inform on project management and criteria such as adherence to budgets, scheduling, contract drawings and specifications, and quality standards.

 

Representation at Meetings

Design review, value engineering work sessions, and project meetings.

 

Monitoring Compliance with Agreements

Partnership, design, and construction.

 

Compliance of the Work with Contract Documents

Monitoring compliance of the work with the approved drawings, specifications, and desired levels of quality.

 

Budget Monitoring

We monitor the direct and indirect cost budgets against trade payment breakdowns and payment requisition line items, and analyze general condition backup receipts.

Review of the Construction Schedule

We monitor the construction schedule against actual progress of the trades to assure that the project will be completed on time or to advise you of schedule overruns that could impact delivery and holding costs such as financing and general conditions.

Contractor Payment Requisition Review

Certification of work-in-place, and review of on and off-site stored materials.

Designer Payment Requisition review

Review of architect and/or engineers' invoices for compliance with design agreements and appropriateness of any additional fees.

 

Change Order Analysis

A review to determine if the costs are commensurate with the value added or deducted. Also, we will make sure that the anticipated change has the designer's consent so that it will not materially impact aesthetics or building operations.

 

Project Close-out and Acceptance

Upon completion of your project, IVI offers closeout and acceptance services the review the following documentation:

• Substantial Completion

• Punch Lists

• Certificates of Completion

• Designers' Affidavits

• Waivers-of-Lien

• Warranties and Guarantees

• Certificates of Occupancy

• Hold Backs and Release of Retainage