Part 10 - Do You Know the Entire Contract

 

Critical Components in Division 1 Specifications - Part B

This is the 10th in a series of discussions that is intended to prompt Project Teams to be aware of the entire contract document, including Information For Bidders (IFB), General Conditions/Terms and Conditions (GCs) and the Technical Requirements [Specifications and Drawings.] 

In the rail transit domain, construction contracts may include items that are executed under unique conditions.  The conditions include sharing property by multiple prime contractors, work progress while maintaining Buyer’s use of surrounding assets, restoring asset use after each work period, scheduling work within defined outages and service plan changes.  

Div 1 Railroad Operations:  This section contains the requirements for executing work in a work zone while the Buyer maintains full service for train operations.   The topics may include roadway worker protection, service changes, track/power outages, on-track vehicles, railroad provide services, work during operational emergencies, operating vehicles and vehicles on Right-Of-Way (ROW).

Div 1 Temporary Construction:  This section contains the requirements for constructing and removing temporary work to support work execution, and protecting railroad assets throughout the contract.  The topics may include supervision and employee facilities, parking and storage areas, facilities for railroad personnel, and customer flow through work areas. 

Div 1 Site Conditions Monitoring:   This section contains the requirements for monitoring site conditions  and railroad assets, and implementing corrective actions that may result from influences of passing vehicles on or adjacent to tracks, bridges, buildings, utility poles and equipment rooms and enclosures.     The topics may include soil grade and density, track bed and right of way slope, erosion at abutments and retaining walls.  

Div 1 Pre-Construction Planning and Controls:   This section contains the requirements for the startup, protection  and maintenance of work site conditions throughout the contract.   The topics may include relating the Safe Work Plan with the use of labor and equipment at site specific locations, and utility mapping, excavation monitoring, and mark-out of known subsurface utilities and infrastructure.

Div 1 Code Enforcement Coordination:  This section contains the requirements for coordination of progress on inspections and validation of compliance with the code requirements throughout the contract.   The topics may include a summary of the products in the contract requiring inspection, and the processes, procedures and records that are required for the Buyer to use the work completed under the contract.  

TIP:   Div 1 requirements should be correlated and consistent with the other Division specifications.

TIP:   Depending on circumstances and management requirements, additional Div 1 specifications can be created and incorporated into the contract.   However, more specifications mean more prescriptive requirements.  In turn, it means allocating more management resources to monitor and document compliance, and increase risk threats to progress and critical schedule dates.