Regroup Operations Ltd | Cost Management Services

COST MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Feasibility studies and development appraisal

We deliver early cost and procurement advice to establish development plans and inform investment decisions.

We provide reliable cost advice utilising:

benchmark costs/m² applied to functional areas for the individual buildings
cost estimates for the infrastructure and site-wide aspects of the development
cashflow forecasts
high-level programmes and procurement strategies
establish design quality and environmental standards tailored to development location

We consider and report on:

capital costs (construction, fees, equipment, land etc)
lifecycle, operational and end-of-life costs
design choices to ensure all cost limits are achieved
risks/contingencies

Procurement and contract advice

We focus on:

review of contractual/tendering options (design & build –v- traditional)/(single stage –v- two stage tendering)
delivering best value
identifying key criteria and drivers – time/cost/quality & risk allocation
contract selection

Cost planning and pre contract cost control

Our processes utilise data applying unique market knowledge (based on working knowledge of contractor costs together with market costs which are continually updated to ensure accuracy) and sector expertise to provide best value solutions. We work together with our clients, design team, contractors and supply chain to manage projects within approved budgets from the Brief stage to contract signing.

Our approach includes:

elemental cost plans which are developed with limited design information
cost checking as the design develops
change management systems to identify and control changes to the brief / scope
formal stage-by-stage approvals
ensuring risk management / contingency management is considered
whole-life costs consideration
value engineering

We have access to computerised measurement systems which ensure accuracy of our quantification which results in reliable estimates being produced.

Bills of quantities & tender documentation

We can produce the following documents depending on the selected procurement route:-

Schedules of Works
Employer’s Requirements with Contract Sum Analyses
Priced Activity Schedules to suit NEC contracts
Bills of Quantities (SMM7/NRM/CESMM)

We can produce tender documentation for both contractors and private clients.

In addition to producing high quality tender documentation for our clients we can also provide an independent audit service to review documentation prepared by others.

Post contract cost management

We ensure that:

an approved change management process is established
control of the potential sources of changes are managed appropriately
analysis and agreement of variations/compensation events result in unnecessary additional costs are avoided
assessment and processing of interim payments, valuations & payment certificates is accurate
cost and programme effects of potential changes are fully assessed before they are instructed
open book accounting and negotiation is rigorously monitored
cost reports are issued monthly reporting on the anticipated final account
cost review meetings are held monthly to review all changes
monitoring and measuring of performance is carried out
final accounts are agreed contemporaneously with construction progress

All of this is aimed at delivering the project within the approved budget.

We can also provide commercial management to services to clients during the construction stage.

Insurance valuations

We can provide accurate valuations of re-building costs to assist clients by

Avoiding over- or under-insurance
Property damage assessment
Scope of works recommendations
Support for insurers and loss adjusters on damaged buildings cost appraisals