The estimating component of Gerald Martin Construction Management is crucial to achieving both budget and schedule. Gerald Martin Construction Management estimating team constantly keeps its finger on the pulse of the construction industry to keep track of costs and availability of resources concerning materials, labor, contractors and subcontractors. Our estimators have a proven ability to provide realistic, accurate preliminary and conceptual cost estimates on large and complex projects.
The main objective of Value Engineering is to reduce cost while maintaining high quality standards without reducing the function or intent of the project. Value Engineering and Useful Life Cost Analysis brings together architectural and engineering disciplines along with the client and the rest of the team to maximize the benefit (value) of each dollar to be spent on the project.
A structured value engineering process to devise the most cost effective solutions to achieve the programmatic requirements is one of our specialties. We work with our clients and their design teams to assist in the selection of materials and methods that are the most practical and cost effective in the prevailing bid climate. Our experience and expert staff enable us to quickly identify, quantify and price potential cost and time saving ideas.
During schematics and design development phases, our staff use facilitated Value Engineering sessions to analyze each building component and the overall systems. Our experts provide input involving life-cycle analysis, operating and maintenance costs, alternate materials, modifications of design, reductions in quantities, and procedures other than those set forth in the contract documents.
As part of our VE process, Gerald Martin Construction Management serves as an information source for our customers to avoid potential procurement and delivery problems on critical materials. We can verify the availability of schedule- or cost-critical items and suggest workable alternatives. Determining the optimum use of materials and equipment makes a significant positive impact on cost, quality and schedule.
As part of our development of contract strategies during the planning phase, long-lead items are identified for early procurement. Our personnel place special emphasis on those activities or items that have historically long-delivery times, or where price escalation can be minimized by early commitment, or where procurement on an "out of normal" sequence can significantly reduce construction time or costs. We also identify materials that can be purchased directly by the Owner to avoid subcontractor markup.
