Rain days

[airforce]

Here's the questions!

Most contracts have the number of days and rain fall for each month. Once your have exceeded one of the above the other is not use?

If you exceed the amount of normal rain fall how do you determine the number of day of delay. Is it two day per 1/2" or is there some sort of calculation to use?

 

[RDK]

I am having trouble understanding the question. Are you saying that you are contracting for a set amount of rainfall a month?

I think that what you are saying is that the contract allows for some set amount of rain delay and that you are asking how to handle rainfall in excess of this amount.

Generally weather delays are outside the control of the parties to the contract. The delay then affects both parties. The contractor becomes responsible for any additional costs and the owner accepts that the project will be delayed.

As to some formula for calculating the allowable delay due to rain, there is none. The magnitude of the delay will be determined by the stage of construction, the type of construction, the total cumulative rainfall (how saturated is the ground?) etc.

You have to access each situation differently and consider the full impact of the delay.
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com

 

[rskempf]

This is interesting. If you had to estimate extra slippage based on above average rainfall, I would simply pro-rate the slippage according the the average rainfall for the particular month and location you are working in.

Rick

 

[jbarba]

Have not done an outdoor construction project with an Miltary agency for more that 20 years but think the old rules and definitions apply.

Contractors are suppose to price their bid based on a certain number of expected rain days using published data. If those days are exceeded, then the contractors can claim one day extension for each "rain" day. "Rain" day is usually defined and I think it is based on amount of rainfall which restricts working outdoor or affects outdoor working condtions like mud, etc.

"Rain" days provide a reasonable way for contractors to recover unpredictable costs associated with extensions in schedule, construction overheads (Trailers, equipment etc.), and possible penality avoidance. See me at

http://www.carmagen.com

for more discussions.

Most of my recent agency work is not impacted by rain days, so I do not pay attention to current definitions.

Hope this helps.

Joe

 

[jbarba]

Further clarification - most government contracts have a provision for rain delays. Private contracts usually do not.

My experience was that there are predetermined amounts of rain that prevent persons from working outdoors. Also a cerain number of days are expected in a specific geographic region. Go over the limit and a claim can be made - something based on a predetermined formula.

I was involved in a claim with the COE when site conditions negatively impacted several days after the lost rain days. Mud prevented heavy construction equipment to move through a construction site. The argument against accepting the claim was that the contractor should have taken provision in advance to prevent or minimize the potential mud condition.

I think I lost the argument but the Contracting Officer was fair and authorized a portion of my client's loss.

Any one out there need contract claims settlement assistance? That's what these questions seem to point to.

Joe Barba
grandviewconsul@aol.com

or

jbarba@carmagen.com

 

[ColCol]

Joe,

Sell, sell, sell! But don't get caught doing it here. I admire your drive, however.