DEPARTMENT OF

CIVIL & ENVIORNMENTAL ENGINEERING

Pro-forma to accompany Assignment/Coursework 2022/23

This pro-forma should be the first page to any set assignment/coursework. A full assignment brief
should accompany this pro-forma.

Module Code: CE5518/CE5015 Module Title: Project Management

Module Leader: Dr Nuhu Braimah Assessors(s): Dr Nuhu Braimah

Assignment title: Justifying the decision to tender Weighting: 30%

for a construction project, and developing a tender
programme and price.

Main Objectives of the Assessment:

To enable students to gain thorough awareness and deep understanding of construction project
costing/estimation, parties involved in this and tendering process, including development of a tender
programme and price.

Brief description of the assessment:

The assignment brief presents a hypothetical construction project, which depicts typical context of most
projects. Students are required to prepare a report to justify the decision for a contractor to tender for this
project, and then develop (with detailed estimations and analysis/calculations) tender programme and price.

Learning Outcomes for the Assessment: Assessment and marking criteria:

Students will be able to demonstrate the
following: 
 An in-depth appreciation of project
management and planning principles for
delivering construction projects.
Prepare an individual assignment (no shared work).
1. Discussions on key issues necessary to consider
before making an informed decision to proceed with
the Tender or not. [20%]

 Thorough understanding of construction 2. Develop a pre-tender programme, indicting the time

project information management, cost
estimation and tender planning process.

 Writing reports, professionally, to
effectively communicate/advise
clients/senior management of projects
within the construction industry.
schedule for the main construction activities involved
(based on their estimated durations). [25%]
3. Cost estimation of activities in the BOQs, and hence
determine the project Tender Price, including clearly
showing methods/steps and any assumptions
followed. [45%]

4. Ensuring your submission report is presented clearly

and well-organised in a professional manner,
including properly citing relevant references/sources
and reasonable assumptions used.
[10%]

Required content for formal report are given on the

following pages.
Assessment method by which a student can demonstrate the learning outcomes:

Appraising of a hypothetical case of a project (with given context and relevant data) to be tendered for by
construction organisations, and presented in a single report that is marked by the module tutor.
Format of the assessment/coursework: (Guidelines on the expected format and length of
submission):

 Each student is required to submit an independent report of no more than 10 pages, and/or should
not exceed 2000 words (include references, but excluding any relevant appendices), addressing all
submission deliverables listed in the previous section. All relevant details and analyses followed
should also be included (e.g. detailed excel calculations).

 You are encouraged to use any suitable project management/planning software (e.g. MS Project) for
the scheduling although manual computation method is also acceptable.

 The report should be formally written and well-presented to a professional standard in all respects,
including providing necessary detailed discussions/comments, and charts/diagrams, as might be
appropriate. The report should be typed out (using computer Word-Processor) on A4 in a 12-point
font.

 Make whatever assumptions are required. Clearly indicate any sources of information you have used
and provide references accordingly using the referencing system recommended by the College.

 Use your student ids for anonymity (i.e. no student names on the assignment itself).

Distribution date to 7th March 2023

students:
Submission Deadline: Please submit by 4pm Wednesday 19th April 2023 (Wk 31) on WISEflow

Indicative reading list:
The module Course Notes (available online - Brightspace), cover the
essentials along with worked examples and Recommended Reading, as
wider reading is expected, such as from:
 Harris, F., McCaffer, R. with Edum-Fotwe, F. (2013) Modern
Construction Management, 7th Edition, Blackwell Publishing.
 Brook, M. (2017) Estimating and Tendering for Construction Work, 5th
Edition. Routledge, London.
 AECOM(Editors) (2018) 32nd Edition. Spon's Civil Engineering and
Highway Works Price Book. CRC Press.

Further information:  Misconduct in assessment is taken very seriously by the University. You are
expected to abide by Senate Regulation 6 - Student Conduct (Academic and
Non-Academic), which can be found here:
https://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/administration/governance-and-university-
committees/senate-regulations.

 Advice on understanding what plagiarism and collusion are and how they can
be avoided can be found here:
https://www.brunel.ac.uk/life/library/SubjectSupport/Plagiarism

 Senate Regulation 4 –policies on Assessment of Students on Taught Courses

Tutor e-mail contact: Nuhu.Braimah@Brunel.ac.uk

Note:

1. Late submission will be subjected to current penalty scheme used in the

CEDPS. ANY EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES must be notified as soon
as possible. Failure to upload report in good time or other machine-related
failures, etc., will not qualify as Extenuating Circumstance.

2. This assignment is not a group work and so must be carried out on an

individual basis, although you are allowed to discuss it amongst yourselves
if you need help.
 CE5518/CE5015 Project Management (2022/23)

Section A - Coursework Brief

1.0 Introduction

A public sector organisation involved in civil engineering infrastructure projects has recently
secured loan for the construction of a new port and harbour development. Figure 1 shows the
general plan view of this project. The organisation, hereinafter referred to as the Employer, has
invited pre-qualified contractors (hereinafter referred to as the Tenderers) to submit Tenders for
the construction of this project. The Tender submission must comprise of: Priced Bill of
Quantities and Tender schedule.

Figure
1 – General plan view of the project

The Employer wants this project completed, including mobilisation, site preparation work and
demobilisation, in 18 months or less from the commencement of the works.
Key details of the tender documents sent out by the Employer to Tenderers, that are relevant
for this assignment, are outlined in the following sections.

1.2 Scope of Work

A brief description of the scope of work for this contract is listed as:

1. Site clearance
2. Dredging (3,000,000m3);
3. Reclamation with compaction of fill material (100,000m3);
4. Slope protection (1000m);
5. Construction of reinforced concrete unloading jetty (150m long and 20m wide)
6. Construction of caisson-type breakwater (600m long) with foundation works, filling sand,
and in situ concrete on the top of caissons;
7. Supply and installation of bollards, fenders and other ancillary items.

1.3 Tender Price

1. The Tenderer shall fill in rates and amounts for all item of work described in the Bill of
Quantities (BOQs), weather quantities are stated or not. Items not specified but considered
by the Tenderer to be essential and necessary for the completion of the works shall deemed
to be covered by other units or lump-sum tender prices in the BOQs and will not be paid for
separately.

2. Some items require Tenderers to insert prices on a fixed lump-sum basis. The calculation
for such sums must include all costs that are deemed essential to the execution of the item
of works or services specified by the contract.

3. The Tenderer must calculate the prices for the different items of work in the BOQs and write
these prices in the schedule rates column. These rates should be multiplied by the
quantities indicated in the BOQs and use as the basis for determining the Tenderer’s final
Tender Price.

1.4 Bill of Quantities

Preamble

1. The BOQ shall be read in conjunction with all other provisions and requirements of the
contract. Tenderers shall be deemed to have examined and satisfied themselves with the
requirements of the Works to be performed under the contract.
2. The price and the rates to be entered in the BOQs shall be the full inclusive value of the
work, including all direct and indirect expenses and incidental and contingency costs,
profits, overheads and risk.
3. The work actually carried out will be measured by the Engineer and paid for at the rate set
forth in the BOQs irrespective of whether the final quantities increase or decrease.
4. The item “Descriptions” in the BOQs are only brief and do not represent detailed
explanatory descriptions and detailed directions of workmanship and materials.

The following table presents the BOQs for the project, which consists of list of bill items divided
into the following sections: General items or Preliminaries, Site Preparation, Earthworks,
Unloading Jetty and Breakwater.
Bill of Quantities
Item Description Unit Quantity Schedule Amount
Rates (£) (£)
1 General Items or Preliminaries
1.1 Mobilisation of equipment to site and demobilisation Lump sum 1
1.2 Topographic survey and material testing Lump sum 1
1.5 Provide and maintain accommodation house for the Nos. 2
Resident Engineers
1.6 Provide potable water, telephone, electricity, security and Lump sum 1
welfare facilities for Engineer’s accommodation

2 Site Preparation
2.1 General Site Clearance Lump sum 1
2.2 Site office with gate and fencing Lump sum 1
2.3 Site laboratory for testing of soil, concrete etc. with Lump sum 1
equipment and staffing
2.4 Storage house for all materials to be used for the Lump sum 1
permanent works
2.5 Temporary Access Road Lump sum 1

3 Earthworks
3.1 Dredging and disposal of excavated soils m3 3,000,000
3.2 Reclamation - fill by hydraulic means m3 70,000
3.3 Reclamation - fill in the dry m3 30,000
3.4 Reclamation - Levelling and topping by sand-gravel mixture m2 52,500
3.6 Slope protection – supply and place amour rocks 200-300 m3 70,000
kg

4 Unloading Jetty
4.1 Supply of prestressed concrete piles Ø 750 mm, 125 mm Nos. 96
thick, 20 m length
4.2 Supply of steel pipe piles Ø 300 mm, 9 mm thick, 18 m Nos. 42
length with welding for joints
4.3 Test piling Ø 750 mm Nos. 2
4.4 Handle and drive piles ( Ø 750 mm x 125 t) Nos. 96
4.5 Handle and drive piles ( Ø 300 mm x 9 t) Nos. 42
4.6 Chipping and disposal of pile top for Ø 750 mm piles Nos. 96
4.7 Cutting and disposal of pile top for Ø 300 mm piles Nos. 42
4.8 Filling concrete with reinforced cage for Ø 750 mm pile Nos. 96
caps
4.9 Deck slab concrete m3 4,500
4.10 Curb (150 mm x 150 mm) m3 7
4.11 Setting and removal of formwork and false work m2 3,000
4.12 Supply and installation of cell-type rubber fender Nos. 42
4.13 Supply and installation of 50 t bollard Nos. 12
4.14 Anti-corrosion coating or painting upon completion Lump sum 1

5 Breakwater
5.1 Supply, place and shape rubber bedding stone (50-100 m3 62,400
kg/pc)
5.2 Supply, place and shape armour rocks (200-300 kg/pc) m2 37,200
5.4 In situ caisson concrete structure m3 17,960
5.5 Reinforcement - Grade 460/425 for 5.4
(a) Up to 10 mm dia. t 18
(b) Up to 19 mm dia. t 1,257
(c) Up to 29 mm dia. t 521
1.5 Construction Method Statement

As part of the Tender preparation, your organisation has proposed the following method
statement (for key works of the project) together with plant and material schedule for the
execution of the remaining works.

Site Preparation
This activity involves the levelling of 90,000m2 of ground, the erection of 1,000m of fencing and
the construction of a temporary access road of 500m x 10m. Labour, plant and material
proposed for these are listed in the table below

Activity Resource Unit Quantity

Bulldozer Nos. 1
Grader Nos. 1
Levelling
Labourer Nos. 2
Crew Nos. 2
Back Hoe Nos. 1
Fencing Wire kg 650
Timber stakes Nos. 210
Fencing
Timber gate Nos. 4
Labourer Nos. 2
Crew Nos. 2
Bulldozer Nos. 1
Grader Nos. 1
Temporary Road
Labourer Nos. 2
Crew Nos. 2

Dredging and Disposal

A dredger with a dredging capacity of 1,500m3/hour and maximum distance of discharge of
8000m shall be used. The plant will be operated by 1 crew and 4 labourers. An average hourly
dredging amount of 1,000m3 is estimated given the subsoil conditions, including contingencies
such as bad weather, high winds, breakdowns and waiting time. The dredging work shall be
carried out on a basis of 24-hour full operation with three shift system.

The disposal area will be located close to the site and disposal of spoils performed
simultaneously. One D-5 Bulldozer shall be employed for the disposals together with 1 crew
and 3 labourers.

Reclamation
The reclamation works fall under the following two categories of filling:
(a) Hydraulic filling - Defined as filling achieved underwater or in wet condition. Fill materials are
the soils excavated from the existing seabed by the above-mentioned dredging work, and
filled in directly from the discharging pipeline. The formation shall be made by divers and
underwater bulldozer equipped with slope-finishing attachment. This activity shall be
achieved at the start of the dredging work.

(b) Filling in the dry – This is the next stage of reclamation works upon completion of the
hydraulic filling and would be carried out in the dry, i.e. filling works from the land side.
Filling material shall be obtained from an approved borrow pit, and transported, spread,
filled, shaped and compacted using the right plant. The maximum supply of filling material
from the borrow pit is assumed to be 500 m3/day. This activity must be completed before
the commencement of the pile driving for the jetty.

During compaction of the area, soil strength and bearing capacity shall be field tested at
random for confirmation and approval of the Engineer.

Slope Protection
The total quantity of rocks for the sloe protection work is 70,000m3. Maximum supply of rocks is
limited to 300 m3/day because of output restrictions at the quarry. The marine plants required
for the operation are crane barge, crawler crane and open-top barge. The transportation and
placing of the armour rock will require 10 crew, 20 labourers and 8 divers.

Jetty Construction

Piling
Prior to the commencement of pile driving works, the seabed in the pilling area shall be dredged
or reclaimed and shaped as specified in the drawings. Test pilling and test loading shall be
carried out before the actual pile driving takes place, to confirm whether or not the piling method
planned, the design of piles and the estimated bearing capacity of piles match the subsurface
conditions. This testing shall be started upon completion of dredging in the testing area and will
be completed in or about one month. The major construction plants to be employed in the
transportation of piles and then pile driving shall include Pilling barge with Steam Hammer,
Crane Barge, Pontoon, Tugboat, Anchor Boat and Generator.

After finishing piling in the sloped area and prior to the commencement of falsework for the
concrete deck slab of the jetty, slope protection within the width of the jetty shall be started. The
maximum supply of rocks is limited to 300m3 per day because of output restrictions at the
quarry.

Concrete Deck Slab

This is designed to have 3 panels, each of which is to be constructed in two parts with a vertical
joint between them due to the volume of concrete, surface area to be finished and working
hours. The construction of one part is estimated to take about 30 days, involving various
working items including falsework, pile cap, soffit shutter, reinforcement side shutter,
preparation and inspection, concreting, curing and removal/cleaning.

Fender System
Fender piles shall be driven offshore by the crane barge, with the use of a vibration hammer
and template. Then cylindrical rubber fenders will be installed. The total number of fenders is 42
and the time for setting and assembling the fender system is estimated as 15 days.

Caisson for the Breakwater

Three main activities are involved in this work:

(a) Construction of caisson mould - Rubble bedding stones placed as the caissons’ foundations
prior to constructing the caisson units on them. A bottom-opening barge will be employed
for the loading and transporting of rubble stones at the rate 500m3 per day. The labour
resources to be deployed for this activity would be as follows: 1 operator, 5 divers and 2
underwater bulldozers.

(b) Setting up of steel reinforcement bars followed by concreting.

(c) Placing of armour rocks around the base of constructed caisson units. The supply of armour
rocks is limited to 300 m3 per day due to the same restriction as those for the slope
protection works. The labour to be deployed for this activity would be: 1 operator, 3 divers
and 1 underwater bulldozer.

Construction Material, Labour and Plant cost details

1. Construction Material cost

Description Specification Unit Unit price (£)
Fencing Wire BS kg 11.3
Timber stakes BS Nos. 2.5
Timber gate BS Nos. 140.4
Rubble stone 50-100 kg/pc m3 20.0
Armour rocks 200-300 kg/pc m3 18.0
2. Construction Material cost

Description Category Hire rate (£ per day)

Scaffolder 80
Crew 80
Mobilisation
Driver 70
Labourer 50
Crew 100
Dredging Driver 90
Labourer 70
Crew 110
Slope protection Diver 150
Labourer 70
Crew 110
Caisson Labourer 70
Diver 150
Welder 80
Driver 80
Mechanic 120
Electrician 120
General
Watchman 50
Housekeeper 70
Office boy 70
Labourer 50

2. Construction Plant cost

Description Specification Hire rate (£ per month)
Dredger 10,000 PS 12000
Back Hoe 0.8 m3 1100
Bulldozer D-5 1800
Grader 4.5m 1500
Bulldozer Under-water 2100
Crane barge 50 tonne 800
Crawler crane 50 tonne 950
Open-top barge 1000m3 900

Section B - Coursework Submission Requirements (see Pages 1 & 2 above for further
details)
You work for an overseas construction company, Level 7 Developments Ltd, one of the short-
listed contractors having interest to submit a tender for this contract. As a leader of the team
responsible for preparing this tender, you are expected to report on the following:

1. A discussion on the key issues that are necessary to consider before making an informed
decision to proceed with the Tender or not.
[20%]

2. A pre-tender programme, indicting the time schedule for the main construction activities
involved. Estimated durations and how they were determined should all be shown.
[25%]

3. Cost estimation of the activities in the BOQs, and hence the project Tender Price. The
method and steps followed in determining the cost (or rate), including any assumptions,
should be presented clearly.
[45%]

4. Ensuring that your submission report is presented clearly and well-organised in a

professional manner, including properly citing relevant references/sources and reasonable
assumptions used.
[10%]
You are also required to clearly state any assumptions and show detailed calculations deemed
necessary for the production of the tender programme, tender price, etc. All sources used for
these, including materials from literature (e.g., textbooks, articles, etc.) and contacts made with
companies/firms, should be clearly cited in the main text and also listed under the list of
references at the end of your report.