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Competency

Reference

Level

How can you be sure that the specification is carried out to the required quality
How do you think contractor design responsibilities could have been better addressed
within your contract documents
A client is planning to expand his existing hotel. What advice would you give him on how to
proceed
You have mentioned about information flow and difficulties we all face in meeting
deadlines with little or no information when would you be prepared to delay a project
from going out to tender

19

If a sub contractor is to take any responsibility for design, how would you recommend your
client ensure he takes responsibility for that design
How would you cope with the design aspect in the develop and construct projects
What is novation
Are there any disadvantages of novation novating the design team
What criteria are important to establish under a design and construct contract
How can you clarify these criteria and ensure that they are carried out
Can you think of any reason why we might nominate
Do you know what the generic from for civils contract is
Why does the civils side of the industry use such a contract
Who takes a greater risk under a civils contract
Have you heard of measure and value contracts
What does the term tender sum mean
What are the differences in procurement between JCT Standard Form and JCT with
Contractor's design
Under what circumstances would you recommend the use of a Construction Management
contract
What are the advantages of Construction Management

20

What is the difference between Construction Management and Management Contracting

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What sort of contract would a Construction Management job take

Is Construction Management more expensive or cheaper
How would you minimise variations under a design and construction contract
How do you deal with contractor design within JCT Standard Form
Novating the architect what are your views
Why would you use construction management and what are its disadvantages
What are Lathams recommendations

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What other options are there available in terms of tender documentation other than BQs

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Why would you use a BQ instead of a schedule of work

What things would you consider when choosing a procurement route
What would you discuss in a tender report
What would you do if you considered a contractor submitting the lowest tender was in
financial difficulty
What would you do if the lowest tenderer had submitted no pricing of the preliminaries,
would you recommend he was accepted
How did you undertake a tender evaluation
How did you compare submissions
You say you then had them arithmetically checked what would you have done if there
was an error

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Cyril Sweett Ltd

Procurement
(suppliers)

APC Interview
Previous Questions

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Cyril Sweett Ltd

Competency

Procurement
(suppliers)

APC Interview
Previous Questions

Reference

Level

If a tenderer failed to submit a tender by noon, or when the deadline was and rang you up
to explain why, and asked to submit could you accept, what if he was lower than the
others
How could you choose a list of tendering contractors, any other criteria
How long would the tender period be and why
In a design and build contract if the designs returned were completely different contractors
proposals, what would you do
What methods of procurement are available to reduce confrontation
What are the advantages of this form of procurement
What forms of procurement are likely to be undertaken in the future
How many contractors would you include on a tender list
How long were tenderers obliged to keep their tenders open for
Name the ways in which you would deal with it under all other contracts
Do you think that a different procurement route would have best suited this project
Would you say the tendering process for your project was single or two stage
What things would you consider when choosing contractors for a tender list
What are the procedures for tendering
What if there are any qualifications within the tender
What about computing errors
What in your opinion is a satisfactory method of procuring a tender list
What forms the tender documents for a design and build package
What input do you have in the preparation of the tender documents
What do the tenderers return
How do you assess a returned D&B tender
What do you do if the lowest tender is also the lowest quality in terms of specification
What is your advice to the client if tenders are returned late
Would you advise a client to re-tender tenders again, if you became a member of the
RICS would your answer still be the same
How would you deal with a front loaded BQ
How do you appoint a CM and what processes and methods of selection should you
consider
On receipt of tenders on a job you are working on, you produce a tender analysis. Half an
hour later a tenderer rings you up to inform you that he has made a 100,000 error in his
tender which makes his tender the lowest, what do you do
How could you ensure that the correct contractor is selected for the work to minimise the
risk of him withdrawing or being forced to withdraw from the tender process
What forms of procurement route are available that allow an early start on site
How does the procurement route chosen effect cost certainty
In a two stage tender process who is responsible for producing the tender
Do you think the 2 stage D&B process is a hybrid
What should you consider in procurement route selection

70

Tenderers have been informed that qualified tenders are invalid. The lowest tender
returned contains qualifications but the clients wants to use them. What do you advise.

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Do you think having a contractor on board early is overrated.

Would you include a claims conscious contractor in the tender list

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Competency

Procurement
(suppliers)

Cyril Sweett Ltd

Reference

Level

If prime contracting became the norm and QSs no longer had a major role how do you
think you could be involved in the procurement process
What is a framework agreement
Do you have an opinion on the work of PFI
Do you see any real benefits from PFI
Do you think it might change the structure of the construction industry
Do you approve of partnering? What is project and strategic partnering
How do you compare a returned elemental analysis
Do you think Labour have made or are likely to make PFI work in the future
Management contracting has had its hey day, design and build is now the flavour of the
month what do you feel about this statement
What do you understand by SOJEC and give examples
How does the NHS pay for the services provided under PFI
Using an approximate quantities bill, how do you firm it up?
If the nature and character of the works are not known at tender stage but you want the
contractor to price or make allowance what can you do?
Could you tell us what novation is?
Explain PFI
Who does the client have a contract with in CH?
What about management contracting?
Do you think management contracting us a risk free contract for the employer?
If a project overruns is the main contractor responsible?
We are a client concerned about how the building looks, how would that affect your
advice?

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What form of contract would you recommend for a large shopping centre development?

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Would you go for a fixed price contract for large project?

What is a GMP type of contract?
Are architects and engineers always novated to contractor under GMP?
What role is there for QS under GMP?
Are you aware of what is going on in private finance?
What financial arrangements would there be for a hospital?
If a contractor had not done management contracting before would you consider him?
Does design and build have greater cost certainty than description of works?
Do you have strict cost control on D&B?
What are the advantages of Bills of Quantities?
Does contingency sums give you cost certainty?
Would you have contingency in BQs
How would you prepare the Employers Requirement on a D&B project?
What do you understand about the term PFI?
How is the initiative introduced regarding schools say?
What are continuity contracts?
What advantages are there in continuity contracts?
What risk does a Management Contractor take on?
What is a prime cost contract?
What do you understand by estimated price cost?
What is an SPV?

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Competency

Procurement
(suppliers)

Cyril Sweett Ltd

Reference

Level

What are the advantages of using the NEC contract?

The Client is insistent on a quick start on site (3 weeks) on a 10m project, what
procurement option would you recommend?
Under D&B the documents refer to Employers Agent, what role does the EA perform?
D&B is the best route for refurbishment, what do you think?
How would you present your argument against D&B for refurbishment?
What matters result in a Loss and Expense claim?
What are Heads of Claims?
What happens if there is a mistake in the tender returns?
What is the tenderer deemed to have included for in respect of a defined Provisional
Sum?
How would you establish a contractors credit rating?
Why would you be bothered by their credit-worthiness?
What criteria do you use to evaluate tenders?
Tenders are returned with fully priced bills, methods statements etc, how do you assess
them?
How do you recommend tender for acceptance?
How is a programme a contract document?
Tendering Alternative a what does is say?
Why do we have these alternatives and which is fairer?
Does a tender always represent actual cost?
Give examples of when performance specified works may be required and when they
might not?
What procedures do you as a QS carry out during the tender stage?
Under the NJCC single stage selective tendering, how many tenders do you assess?
How would dayworks be included within a BQ?
What would you ask for in a first stage tender?
What happens with errors in a first stage tender?
What would you do if you found errors in a contractors tender?
What are the essential items, statements etc., required on a form of tender to be returned
by a tenderer?
What do you do, or what do you look for when evaluating a tender?
What additional documents/information would you normally want returned to evaluate
tenders?
When preparing contract documents, what are some typical ERs or restrictions imposed
by the employer on the contractor?
What would a Contract Sum Analysis consist of?
If the lowest tenderer was sent to you by fax on time, is it OK?
When you agree the cost of a variation up front, does it cover everything else, e.g. loss
and expense?
If you issue a variation and there is a disagreement, what happens?
During valuations how do you value preliminaries?
What about insurances in the valuation?
If contractor has applied for materials off site, you OK them, and architects rejects them,
what do you do?
What if client does not have funds for valuation, what do you advise?
If a prime cost sum is included what is the contractor deemed to have included for?
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Competency

Procurement
(suppliers)

Cyril Sweett Ltd

Reference

Level

Why do main contractors receive a main contractors discount and what is it?
How would you write preliminaries to incorporate phased completion?
How do phasing of the works and sectional completion differ?
Is sectional completion appropriate on a phased contract?
What is a paid when paid clause?
In a valuation what items are not subject to retention>
What would you do if the client is short of money and asks you to reduce the interim
valuation for this month?
Who prepares the final account under the JCT contract?
If the contractor says he can prepare the final account for you, will you accept?
How do you value variations?
If daywork sheets are signed by CA/CoW but you think it is too high, what will you do?
How do you check the quantity and value of the materials on site?
What do you do if the contractor applies for materials off site?
Would you make a payment on account for example a lorry load of unpainted steel?
On what basis do you value variations on a D&B project?
What is your understanding of the term performance specified work?
What are the rules regarding valuing dayworks?
Can you value dayworks in a valuation for interim payment if they are not signed by an
Architect/CA/CoW/person in authority?
What status under a contract has a contractors statement/bespoke form (vis confirmation
of V.O)?
Sometimes an architect issues drawings marked for information only or preliminary,
what is the contractual position regarding their use by the contractor?

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173

You are preparing a valuation on site and see badly chipped and otherwise defective
bricks in the completed work. You tell the contractor that you can only include properly
executed work therefore you do not include its value in the valuation. The contractor says
it will be remedied before the next valuation and nothwithstanding this he also states that
you are acting beyond your duties. Discuss the issues raised.

174

The Contractor also shows you an invoice stating delivery of 20,000 bricks is on Monday
(it is now Friday) and you will be in the office on Monday preparing the valuation forms,
therefore if he faxes the delivery docket on Monday, will you include their value?

175

The contractor is going on holiday one week before the next valuation date. He requests
that you do the valuation before he goes on holiday. Can you do this and what date would
you put on the valuation?

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I have ordered some lifts but the nominated sub-contractor goes bankrupt, jobs have been
started, what are your duties?
Would this be a contractors problem?
If the job is late it is the contractors responsibility?
What are fluctuations?
Do they affect estimates?
Where would you include it?
What is a Retention Bond? Why are they used?
Explain PFI?
You ask main contractor to price prelims, does he take the risk on prelims i.e. if the scope
of work increases does his prelims increase?
Under what circumstances would a GMP be changed?
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Competency

Procurement
(suppliers)

Cyril Sweett Ltd

Reference

Level

Is there more design work involved in PFI than conventional D&B work?
How would you handle contract changes under management contracting?
Would the client be responsible for dealing with contra-charges under construction
management?
How would you deal with contra charges under design and build?
If you have to accelerate the works for Employer or Contractor delay, what are the costs to
be considered?
Why would the contractor accelerate the works?
Do you know any formulae for calculating head office overheads and profit?
What are immediate costs? Are there any restrictions imposed on the contractor?
What action would you take if the contractor becomes insolvent?
If Ive got a bond, is that any use to me?
When claims are made and the claim is under various Heads of Claims. Are overheads
a fair head of claim?
Are you familiar with formulae?
How do they work and what are they based on?
Are finance charges a permissible Head of Claim?
Is loss of profit a Head of Claim?
How are disruptive and prolongation valued?
How do you question the build up process (eg. plant for so many number of hours)?
An A1 to carry out work has disrupted another activity. Is this a Head of Claim?
How would the contractor be able to prove it?
What does prolongation mean and how would you value it?
What is an Extension of Time and how would you value it?
If the Architect instructed a suspension, what would the contractor be entitled to?
What is a parent company guarantee?
Is it different from a performance bond?
Which is best? Can you have both?
What is a demand bond?
What effect does a bond have on a contractors financial credability?
What are insurances provisions under IFC 98?
Is All Risk really all risk, give examples of what if covers?
What is clause 26 in JCT 98?
What does clause 27, 28 and 29A deal with?
Under clause 26 of the JCT the contractor is required to prove what two issues?
If you were a contractor what is the order for making a claim under the JCT?
After receipt of a delay notice how soon must a decision be made?
Name some examples of each head of claim?
What should the insurance level of liability cover?
How is the protection of nominated subcontractors covered, in respect of insurance?
What is the limit of liability you would advise?
Describe some expected risks?
What does clause 22 insurance cover?
What is clause 22a insurance taken out in a joint names policy?
When do the 21.1/21.2/22A insurance expire?
What is excluded from clause 21.2 insurance?
What is excluded from 21.1 insurance?
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Previous Questions

Competency

Procurement
(suppliers)

Cyril Sweett Ltd

Reference

Level

230

Id damage is caused to a project through a design fault, how does the employer recover
losses?

231

On a project with a contract duration of 8 weeks the contractor has been on site for 6
weeks of which he has done 2 weeks worth of productive work, but he is in delay by 4
weeks, due 2 weeks of Contractor delay and 2 weeks Employer delay. In a valuation how
would you value the prelims?

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What do you do if someone phones you up and says the contractor is in receivership?
If a variation incurs cost and programme implications, what would you expect to receive in
the Contractors Notice of Delay?
When a delay occurs what actions are required to be taken by the Contractor?
How do you assess exceptionally adverse weather conditions when deciding whether an
extension of time is granted?
How do you value loss and expense due to a delay?
Are head office overheads a legitimate expense in valuing a delay claim?
What if the delay falls over a statutory holiday period like Christmas where a couple of
days delay before the break for Christmas effectively means that the contractor loses a
further two weeks overheads which he says where not covered by this contract?

In determining claims for loss and expense can you employ formulas?
Can you give any examples?
Under what circumstances can an employer determine a contract?
Under what circumstances can an contractor determine a contract?
What can a contractor claim for if the delay means plant stands idle?
How do you value acceleration?
Would you allow any loss of productivity as a result of the acceleration?
Are cost monitoring and cost control the same thing?
How do you determine in a bid under Health and Safety/CDM terms whether they are
good?
What should they be asked to submit?
How do you recommend a tender for acceptance?
Is there the means under JCT or ICE for inclusion of a programme.
If a programme becomes a contract document, what value does it have?
Can the contractor change it around?
What if a contractor takes the Architects advice to change the programme?
What is a logic link?
What are dayworks for?
If a contractor returns a rate of 20/hour what would be your response?
Is there a certificate which release retention monies?
If I incur additional finance charges as a result of a delay can I include these?
If the contractors QS comes to you and says that he has found some errors in the BQ.
How would you deal with them?
What if works more (i.e. 40/m carpet to 50/m carpet) than stated in the contractors
tender?
If the works are valued at 3m, how long would it take to produce a BQ?
How much time would without quants take?
What tender documents would you send out?

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Question Catagories
A Pre contract
A1
Cost planning
A2
Contract forms
A3
Procurement
B Post contract
B1
Valuations
B2
Completion
B3
Insolvency
B4
Claims
B5
General
C Legal
C1
Insurances
C2
Taxation
C3
Bonds/Guarantees
C4
General
C5
Fire insurance valuations
D Construction
D1
Construction
D2
M&E
D3
Health & safety
D4
General
D5
QA
E RICS
E1
Ethics
E2
E3
CPD
E4
Current issues
E5
PI
E6
Business