Project Management Services

The role of Baseline on a project is to develop, monitor, and maintain the project schedule by addressing any of the items that could influence or impact the schedule. Although Baseline is usually brought in by the owner, developer, or contractor, our philosophy is that we work for the Project. Our goal is to ensure that the project schedule is met, and we do so by monitoring as an independent party. Any items that could affect the schedule are addressed, documented, and monitored until they are resolved.

The actual development of a Project Schedule occurs by using activities and durations provided by the team members that are designing or constructing the project. Our experience shows that team members buy into the schedule more extensively when they participate in the schedule development by providing the data used to build the schedule. Typically, the schedule is developed in a series of meetings that take place when Baseline comes on board. Baseline and the client, whether it is the owner, contractor, or architect, will oversee and confirm the schedule activities, durations, and logic as they are provided and incorporated into the draft of the schedule. After the schedule is completed, it is distributed to the team members for their review and comment. Comments are incorporated, and a working copy of the schedule is issued. Revision to the schedules are made as they become necessary.

Baseline typically conducts Update Meetings on a bi-weekly basis. The Baseline consultant walks the project to evaluate the progress made since the previous meeting. The meeting’s purpose is to review and discuss the planned and actual progress with the project team. Progress is evaluated relative to the Short Term Schedule, which is a seven week window from the Project Schedule. New Short Terms are developed by incorporating updated information. The Short Term Schedule is also used to make minor modifications to the project logic without revising the Project Schedule.

In separate meetings that usually follow the Progress Update Meetings, Baseline reviews the schedule status and Action Items with the owner, architect, general contractor, and other key team members. Depending on the project, these could be specific subcontractors, material suppliers, vendors, and other consultants.

The agenda of the O/A/C Meeting is the Action Item List. This is an ongoing list that is maintained and updated by Baseline. Items that could affect the project schedule in any way are put on the Action Item List and are reviewed in every meeting until the issues are completely resolved.

 

This monitoring system is open and relies on communication between team members. Action plans are developed and results are tracked with the responsible individuals. Team members are motivated to solve problems in a timely manner to keep from adversely impacting the project. With this system, the status of any issue is known by all parties.

Baseline electronically or traditionally mails progress reports to all team members after meetings. Although an electronically formatted medium distributed via e-mail is preferred, hard copies are made available upon request. These reports include:

Meeting attendees

Detailed summary, focusing on current status relative to the Overall Progress Schedule

Problem identification

Progress photographs

Action Item Lists

Short Term Schedule

 

Overall Progress Schedule

Baseline Consultants uses their expertise in the field of scheduling, along with information provided by its client, to create CPM schedules that will aid in claim analysis. Accurate and verified schedules from a 3rd partly allow an unbiased opinion to be formed on many aspects of the project. These can include determining the critical path(s) and what items are delaying the schedule. Many parties in the construction process can benefit by having an expert claims analyst; including the owner, general contractor, or sub-contractor.

To aid the general contractor and other team members, BASELINE can develop, upon request, a schedule for the entire project showing the original durations and commitments made by the various contractors performing work. These schedules are used to show the conformity to or disparity between the original and actual durations of activities occurring throughout the project, and can be used for documentation or other purposes.

Performing construction work for governmental agencies, such as VA (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), GSA (General Services Administration), NAVFAC (Naval Facilities Engineering Command), USACE (US Army Corps of Engineers) and AFCESA (Air Force Civil Engineering Support Agency), can require adherence to rigorous scheduling specifications. Baseline Consultants is experienced in providing services on government contracting work that conforms to these requirements. Through direct contact with the project management staff and representative governmental agencies, our consultants can deliver scheduling services to help our clients keep their government reporting and billings under control throughout the design, construction, and project closeout lifecycle.