The Design Build Team
At Benchmark Construction, Inc. we believe in and work hard to foster a "TEAM" approach to every project we are involved in. Every member of the design build team (including building owner, architect, structural engineer, civil engineer, general contractor, mechanical and electrical contractors) participate in design meetings and reviews so that everyone's point of view is considered and the optimum design is created while always focusing on the owner's budget needs and requirements. No one design build team member is more or less important than the others.

Construction Project Management
Benchmark Construction, Inc. believes in a two-pronged approach to project management on every design build project. First on the office side, Benchmark Construction designates a full time employee that is responsible for the project management of each building venture. Benchmark's project manager will be responsible for issuing all notices and communication affecting this project on a timely basis, coordinating the building project with all local and state regulatory authorities, negotiating with all sub contractors, and communicating with the building owner including the architect. The project manager will have full authority to make decisions for while representing the contractor's interest in matters related to cost, schedule and execution of construction.

Secondly, Benchmark Construction will designate a full time employee that acts as a field superintendent until substantial completion of the building project. This superintendent will be assigned to this project management only and is on site eight hours or more a day. The field superintendent shall be experienced with the specified building materials and systems used in the construction project. The superintendent will also be responsible for daily planning and execution of all fieldwork. This includes scheduling and directing sub contractors on the job site, maintaining on site records as required, managing dimensional control of the structures while monitoring the completed work for compliance with the contract drawings including specifications.

Construction Planning
Benchmark Construction, Inc. with input from the owner will coordinate with the design build team construction planning during the pre construction phase of the building project. Meetings will be held as required to review, discuss and plan the project. Planning items include:

• Project Master Schedule
• Construction Phasing Plan
• Design Drawing Review
• Coordination with Outside Agencies
• Coordination with Public Utility Services
• Conceptual Estimating
• Value Engineering
• Budget Development
• Constructability Review
• Budget Review and Control
• Bidder Pre-qualification and Bid Solicitation
• Definition of "Bid-Package" Scopes
• Final Bid Tabulations and Review

Construction Project Scheduling
Benchmark Construction, Inc. utilizes Critical Path Method scheduling for all of its projects. Currently we are using Scitor's PS-6 for our scheduling. This schedule details the activity duration of everyone involved in the project. The printed schedule shows the percent complete of each activity in the design build project and the current date line. This makes it easy to see whether the project is on schedule, ahead of schedule or behind schedule. The project schedule is discussed weekly and updated monthly so that everyone involved is kept abreast of the progress of the job. Below is an example of a schedule from a past project.