First Annual Construction Audit Best Practices Roundtable and Workshop

Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) October 22, 2012

The Construction Audit and Cost Control Institute (CAACCI) presents Rich Townsend and Courtenay Thompson, leaders in construction audit and fraud related training, in a new advanced content Construction Audit Best Practices Roundtable and Workshop, December 10-12, 2012. For over 20 years, Rich Townsend and Courtenay Thompson have provided training to assist owner organizations with construction cost control. The Workshop allows committed construction audit professionals to explore specific challenges and to collaborate with colleagues. In a roundtable format, participants will have the opportunity to share experiences, plans, best practices and concerns for the future. This event combines presentations by the moderators with contributions from guest speakers and participants.

This workshop is designed to provide committed construction audit professionals with:
1.    Opportunity to explore the specific challenges they face
2.    The chance to learn from colleagues
We can grow by sharing ideas, experiences, and successes as well as what hasn’t worked so well. Exploring challenges and solutions provides the opportunity to improve professionally and personally.

Sharing - In a roundtable format, you will have the opportunity to share experiences, plans, best practices and concerns for the future. This sharing opportunity will be blended with presentations by the moderators, guest speakers, and participants. Ample opportunity will be provided for Q & A.

Round Table Workshop Discussion Agenda:

A. Best Contracting Practices

•         Examples of best practice RFP Documents
•      Examples of best practice contract provisions
•      The “basics” of best practice contracts for construction projects

B. Audit Implications of Current Trends in Construction Management

•      BIM (Building Information Modeling)
•      Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)Systems
•      Lean Construction
•      Green Building and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Projects

C. Addressing Risks By Contract Type

•      Job Order Contracting (JOC)
•      Construction Manager at Risk GMAX Contracts
•      Design Build GMAX Contracts
•      Conventional GMAX Construction Contracts
•      Target Price Contracts or Fee at Risk Contracts
•      Negotiated (Non-Bid) Lump Sum Contracts
•      Competitive Sealed Bid Lump Sum Contracts
•      Competitive Sealed Bid Unit Price Contracts

D. Best practices for partnering with management to maximize construction audit results

•      Strategies
•      Examples of what worked well and why
•      Examples of what did not work so well and why

E. Using On-Line Reference Materials to Enhance Construction Audit Results
     1. TRA-SER (Trade Service Pricing Material Database On-Line)
        • Electrical material market prices
        • Mechanical material market prices
     2. Equipment Watch
        • AED Greenbook
        • Rental Rate Blue Book
        • Green Guide
     3. RS Means Cost Works

F. Business Ethics Expectations and effective auditing approaches to deal with:

•      Bid rigging
•      Antitrust or price fixing
•      Favoritism
•      Gifts
•      Kickbacks or payoffs
•      Bribes
•      Conflicts of interest

G. What to do when project management representatives seem “too close” to a contractor
     1. Examples of situations causing concern
        • What was done
        • Example outcomes
        • Discussion of any situations currently causing concerns for any participants
        • Dealing with management modifying standard right to audit provisions
     2. Examples of right of audit provisions that work
     3. Examples of right of audit provisions that don’t work well

H. Examples of recent construction fraud cases and what we can learn from them

I. Risks of Overbillings by Architects and Engineers

•      Examples of contracts that did not work so well and why
•      Examples of architect/engineer best practice contracts

J. Dealing with Contractor Charges for Employee Stock Ownership Plans

•      What is the real cost?
•      What “costs” should be reimbursable?
•      Examples of how Owners have treated this “cost”

K. Subguard (Subcontractor Default Insurance)

•      Examples of subguard business deals to avoid and how to avoid them
•      Examples of cost recovery audit findings
•      Examples of best practice business deals

Additional Agenda Topics to be Covered:
(depending on interest and available time)

L. How Construction Auditors Can Help Management Minimize Construction Contract Change Orders

M. How Construction Auditors Can Help Management Minimize the Cost of Construction Contract Change Orders

N. Contractor Controlled Insurance Programs (CCIP)

•      Examples of best practice business deals
•      Examples of cost recovery audit findings
•      Examples of CCIP business deals to avoid and how to avoid them

O. Owner Controlled Insurance Programs

•      What works well
•      Pitfalls to avoid

P. Contractor Incentive Plans

•      Examples of contractor incentive plans that work
•      Examples of contractor incentive plans with questionable value

Q. On-Line Tools for Project Management/Cost Tracking/Document Storage, etc.

•      IMPACT
•      ConstructWare
•      Submittal Exchange
•      E-Builder
•      Project Portfolio Management (PPM)

R. Don’t forget the Basics

•      Reconciling pay requests with contractors billing or cost records
•      The audit findings are in the “details”

S. Examples of significant audit detected overcharges and what we can learn from the examples:

•      Labor
•      Material
•      Equipment
•      Subcontracts
•      Bonds
•      Insurance
•      Fee
•      Savings or other incentive plans

T. Pre-Hire Background Checks for Employees and Consultants

U. Pre-Qualification litigation searches for Contractors

V. Debarring Contractors - Why, When, How

Informal Networking Opportunities:

•      Reception and dinner the 1st night of the workshop to provide an opportunity for the group to stay together and further discuss issues and ideas.
•      Breakfast will be provided each morning of the seminar
•      Mid-Morning and Mid-Afternoon breaks will be scheduled
•      Lunch will be provided for the group on the first and second day of the workshop

Who should attend?
1. Anyone responsible for the construction audit activity in their organization
2. Anyone who has attended one of our previous construction related seminars:

•      Effective Auditing of Construction Activity
•     Controlling Construction Costs
•     Construction Fraud: Detection, Prevention & Response

3. Anyone responsible for managing construction activity
4. Anyone responsible for investigating suspected fraud in construction activity
5. Anyone experienced in construction auditing
6. Certified Construction Auditors

CPE:
The Workshop provides 22 Continuing Education Credits (CPE’s).

Venue:
We have blocked a limited number of rooms at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country (San Antonio, TX) that will be available at $189.00 per night for the evenings of December 9, 10, and 11. NOTE: Our group rate of $189.00 is only guaranteed until 11-19-2012. Please call the hotel at 1-877-622-3056 to make your reservation (mention R. L. Townsend & Associates, Inc. to receive group rate).

Fee:

• Regular Registration Fee: $1,495 (approx. $68/CPE hour)
• Discounted Early Registration Fee: $1,395 ($100 Discount available now thru 11/09/2012)

NOTE: Additional 10% Team Discount is available if you register 3 or more attendees.

Registration Information – Construction Audit Best Practices Roundtable Workshop- San Antonio

The Construction Audit and Cost Control Institute, Inc. (CAACCI) of Dallas, Texas was created in 2008 by R. L. Townsend & Associates and Courtenay Thompson & Associates as a resource to share information and solutions for today’s challenges in auditing and construction cost control. CAACCI members include project management and construction audit representatives from a wide range of private and public organizations.