The New Prison

[Upstream]

In a nutshell I think it's a case of getting your foot in the door and once you've been awarded the contract make claims like mad on anything and everything. Or in other words the 'extras' - the items that weren't properly allowed for in the first place or unforeseen circumstances. And of course, the very last thing the client (government) wants is for a contractor to go bust in the middle of a job, so they will be supported once in there.

 

Some would reasonably argue that a more thorough pre-contract and design process along with proper project management (see firms such as Dalrymples) would minimise these huge claims (see The Hospital for details).

 

Regarding the Government Buildings I heard, 'down the pub' a 'top Quantity Surveyor' express the opinion that it is simply impossible to carry out the work for the price submitted by the winning tenderer. (Although maybe just possible in other areas where materials/labour/accommodation etc. are less expensive)

 

 

 

Thanks for the explanation Billy One Mate.

BoM?

[geo]

Several of the contracts at teh new prison have all ready been awarded without going to tender, these went to companies owned by Dazza

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Can you name these companies and what contracts have been awarded.

[Billy One Mate]

I dont think he will be able too Geo. As anybody who knows the procedure NO CONTRACTS CAN BE AWARDED ON ANY CAPITAL SCHEME UNTIL TYNWALD HAS GIVEN ITS FINAL APPROVAL.

I am sure some Contracts will be ready and on hold for example the Mechanical and Electrical Contract, Specialised Security Installations etc.

 

Unless of course he means the Design Team and yes they will all have Contracts now but this again would have been after Tynwald approval.

 

Crumlin you are missing the point the first tender recieved in this process is an indicitive price based on limited information. If they now go out to tender it will be with full design information and a complete Bill of Quantities. Everybody will be pricing on an equal basis.

[Billy One Mate]

Upstream your point about not wanting a Contractor to go bust during the course of the works cannot be further from the truth and I can say this from personal experience. Although it wasnt directly the Governments intention the Design Team certainly wanted it to happen in order that their mistakes could be covered up. Many Civil Servants and Politicians were aware of the situation and although very sympathetic they did ver little to resolve the situation. One day soon I will hopefully be able to talk in depth about this issue.

[TheTool]

Well to be honest with you can the isle of man afford to tender these jobs out to UK firms, on the news there are 12 firms in the employers federation laying off men and there is no sign they will take them back on in the new year.

 

Thats the ones you here about what about the small contractors, they should be looking after local builders and contractors not giving the work away its complete maddness.

 

i reckon there is a lot more job losses to come due to most of the big projects are coming to a end and the housing market has slowed nearly to a stop.

 

like they say the bigger they are the harder they fall

[Grumble]

Firstly, I know nothing about the building industry.

 

But as an outside it strikes me that the best course of action is for Government to have specialist advice on how much it should cost to build, and a timescale/schedule for the works.

 

The specialists then hire Manx workers on a fixed contract to do the job in the required time. I appreciate that there are variables like weather, so they would need to be factored in.

 

Then we end up with a new prison - lots of Manx workers have made a good living in return for some hard work, the budget is the one that was agreed at the outset, and it's on time. Those who couldn't fulfil their part of the contract during the build were replaced.

 

Why does the work have to go to a building firm/developer anyway? Why should the taxpayer buy more Porsches and Ferraris? Or am I being thick?

[Billy One Mate]

Grumble what you are talking about is Management Contracting which was carried out at the new hospital. Budget of something like 70 million final cost 120 million.

[sideways]

There have been a lot of people laid off in the construction industry already due to the government not releasing any major works this year.

 

I had to lay of four people in June because work had dried up, most of the major projects came to an end at the beginning of the year and nothing has started.

 

Next year there is the next phase of the iris scheme to be released, the prison should be going ahead the new water treatment plant, all planned to start next year, if they do go ahead then it will be mayhem again for the local companies trying to get the staff back to cope. It is the old “feast or famine” situation unfortunately a nice steady balance of work doesn’t ever seem to happen.

[ans]

OK lets have some facts here not idle pub gossip.

 

You don't belong round here.

[Billy One Mate]

Ans Ive come over all emotional. Thats the first nice thing youve said to me.

[TheTool]

Well looks like the project is off again i think if i was one of these contractors i would be very p*ssed off, but like we all know you should not put all your eggs in one basket.

 

i guess some of these guys will have a bad christmas this year, but i guess they will not get compo because the tender was not accepted.

 

it's nice to see the manx government looking after the manx workers lol.

 

Personally i was in the employers federation but because i didn't even get to tender for a government contract, they never seem to get to tender stage i think you have to know the right people to get the work, so i did not bother renewing my membership.

 

i reckon this could put a few guys under next year i reckon it will be at least 12 months before work starts down in jurby.

[happy camper]

So if you want anything doing round the house this is the time to do it?