Requests for Information – The Paper War & How To Prevent It

This webinar discusses the genesis of Requests for Information (RFIs) and their development. The webinar discusses the impact of RFIs on construction projects, drawing upon data provided by ACONEX and other studies to assess how RFIs and the RFI processes impact both small- and large- scale construction projects. The webinar addresses the abuse of the RFI process examining how some contractors misuse RFIs to increase profitability, a practice that has become somewhat institutionalized in the past decade. The webinar discusses a claim case study involving a laboratory building at wastewater treatment facility to illustrate how the process can be abused and examines the legal arguments for cumulative impact as a result of a large quantity of RFIs. The webinar explains how owners inadvertently contribute to the abuse of RFIs by failing to adopt practices that may contractually safeguard against the potential negative impacts of the RFI process. The webinar sets forth a framework for reducing the impact of RFIs that consists of three principal recommendations: the incorporation of critical definitions and an RFI control specification; electronic RFI tracking and monitoring RFIs; and sets forth best management practices concerning RFIs that owners and contractors can adopt and implement for managing the RFI process.

Webinar Objectives

• Learn about how the RFI process can be abused and used as the basis of claims.
• Learn how to mitigate the adverse impact of RFIs through contractual mechanisms.
• Understand the value of an electronic RFI tracking and monitoring system.
• Understand the best management practices concerning RFIs and the RFI process.

Webinar Agenda

• Introduction
• Purpose of research
• Genesis of RFIs
• Impact of RFIs on projects
• Cost & time impacts
• Abuse of the RFI process
• RFIs in action: case study
• Legal decisions concerning RFIs.
• Owner’s part of the problem
• Incorporate an RFI clause.
• RFI form
• RFI review system
• Electronic tracking system
• Forward Thinking Index™
• RFI best management practices
• Means of preventing RFIs
• Final notes
• Questions & answers

Webinar Highlights

• Learn how the RFI process came about and is intended to be used in the construction industry.
• Better understand the impact of RFIs on construction projects based on data from approximately 1,400 projects including the average time and cost to review and respond to an RFI.
• Gain an understanding of how the RFI process can be abused.
• Be exposed to legal decisions concerning how the number of RFIs on projects has been used to prove delay and cumulative impact claims.
• Understand what definitions should be included in construction projects to help lessen the impact of RFIs.
• Examine a proposed RFI specification which may be included in contracts to mitigate the impact of RFIs.
• Understand how electronic tracking and monitoring of RFIs will help further mitigate the adverse impact of RFIs on projects.
• Finally, learn about the best management practices concerning the management of RFIs.

Who Should Attend

• Owner, contractor & subcontractor project managers & estimators
• Construction superintendents
• Construction & owner executives
• Staff preparing claims.
• Staff reviewing claims