The Project Manager as Contract Administrator

The prime objective of the Project Manager acting as Contract Administrator is to protect the Owner s best interests by insuring that the work is executed in full compliance with the contract. Specific items include  

All contractual communications especially those concerning deviations, even minor ones, from the contract must be documented through  

If the contract goes sour, a good diary may prove priceless. 

The recommended way to start any contractual work is by holding a kickoff meeting attended by both project managers, their supervisors, and the Contract Engineer. This meeting should be dedicated to the review of the scope and contractual conditions to make sure that everybody has the same understanding. 

The concerns associated with lump sum contracts differ from those associated with reimbursable contracts. In the former, the emphasis is on making the contractor live up to promises made in the proposal the client wants to get as much as possible for the money. In a reimbursable contract, the emphasis is on keeping the contractor from doing, and spending, more than required the client wants to keep costs to a minimum. In both cases, safety and soundness in design and construction are the compelling concerns. 

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