Common use of Observation and Testing Clause in Contracts

Observation and Testing. As the On-Call Geotechnical Engineering firm for City projects, our function will be to observe and test the geotechnical aspects of the projects to confirm that they are performed/addressed in accordance with the project’s specifications, OSHA requirements and those of the other applicable regulating agencies and organizations. Our geotechnical services will typically include: observation and documentation of remedial grading, observation of slope stabilization buttress and fill key excavation; geologic mapping of excavation backcuts; observation and testing of placement and compaction of fill; observation and testing of utility trench excavation and backfill; observation and testing of retaining wall backfill; foundation footing observation; observation and testing of placement and compaction of street, curb, gutter and sidewalk subgrade and aggregate base; observation and testing of placement and compaction of street asphaltic concrete. Asphalt temperature, mix designs, and placement timing are also checked and documented by our office. Special Inspection observation and materials testing services will be provided for the concrete and steel reinforcement for the proposed structures. Our services will also include laboratory testing of the backfill and pavement section materials including; sand equivalent, maximum dry density and moisture content, and sieve analysis. Our services will be provided in accordance with the project specifications and the City’s requirements. Our field Geologist, Senior Field Technician and Special Inspector for concrete and steel will be on site as needed and appropriate to perform geologic mapping, documentation, observation and testing for our firm. They will be in constant communication with our project manager in the office and with the City’s Representative and project Construction Manager so that progress, scope, and schedule can be tracked and regularly updated. The results of our observation and testing will be communicated directly to the City’s Representative and the project Construction Manager, and will be documented in our Daily Field Reports and ultimately in our Final Geotechnical Report for the project (if required). All of our data and records for the project will be maintained in an organized fashion. We believe organization is a necessity for good project management. LGC Geotechnical is 100 percent committed to our clients’ needs. We provide high quality geotechnical services, which are completed on time and on budget. LGC Geotechnical stresses communication with our clients to ensure that their needs are satisfied. Our attention to detail and client satisfaction is evident, as the majority of our business is from repeat clients and client referrals. We understand that communication is critical for projects to proceed in an efficient manner. The lines of communication will be initiated with each project awarded to LGC Geotechnical by the City and will not end until after the completion and submittal of our final geotechnical report is made for each project. Communication between our field personnel and office personnel is very important to us. Consequently, all of our personnel are equipped with iPhones allowing uninterrupted communication between the field and the office. Texting, emailing, cell phone usage and the ability to share photographs, videos and files allows our project managers seamless communication with our field personnel. Most field issues can be quickly addressed, often via information transfer over these devices. With this high level of communication, our project manager in the office can be confident that he or she has a clear picture of the field operations. Without this level of communication, more frequent field visits from the project manager are required which can affect both the budget and the schedule of the overall project. In the case where field issues will require field geotechnical consulting by the project engineer or geologist, the ability to transfer data and information via iPhones will enable our engineer/geologist to study and prepare for the situation in advance of the site visit. Communication and coordination with the City’s Representative and project Construction Manager will be continuous to keep the City appraised of the geotechnical aspects of the project. We will attend the pre- construction meetings with the City and Construction Manager to make sure that we have a complete understanding of the City’s expectations to coordinate with and establish the communication protocol with the project team. We will also attend coordination meetings with City staff, engineer, contractor, subcontractors, or other governing agencies to make sure the expectations of all are being satisfied, that the project is proceeding as planned and on schedule, and to address outstanding and anticipated issues which may slow the project. We will coordinate with the City’s Representative and project Construction Manager on a daily basis to ensure that all geotechnical aspects of the project are appropriately addressed, to make sure scheduling is on track, and to keep the City informed of the results of our observation and testing. We understand that we will be working for the City and that it is our responsibility to represent the City’s interest at all times. As representatives of the City we further understand that the quality of the geotechnical aspects of the project reflects on us as well as the City. A daily summary of our field observations and test results will be prepared each day that we are on the site by our field Geologist, Senior Field Technician and/or Special Inspector. Our Daily Field Reports will be provided to the City’s Representative on a regular basis for review and signature. Copies of the Daily Field Reports and a summary of our test results will also be included with our monthly billing for the project. When the project Contractor has failed to meet the project geotechnical requirements, the Contractor will be immediately notified of the deficiency so that the issue may be immediately addressed. The location and the specifics with regard to the non-compliance will be discussed. We will work with the Contractor to ensure that the issue is appropriately addressed. The City’s Field Representative will concurrently be notified of the failure as well as when the issue has been appropriately addressed. Failures, as well as their rectification, will be documented in the Daily Field Reports and in our Final Geotechnical Report for each project. Pertinent laboratory testing of representative samples of the excavated and imported materials to be utilized as compacted fill will be performed to confirm that the materials meet the project specifications and to determine the maximum dry density and optimum moisture contents of the respective materials for use in our field density testing. Geotechnical laboratory testing for the anticipated projects typically include: Maximum Dry Density (and Optimum Moisture Content); Sand Equivalent; Sieve Analysis, Expansion Potential; and Corrosivity. During placement and compaction of asphalt pavement, our Senior Field Technician will monitor asphalt batch temperatures, mix designs, placement time, and will verify that the asphalt concrete structural pavement section is placed in accordance with the project requirements. Special Inspection services will be provided on an as needed basis for the project. These services will often include: observation of concrete placement for proper coverage and consolidation; preparing concrete cylinders (three 6-inch diameter x 12-inch high cylinders per 100 cubic yards of concrete and separate mix designs placed on any day); coordination of pickup and material testing of the prepared concrete cylinders; inspection and testing of reinforcement and placement (per the project specifications); preparation of Daily Field Reports, documenting the number of cylinders and onsite testing requirements for compressive strength tests, air entrainment, slump, moisture content, and other required testing (per the project specifications). Geotechnical consulting will be provided on an as needed basis where the conditions encountered and/or the operations performed require additional engineering support and analysis. Our project manager will endeavor to make sure that the geotechnical aspects of the project do not delay the schedule to the best of our ability. When issues arise, we will work diligently to determine an appropriate and prompt method to address each issue so that the project schedule is not adversely affected. We pride ourselves on our organization abilities. A well-organized project manager will not only be efficient in documenting the results of our observation and testing, but will also be better able to efficiently communicate our findings to the City, essentially as they occur. Being well organized and prepared, can aid in avoiding potential issues which may slow the progress of the project, in advance of their occurrence. The culmination of our services for each project will be the preparation and presentation of our final geotechnical report. Our geotechnical report will describe the geotechnical conditions encountered and summarize the results of our geotechnical observation and testing services during the project. A geologic map will be prepared, documenting the geologic conditions encountered during grading, including the geologic units and geologic structure encountered. The report will include our laboratory test results and the results of our field compaction testing. The summary of compaction test results will indicate the respective identification number of each test (and retests for failing tests), method of testing performed, type of materials tested, the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content of the material tested, the field dry density and moisture content of the in-situ material, the relative compaction of the material at the test location, the date, elevation and location of each test. The locations of each of our field compaction tests will also be presented on a map of the site grading and construction included in our report. Each test location will include its respective identification number. A summary of the operations observed, including the method of backfill and compaction and the equipment utilized will be described in the text of our report. Submittal of our report, within two weeks of the completion of our field services, will include four wet-signed hard copies and one PDF copy to the City. The report will be signed and stamped with the professional stamps, including registration numbers, of our Certified Engineering Geologist and Geotechnical Engineer for the project. LGC Geotechnical’s two highly experienced Vice Presidents, ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ will oversee all of our services for the City. ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ is registered as a Certified Engineering Geologist (CEG 2210) in the State of California and ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ is registered as a Geotechnical Engineer (GE 2770) in the State of California. Some projects may also include the services of ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and/or ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇. Both gentlemen are registered as Geotechnical Engineers (GE 2626 & GE 2618, respectively) in the State of California and ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ has the rare distinction of also being duel registered as a Certified Engineering Geologist (CEG 2210) in the State of California as well. With all of these, highly qualified and locally experienced geotechnical professionals available to provide consulting services, there will always be someone available to meet the City’s needs and schedules and most importantly to be able to provide qualified, experienced geotechnical consulting on the varied geologic conditions which may be encountered in the City’s service area. All of these gentlemen will be supported by our staff of licensed and qualified engineers and geologists in our San Clemente office, as needed. Resumés available upon request. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Vice President of LGC Geotechnical, is a Certified Engineering Geologist and Professional Geologist in the State of California. ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ holds both a Bachelors of Science in Geology and a Masters Degree in Geological Sciences and has over 25 years of geotechnical consulting experience, most of which has been based out of Southern Orange County. ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ has served as project manager for our firm for the last five years for our projects with the City of Oceanside and will continue to manage and be actively involved with the City’s projects for LGC Geotechnical. He will be responsible for all geotechnical aspects of the City’s projects including, but not limited to: communication with the City’s representative, billing functions, and personally reviewing any in-house analysis, calculations, coordinating of field staff and materials testing laboratory, and our Final Geotechnical Reports for the projects. He will be available to answer any questions or concerns that the City may have. ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ has excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. He will be available to you and your team via cell phone (▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇) and email (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇). ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ will be your primary contact, project manager, and will ultimately be responsible for all aspects of the geotechnical services provided. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Vice President of LGC Geotechnical, is a registered Geotechnical Engineer and Civil Engineer in the State of California. ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ holds both a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering and Masters Degree in Geo-Environmental Engineering and has over 20 years of geotechnical consulting experience, most of which has been based out of Southern Orange County. ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ will assist with the engineering aspects of the City’s projects and will be actively involved with the projects for LGC Geotechnical. He will be responsible for reviewing the laboratory and material testing results to confirm compliance with the project specifications. He will personally review any in-house analysis, calculations, and our Final Geotechnical Report for the project. ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ has excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and will be available to you and your team via cell phone (▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇) and email (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇). An experienced Senior Field Technician will be on site on an as-need, on-call basis for the backfill and compaction operations and for special inspection services for concrete placement and testing. Special inspection services for reinforcing steel will be subcontracted to an experienced Special Inspector. Our experienced Senior Field Technician will oversee the field operations for LGC Geotechnical. Our Senior Field Technicians are very familiar with the local conditions and potential issues that may arise and will be on site to observe and test the backfill and compaction operations for the projects including; site paving, subgrade, and aggregate base preparation. He will communicate directly with the City’s Field Representative and with the project Contractor and will prepare the Daily Field Reports, summarizing the results of his observation and testing to be provided to the City’s Field Representative. He will also obtain samples of the site materials to be used for the project for laboratory testing in our in-house geotechnical laboratory. He will ultimately be our “eyes and ears” in the field. He will communicate his observations and findings with ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ regularly via the multiple lines of communication previously discussed. Where field issues are found or where non-compliance is discovered, our Senior Field Technician will immediately consult with ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and/or ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ to both notify them of the issue and to discuss to determine the most appropriate way to address the issue. The City’s Field Representative and the project Construction Manager will be apprised of the issue and our recommended resolution. Our Senior Field Technician will perform Special Inspection services for concrete placement and testing for our firm. He will observe concrete placement for proper coverage and consolidation; prepare concrete cylinders (three 6-inch diameter x 12-inch high cylinders per 100 cubic yards of concrete and separate mix designs placed on any day). He will prepare Daily