Wednesday, October 14 2009

UDECOTT has defended its decision to award a $300 million contract to Sunway Construction Caribbean Limited as being “in-line with design-build” method of construction, notwithstanding evidence of links between Sunway and the executive chairman of Udecott Calder Hart.

“Udecott’s issuance of a letter of award to Sunway Construction Caribbean Limited (Sunway) for the fit-out of the Ministry of Legal Affairs Tower was done after careful consideration of value for money,” the company said in an advertisement in today’s edition of Newsday.

Sunday Newsday exclusively reported the Udecott board’s decision to award the fit-out contract to Sunway.

According to Udecott, major benefits of proceeding with the interior fit-out of the tower by the base building contractor (Sunway) include: time and cost savings as the base contractor “will be familiar with and have had responsibility for the architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, safety and fire protection systems.”

“Having the same contractor responsible for the construction and fit-out will eliminate claims for extensions of time and additional cost arising from scheduling, logistical and co-ordination issues (including delays) between the construction and fit-out programme; conflicts over contractor sub- contractor responsibility and the usual finger pointing,” the company argues.

It also claims there will be a “reduced time frame for the design and completion of works due to single point responsibility for the design, co-ordination, procurement and installation of fit-out items.”