Impact & Control of RFIs on Construction Projects

This construction project management training discusses the genesis of RFIs and their development and discusses the impact of RFIs on construction projects, drawing upon data provided by ACONEX and other studies to assess how RFIs and the RFI processes impact both small large scale construction projects. It will also address the abuse of the RFI process examining how some contractors misuse RFIs to increase profitability, a practice that has become somewhat institutionalized in the past decade. The speaker discusses a claim case study involving a laboratory building at wastewater treatment facility to illustrate how the process can be abused and examines the legal arguments for cumulative impact as a result of a large quantity of RFIs. The webinar will also explain how owners inadvertently contribute to the abuse of RFIs by failing to adopt practices that may contractually safeguard against the potential negative impacts of the RFI process and sets forth a framework for reducing the impact of RFIs that consists of three principal recommendations: the incorporation of critical definitions and an RFI control specification; electronic RFI tracking and monitoring RFIs; and sets forth best management practices concerning RFIs that owners and contractors can adopt and implement for managing the RFI process.

Why Should You Attend

Learn about how the RFI process can be abused and used as the basis of claims.
Learn how to mitigate the adverse impact of RFIs through contractual mechanisms.
Understand the value of an electronic RFI tracking and monitoring system.
Understand the best management practices concerning RFIs and the RFI process.

Areas Covered in this Webinar

Learn how the RFI process came about and is intended to be used in the construction industry.
Better understand the impact of RFIs on construction projects based on data from approximately 1,400 projects including the average time and cost to review and respond to an RFI.
Gain an understanding of how the RFI process can be abused.
Be exposed to legal decisions concerning how the number of RFIs on projects has been used to prove delay and cumulative impact claims.
Understand what definitions should be included in construction projects to help lessen the impact of RFIs.
Examine a proposed RFI specification which may be included in contracts to mitigate the impact of RFIs.
Understand how electronic tracking and monitoring of RFIs will help further mitigate the adverse impact of RFIs on projects.
Finally, learn about the best management practices concerning the management of RFIs.

Learning Objectives

Understand how the RFI system can be abused, to the detriment of the owner.
Learn the true cost of receiving, processing and responding to an RFI and how this impacts the cost and time of a project.
Become familiar with some ways to control the RFI system and mitigate the potential for claims arising from RFIs.

Who Will Benefit

Attorneys dealing with construction delays and cumulative impact claims.
Owners and owner representatives managing capital improvement projects.
Contractor executives, project managers, project sponsors and project control personnel.
Construction managers and design professionals performing services during construction.

Speaker and Presenter Information

James G. Zack, Jr., CCM, CFCC, FFA, FAACE, FRICS, PMP, is the Executive Director of the Navigant Construction Forum – the construction industry’s global resource for thought leadership and best practices on avoidance and resolution of construction project disputes globally.

Formerly, Executive Director, Corporate Claims Management for Fluor Corporation, a $24 billion/year EPC with offices and projects worldwide.

Previous to that, Vice President of PinnacleOne and Executive Director, PinnacleOne Institute and Senior Construction Claims Consultant with CH2M HILL, Inc.

With 40+ years of experience working on construction projects, he is a recognized expert in mitigation, analysis and resolution or defense of construction claims.

Mr. Zack has made construction claims presentations and been involved with claims throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, Egypt, Chile, China, England, Guatemala, Germany, India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Mexico, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, South Africa, Tatarstan, The Netherlands, The Philippines, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. He has been involved in more than 5,000 claims and has been designated as an expert witness in mediation, arbitration and litigation.

Mr. Zack is a Fellow of AACE International and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Mr. Zack is a Certified Forensic Claims Consultant, a Certified Construction Manager and a Project Management Professional.

Mr. Zack is a nationally known author, speaker and trainer concerning the management, mitigation and resolution of construction claims on public works projects.