PURPOSE
The purpose of this section is to discuss the General Requirements (GRs) of the contract documents, which contain additional procedures for administering the construction contract.
REFERENCES
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RESPONSIBILITIES
- Project Manager (PM): The PM oversees development of the Project Specifications and approves alternative selections where such is allowed within the Master GRs.
- Project Engineer (PE): The PE approves deletions, additions and modifications to the GR Articles where such is allowed. Master Specifications Committee: The Master Specifications Committee receives comments and suggestions from PMs, PEs, and other staff, and sends comments to appropriate subcommittees for review. Following review, the recommended language will be presented to the Master Specifications Committee and, if acceptable, will be forwarded to the Executive Specification Group for final approved, and uploaded to the Master Specifications.
PROCEDURE
The second element of the Master Specifications is the GRs. The GRs are a written document that set forth specific conditions applicable to a particular project, group of projects, or program. The GRs contain additional procedures for administering the construction contract. Some of these procedures are fixed and non-changeable, while others can be tailored to the specific project. Some of the articles contain options for the specifier. One of the options needs to be selected for the particular project.
For example, Article 01112, Description of Work must be developed for the particular project in question. Article 01254, Payment for Changes and Extra Work cannot be modified by anyone other than the Board of Public Works because its provisions have been adopted as Board policy. It must be used “as is” and a “Notice to Specifier” clearly states this requirement. Article 01321, Contractor’s Construction Schedule and Reports presents four basic schedule options, one of which needs to be selected for the particular project. Once selected, the language of that option should be used “as is” and not modified. “Notices to Specifier” are used throughout the GRs to guide the PE and PM through the process.
It is important for PMs and PEs to begin development of their project specific GRs using the latest master version from the Bureau’s Library of Specifications. The PM is responsible for ensuring that the specifications effort is proceeding in a timely manner and that the resulting document conforms to the latest version of the Master Specifications.
It is important for the PM and PE to understand that certain GR Articles have been formally adopted by the Board of Public Works. As such, they cannot be modified except by Board action. GR Article 01254 is one example. The prerogative of designers, project engineers, and project managers is limited only to areas identified as such with a “Notice to Specifier”. The restriction on editing and modifying Article 01254 is based on policies adopted by the Executive Master Specification Committee on behalf of the City Engineer or through a particular Board Policy such as Time & Material Change Orders, dated March 14, 2003.
The PE either uses a pre-edited version of the GRs or tailors the unabridged version for use by project designers. In either case, the resulting specification must use the Master Specifications with the latest revisions as its basis. The PE reviews and approves changes and revisions to the GRs, where allowed, and ensures that the technical aspects of the document are coordinated between the engineering disciplines, architect, Plans, Specifications, constructability review and other conditions. With regards to “Notices to Specifier”, the PE must incorporate any appropriate verbiage and delete the remainder of the Notice(s).
Exception: The discretion of the PM or PE to change, revise or edit General Requirements Section 01254, Change Orders, is restricted.
RELATED PROCEDURES
LINKS / ATTACHMENTS
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