Cost consultancy is at the core of Rider Levett Bucknall's services.
The service encompasses cost estimating, cost management, the production of bid and contract documents, the financial administration of building contracts and dispute resolution.
Cost consultancy focuses on a client's individual business needs to facilitate informed decisions regarding their property assets and provides strategic advice at the various stages of the construction project cycle to ultimately increase asset value.
Rider Levett Bucknall maintains and uses a large and comprehensive library of current and historical cost data and unit rates to produce detailed comprehensive cost estimates for all building types.
Beyond cost data and unit rates, cost consultants provide advice to building owners about business drivers, specific regional needs and sustainability practices.
Feasibility Studies
Our internal benchmark information enables us to provide a speedy response at early stages of a project to assess if the project requirements can be achieved and to offer alternative solutions if appropriate.
Cost Modeling
This can be used as a dynamic tool to review alternative design options and explore 'what if' scenarios to identify the most cost effective options within the parameters of the program.
Cost Planning
Our cost plan will be a detailed elemental budget which will form the key cost management control document and will be prepared in conjunction with the whole project team to ensure ownership of the budget. All future changes will be managed against the accepted cost plan.
Value Engineering
We will work with the project team, and where required, facilitate workshops in order to undertake a structured review at key project stages to ascertain that the project is meeting the functional requirements of the brief and is providing whole life value.
Risk Analysis and Risk Management
We will advise the project team on strategies for identifying and minimizing specific risks together with appropriate levels of cost and a methodology for managing risks within the identified levels.
Specialist Mechanical and Electrical Cost Advice
Our specialist cost managers are able to provide cost advice in relation to services installations and where appropriate are able to challenge designs based upon their detailed understanding of technical knowledge and design criteria relating to Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing installations.
Procurement Advice
Based upon the customer's principle objectives in relation to cost certainty, quality of design, workmanship and schedule we will undertake a review of these objectives and provide recommendations in relation to the optimum procurement method to best achieve these objectives.
Contractor/Supplier Selection
Evaluating the most suitable contractors and suppliers for a project based upon scope, content, complexity, procurement and the need for specialist knowledge and innovative thinking.
Bid and Contract Preparation and Evaluation
Preparation of bid and contract documents which provide details of the project requirements and clearly identify responsibility for risks.
Pre and Post Contract Cost Control
A key element of our role is to manage the costs within the signed off budget through continual cost checking of design development, Value Engineering, alternative cost studies and cost control during construction including the change order process.