Orange County Grand Jury • 2003-2004

Cost Overruns And Delays At The Orange County Sheriff-Coroner's Statewide Training Facility 05/25/04, 93k

Published: May 24, 2004 7 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 8 findings

F1
The project had 41 Change Orders totaling $2,055,690. Contract completion time extensions of 377 days had been approved at the time of the Grand Jury’s review of the project.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department immediately pursue the necessary steps to effect reimbursement of those costs associated with the errors and failures of the architect and various engineers who were responsible. (Findings 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8)
F2
Some Change Orders were necessary to correct errors in the calculation of loads and to provide missing supporting structure for structural elements.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The majority of the Change Orders were required due to the failure of the architect and the structural, mechanical and electrical engineers to coordinate their plans and to adequately detail how items were to be built within the limited spaces available.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
It was not discovered until the underground foundation stage of the project that the architect failed to supply the contractors with the revised set of plans that changed critical layouts. This omission caused the first of many delays when work had to be stopped and redone, which contributed to cost overruns.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
The contractors were reimbursed for accelerated completion of several phases of the project as well as “out of sequence” installations. The basis of these payments was found to be very subjective and could not be audited to verify the actual costs to the contractor.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
On future projects, the Orange County Sheriff Construction Management Team authorize payment of overtime for accelerated or out-of-sequence installations at a per-unit cost agreed upon prior to execution of the work so that audits can be made and payments can be justified. (Finding 5)
F6
The general contractor was paid $1,660 per day for 122 days of approved time extensions for what is described as “general conditions” due to delay. The amount was found to be very subjective and could not be audited to verify the contractor’s actual daily cost.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
In future projects, the Orange County Sheriff Construction Management Team require that the daily reimbursable cost for delays in the construction beyond the control of the general contractor be established with full documentation so that audits can be made and payments can accurately reflect the true additional costs involved. (Finding 6)
F7
The County of Orange withheld retention payments for uncompleted work for a lengthy period. This retention was in addition to the Performance Surety Bond already supplied by the contractor to ensure completion. At the completion of the Grand Jury’s study in March 2004, the general contractor still had not received all of his funds, even though the project was accepted as completed in January 2004.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Orange County Sheriff Construction Management Team re- examine their policy of withholding retention payments and only hold back the industry standard of 150 percent of the value of those uncompleted “punch list” items. (Finding 7) Responses are required to Recommendations 1-4 from the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Responses are required to Recommendations 1-4 from the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner.
F8
The County did not pay the architect to remedy errors but did pay for additional expenses and granted increases above the contracted amount despite serious deficiencies in the services provided. Responses to Findings 1-8 are required from the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Responses to Findings 1-8 are required from the Orange County Sheriff- Coroner.
No recommendations for this finding

Agency Responses 2

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.