CHAP. 3.2 SUPERVISION OF CONTRACTOR'S OPERATIONS
In regard to construction contracts, contracting officer delegates to the
Construction Engineer authority to deal with the contractor on most contract
matters. Bureau specifications require that a contractor have at the con-
struction site at all times a representative who is authorized to act for him
on contract matters, thus making it possible to arrive promptly at such deci-
sions at that level. Any instructions of importance to the contractor should
be made in writing, and dealings in all except minor matters should be with
the contractor's authorized representative. It is the responsibility of the
Construction Engineer to maintain relations between the Government staff
and the contractor's forces on a friendly but businesslike basis, and do every-
thing practicable to expedite construction obtaining at the same time
conformance with the contract and specifications.
The Construction Engineer may withhold approval of methods or procedures
advocated by the contractor if he is certain that such methods or procedures
will result in work not in accordance with the specifications, or will endanger
life or Government property. On the other hand, the Construction Engineer
should not direct operations or recommend construction methods to the con-
tractor. The means of accomplishing work under the contract are the respon-
sibility of the contractor. The quality of the work that is done is the
responsibility of the Construction Engineer and his staff.
.2 The Bureau does not officially recognize subcontractors. Any instructions,
requests, changes, correspondence, etc., should be directed to the prime
contractor, and he in turn will take up the matter with his subcontractor.
The prime contractor is responsible for the actions of his subcontractor in
the same manner as though he were performing the work himself.
.3 Any construction project on which two or more contractors are working
requires coordination between contracts. It is a responsibility of the Con-
struction Engineer to synchronize the work of the various contractors in
order to get the best and most efficient over-all job done. The Construction
Engineer may be called upon to make decisions regarding use of Government
land or equipment by contractors; to expedite certain features of a contract
in order not to delay another contract; and to resolve minor issues that are
not covered in the specifications. Any decisions must be in accordance with
the provisions of contracts in force, and the objective should be to aid the
project as a whole. It should be borne in mind that a facility usually cannot
be operated until all the contracts are completed, and the Construction Engi-
neer should make every effort to coordinate the work so that no lagging
contract will delay completion of the project.
.4 The contractor's proposed construction schedule (see Chapter 6.3) is the
basis for coordination of the features of a contract. Often there are specifi-
cation provisions which require that specific items of the work be done at
certain times, and the schedule should reflect these requirements. It is a
responsibility of the Construction Engineer to see that the construction
schedule is followed, or in the event of any departure therefrom, that the
sequence of construction will complete the various features in conformance
with the specifications. Any changes to an approved construction schedule
should be shown in subsequent construction schedules.
.5 Construction specifications provide that the location, construction,
maintenance, operation, and removal of contractor's camps shall be subject
to the approval of the contracting officer, when such camps are located on
Government land in the area. Other areas of the construction project are
subject to similar administrative jurisdiction, and the Construction Engineer,
as authorized representative of the contracting officer, exercises this author-
ity. Each contractor will administer his camp area and construction area
subject to the approval of the Construction Engineer, as set forth above.
Areas set aside for Government camps, Government warehouses, force
account work, etc., are under the direct supervision of the construction
Engineer, subject to established Bureau policies, standards, and procedures.
Sanitary and police rules may be established by the Construction Engineer,
and if not enforced by the contractor, they may be enforced by the Construction
Engineer at the expense of the contractor.
RELATION
SHIP WITH CONTRACTOR
RELATION-
SHIP WITH
SUBCON-
TRACTORS
COORDINATION BETWEEN CONTRACTORS
COORDINATION BETWEEN FEATURES OF A CONTRACT
AUTHORITY OVER CAMPS & GENERAL CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS AREA
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADEQUACY
OF CONTRACTOR'S PLANT
EQUIPMENT
& PERSONNEL
CHAP. 3.2 SUPERVISION OF CONTRACTOR'S OPERATIONS
.6 Construction specifications provide that the capacity of the contractor's plant, sequence of operations, methods of operation, and the forces employe shall at all times be subject to the approval of the contracting officer. Normally, batching plants, concrete mixing plants, concrete vibrators, steel forms for tunnels, siphons and conduits, earth compacting equipment, and similar equipment that can affect the quality of the work are inspected for adequacy by the contracting officer. Such personnel as welders, machinists, and electricians must be fully qualified. Welders on such work as penstocks. discharge pipes, etc., are required to take a qualifying test under a Bureau welding inspector. Key supervisory personnel must also be qualified for the positions held.
CONTROL OF .7 The Construction Engineer is responsible for materials furnished by the
GOVERN-
Government and delivered to him until they are turned over to the contractor,
Such materials when turned over to the contractor should be in good conditio
and suitable for use in the work.
FURNISHED MATERIALS Procurement
RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTRACTOR'S
METHODS
OF OPERATION
RESPONSIBILITY FOR INSPECTION & TESTS
COMPUTA
TION OF
WORK DONE
BY CONTRACTOR
A. Construction specifications usually provide that certain materials will be furnished by the Government. Procurement of these materials may be initiated by the contracting officer for the construction contract, or authority to procure the materials may be delegated to the regional or operating office. The Construction Engineer will inform the procuring office of materials requirements sufficiently in advance so that construction requirements may be met. When procurement is not delegated to the Construction Engineer, the office awarding the contract will furnish the Construction Engineer with information on the progress of procurement.
B. Normally, the general contractor is required to transport and handle Government-furnished material from point of delivery to the Governmen warehouse or point of storage. Instructions regarding the warehousing di materials are contained in Volume XX, Property Management.
.8 The contractor is responsible for his method of operation. The Construction Engineer should object to methods employed only if it is clearly evident that work resulting will not conform to specifications; that the contract cannot be completed in the allowable time; or that safety regulations will be violated. Some specifications stipulate that certain methods of operation be employed; for example, blasting may not be permitted in certain areas of rock excavation. However, if not covered by the specifications, methods of operation should be left to the contractor so far as practicable. Otherwise, the possibility of claims against the Government arises.
.9 The results of inspection and tests on construction work are the means by which the Construction Engineer is assured that a contract is performed in accordance with specifications. Since his primary responsibility is to see that the work is so performed, his responsibility for field inspection and field tests is evident.
.10 It is the responsibility of the Construction Engineer to see that progress and final estimates are prepared for contract work, as a basis for payments to the contractor, in accordance with the instructions contained in Parts 5 and 8.
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