THE POOLE METHOD

Annually, we deliver projects under all types of contracts - stipulated sum, cost plus a fee, time and materials - and are comfortable with them all under appropriate circumstances. We are selected by Owners to complete their project in one of three basic ways - select competitive bid, negotiated Construction Management, or design/build.

We prefer to work for Owners who make their selection based on parameters outside of price and seek the construction partner best suited for their particular project.

Without question, our preferred contracting method is to be selected by the Owner early in the programming and design stage, to work with the Owner's Architect or to deliver the project on a design/build basis. By doing so, the Owner allows us to bring our considerable expertise in conceptual estimating, value engineering and cost containment as the design progresses, not after it is complete and the die is cast.

We develop interim cost models for each project:

• The SCHEMATIC DESIGN PHASE (15%) cost model, while preliminary, establishes an economic roadmap for the project team as decisions are made and the project takes shape.
  
• In the DESIGN DEVELOPMENT PHASE (40%), we refine the estimate with actual quantity takeoff, experience-based unit pricing and limited input from tried and true subcontractors to add market pricing. Not every idea and desire will make the budget cut. However, the Owner may proceed knowing the effect of decisions on cost and, if he chooses, can alter the budget making a conscious decision about the cost/benefit.
  
• Typically when the CONTRACT DOCUMENT PHASE is approximately 80% complete, we will establish a Guaranteed Maximum Price. It is a rational, orderly method of working through a potentially complicated, sometimes confrontational process that need not be that way.

It is a process of give and take between the Owner and the design team to develop the most cost effective program - with confidence in cost.

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