Benchmark Construction Consulting

Dice Media has recently launched the new web site for Benchmark Consulting Services Inc. The site is built utilizing Flash, XML, PHP, and MySQL. Many custom features such as client login and Flash based content management system are at work.
Please visit www.benchamrk-consulting.com

About Us

Benchmark Consulting Services, LLC is a full service construction consulting firm serving the Western United States from its offices in Irvine, California, Las Vegas, Nevada and Phoenix, Arizona.

The key to Benchmark�s success lies in the experience and integrity of its owners, staff and extensive network of consulting experts. Benchmark�s ownership combines construction industry experts and licensed attorneys which puts us in a unique position to understand client needs and the important issues involved in construction related disputes or claims. Benchmark also firmly believes that being available and responsive to our client�s needs is a major source of our company�s strength. Whether your consulting needs are in the areas of surety, construction defect litigation, property and casualty evaluations, construction claims, construction litigation support, construction monitoring or third party assembly reviews for Builders,, Benchmark provides dependable professional service at competitive rates.

Surety

Benchmark�s professional staff has assisted numerous Sureties throughout the United States in analyzing risk and limiting exposure. Specializing in the area of contract surety, Benchmark�s experience and ability to provide thorough and independent investigations is unmatched in the industry. Particular services include:

Pre-Bonding Contractor Analysis
� Review of Contractor�s Financial Records
� Interview and Assess Capabilities and Experience of Contractor�s Ownership and Staff
� Analyze Contractor�s Past and Current Performance
� Evaluation of Bids
� Assistance to Underwriters in Evaluating Risk Factors Common to Bond Claims and Defaults

Early Exposure Analysis
� Review of Budget and Job Cost Data
� Investigation and Monitoring of Project Performance
� Project Schedule Review
� Facilitate Change Order Preparation and Negotiation
� Maintain Project Relations to Minimize Claim Activity

Post-Default Investigations
� Investigate Default or Termination
� Prepare Cost to Complete Estimates
� Prepare Bid Packages and Obtain Completion Proposals
� Ratify Existing Subcontractors to Limit Exposure
� Assist in Preparation and Finalizing Takeover and Completion Contracts
� Monitor Completion Contractor for Maximum Cost Control
� Investigate Latent Defects
� Prepare and Negotiate Change Orders
� Prepare Progress Payments and Assist in Obtaining Contract Proceeds
� Maximization of Recovery and Subrogation

Payment Bond Claim Review
� On-Staff Attorney�s Insure Documented Timely Responses that Comply with Regulations
� Broad Range of Consulting Experts to Handle Any Type of Payment Bond Claim
� Claim Overflow and Outsourcing

Other Surety Related Services
� Disbursement Control
� Preparation and Defense of Construction Claims
� Expert Witness Services on Surety Related Matters
� Subdivision and License Bond Claim Investigations
� Litigation Support
� Free On-Site Seminars for Surety Underwriting and Claims Departments

Benchmark�s staff has experience in providing these types of services to Sureties on hundreds of millions of dollars worth of construction projects including:

- Airports
- Bridges
- Casinos
- Clubhouses
- Colleges
- Historical Renovations
- Hospitals
- Hotels
- Low-Income Housing
- Military
- Office Buildings
- Parks
- Prisons
- Pumping Stations
- Research & Technology Buildings
- Roads & Highways
- Public Schools
- Private Schools
- Residential Constructioin
- Seismic Upgrades
- Subdivisions
- Swimming Pools
- Telecommunication
- Traffic Management Systems
- Underground Utility and Fuel Systems
- Universities
- Waste Water Treatment Plants
- Water Treatment Plants

With this type of experience, Benchmark can provide creative and cost effective assistance tailored to each particular project.

Construction Defect

With in-house consulting experts, as well as its vast network of specialized consultants, Benchmark can provide a full-service team of experts on any type of construction defect case. Benchmark�s expert services cover the following disciplines:

- ADA Compliance
- Architecture
- Asphalt/Paving
- Civil Engineering
- Concrete
- Cost Estimating
- Developer/Planning
- Drywall
- Electrical
- Fencing
- Fenestration
- Fire Alarm
- Fire Protection
- Flooring
- Framing
- Geotechnical/Soil
- Grading
- Industry Standard of Care
- Landscape
- Lath and Plaster
- Masonry
- Mechanical
- Painting and Wallcovering
- Pipeline
- Plumbing
- Roofs
- Rough and Finish Carpentry
- Sheet Metal
- Sound Attenuation
- Structural Engineering
- Structural Steel
- Stucco
- Surveying
- Swimming Pools
- Tile
- Waterproofing
- Windows

Whether the project type is residential, commercial or light industrial, Benchmark can organize and manage the proper team of experts. This one-stop service is highly regarded by our clients because it insures efficient coverage of all areas in dispute and provides the carriers and attorneys with a single point of contact throughout the litigation process.

Benchmark�s team of experts have hundreds of years of combined experience in construction defect litigation and have been the designated experts on thousands of cases. Benchmark provides cost effective and solution driven service whether we are representing developers, owners, design professionals, general contractors, or individual subcontractors. No project is too large or too small.

Construction Claims

When disputes arise during a construction project, Benchmark is a valuable asset to help provide technical expert claims consulting or facilitate resolution of those disputes. Benchmark�s knowledgeable staff has experience in preparing and proving construction claims on behalf of general contractors and subcontractors, as well as defending claims made against owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and Sureties. Our experience and approach to construction claims provides our clients with trusted experts from case development through trial at extremely competitive rates.

Benchmark�s claims consulting services include:
� Pre-Construction Assistance Designed to Avoid Construction Disputes
� Schedule Preparation and Analysis
� Preparation or Defense of Delay, Acceleration or Unforeseen Conditions Claims
� Lost Productivity and Efficiency Analysis
� Preparation of Graphic Evidence
� Damages Calculations
� Expert Testimony in Mediation, Arbitration or Trial

Each construction project is different as is each construction claim. At Benchmark, we pride ourselves on our thoughtful and detailed analysis of all issues and areas of a dispute. This approach results in a finished product that is unique to the particular project and our attention to detail consistently yields better results for our clients.

Construction Litigation Support

Benchmark�s ownership team includes licensed attorneys who not only understand the issues and demands of litigation, they also understand the construction process. This unique blend of qualifications allows Benchmark to provide unparalleled construction litigation support.

Our team assists clients in:

� Formulating Case Strategies
� Implementing Case Strategies Through Discovery
� Document Review
� Databases
� Deposition Preparation
� Demonstrative Evidence
� Witness Interviews and Preparation
� Expert Testimony

Property and Casualty Investigations

With an extensive array of construction experts in every field, Benchmark provides unequal service to commercial and residential insurance carriers. Benchmark�s experts have experience in assessing the cause and providing repair recommendations for damages resulting from:

- Earthquakes
- Fire
- Flood
- Rain
- Soil Subsidence
- Water Damage
- Wind

Benchmark will review the subject property and can prepare a thorough report indicating the cause, extent, scope of repair and cost to repair the damage. Benchmark can recommend contractors to complete the repairs and can monitor the work to insure it is completed on-time and within budget. Our substantial experience allows our clients to receive exactly the professional services they need.

Disbursement Control/ Construction Monitoring

To insure that project funds are earmarked to complete our clients� specific projects, Benchmark provides disbursement control services to help minimize risk. With fixed fee or percentage-based options, Benchmark can provide independent inspections to insure that progress payments are commensurate with performance. In addition to field inspections, Benchmark can provide detailed project accounting and job cost analysis from project start-up through completion. Benchmark has construction professionals on staff that can monitor projects as-needed to provide our clients with timely information on progress, costs, or any other factor required.

Builder Assembly Reviews

Benchmark provides its residential and commercial Builder clients with a variety of services as they undertake a new project. Our staff of construction professionals review plans to insure code compliance and to help identify and prevent potential defect issues. During construction, our staff will visit the project and review various components of the work and provide our observations on the installation practices. While our services are tailored to meet each project�s specific needs, typical reviews by Benchmark include the following scopes:

-Framing
-Roof Dry-In
-Roof Final
-Lath
-Plaster & Stucco
-Plumbing
-Electrical
-HVAC
-Fire Protection
-Decks

Our experience with construction practices and the areas that can lead to potential problems, provide our Builder clients with a useful tool to not only do a better job but to avoid costly exposures. In many cases, the services provided by Benchmark are either directly compensable by the Builder�s insurance or can result in a credit against insurance premiums.

Additional Services

Because Benchmark is made up of many qualified professionals with significant construction, engineering and legal experience, we are able to provide consulting services on any construction related issue that may arise. As our clients continue to develop new ways to utilize our services, we continue to grow to meet those challenges. If you have a particular need or concern, please contact us to see if we can help.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 14th, 2006 at 5:28 pm and is filed under Flash, Site Announcement, XHTML, animation, clean, construction, content management, corporate, design, sound, xml. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.