Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance & Testing

BECS is actively involved in the construction process to uphold industry standards and the highest quality of installation. Through a collaborative partnership with the project team, BECS can quickly respond to needs and adjust designs as necessary, thus minimizing downtime and reducing or even eliminating change orders.

Invaluable Support

We provide invaluable support to owners by managing construction documents and contracts, organizing meetings and recording minutes, reviewing submittals, and providing access to an online project management portal. Our team conducts regular site visits during construction to monitor progress, verify repair quantities, and make sure the work aligns with project specifications. Additionally, we compile close-out documents, including a letter of substantial completion, contractor’s formal statement of completion, and warranty information and guidelines for project records.

Quality Assurance Services

Our pre and post-construction phases are outlined below as part of our quality assurance services.

Pre-Construction Phase
We will assist the Contractor and Client with preparing AIA A104 Format Contract Documents as reviewed and approved during Design Services by the Client(s) attorney. BECS will finalize and assemble the complete contract based on the decisions made by the Client on bids received in Task 3. We will deliver the completed document to the selected Contractor for signature. Following the Contractor’s signature, BECS will deliver the contract to the Client for signature. These functions will be performed electronically unless directed otherwise by the Client.
Once the Client and Contractor have executed an agreement and are under contract, BECS will conduct a virtual pre-construction conference. The Client, Client’s representatives, property manager, building engineer, contractor, subcontractors, code officials (as needed), BECS, and others (collectively the Project Team) will attend.
Construction Phase
Review of Contractor material, administrative, and safety submittals. Approve/disapprove submittals and initiate field-installed mock-up samples for Client review. During this phase, the Contractor will install samples of the approved products in the field for Client review, selection, and approval. Detailed work will not commence until submittals and mock-ups are approved.
The Contractor will request payment for work completed every 30 days for the project duration. Retainage will be withheld until all work is reviewed, accepted, and agreed to complete by the project team. BECS will review Contractor pay requisitions, the release of lien documents, change orders, and close-out documents before submitting them to the Client for processing. In conjunction with the Client, we will approve/disapprove these documents.
Provide clarification of technical or contract issues.
Conduct/Attend periodic progress meetings with the project team to review past Work, resolve project-related issues, review the Contractor’s payment applications, and discuss future Work.
Perform periodic site visits during construction at milestones and/or hold points, or other times as needed, to observe the progress of the Work, verify quantities of repair, and determine whether the Work is being performed in general accordance with the Project Specifications.
Post-Construction Phase
We will prepare a formal punch list following substantial completion and conduct a formal walkthrough with the Client following the Contractor’s formal statement of completion.
Assemble close-out documents, including a letter of substantial completion, contractor’s formal statement of completion, and warranty information and guidelines, and submit them to the Client for the project records.
Our services during construction are limited to those described in the scope of work, attached terms and conditions, and those discussed in the A104 contract format for the roles of the Architect. We are not responsible for Contractor means and methods, staging, access, shoring, bracing, safety, scheduling, in-house quality assurance, temporary protection, or any other roles of the Contractor as defined by the A104 contract format and industry-standard documents.  BECS is not an “owner’s representative,” “construction manager,” “construction project manager,” or “construction manager at risk”; our involvement during construction is that of reviewing the Contractor’s work for conformance with the project manual, drawings, industry standards, and the design intent.