Project and Programme Management
HOUT BAY
ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE
Different schools of thought adopt different roles for the project and programme manager. Virtual Consulting Engineers believes that projects in the built environment cannot be managed from textbooks alone. Contingency and surprise are the attributes of all projects that demand a dexterous approach to:
- Risk management
- Procurement management
- Scope and integration management
- Time, cost and quality management
- Human resources and communications management
- Occupational health and safety management
- Environmental impact management
These management areas can only be navigated successfully with the balance obtained from a deep understanding of the project’s technical content.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Our project and programme managers are experienced in construction monitoring and contract administration. The insights gained from years on site bring foresight to the first stage of the project. Virtual Consulting Engineers manages projects through the typical lifecycle stages, in accordance with the Project and Construction Management Professions Act No. 48 of 2000:
- Inception: Project initiation through briefing and definition
- Concept development: Assessment of viability and confirmation of detail
- Procurement: Bid documentation and the contracting of professional services providers and contractors
- Implementation: Construction, with an Operation and Maintenance phase
- Close-out: Handover to the client
As principal agent, we lead teams of architects, engineers, quantity surveyors and occupational health and safety agents.
PROJECTS
Prison Repair Pilot Projects, Group 1 (1999 – 2004)
Department of Public Works / Correctional Services
In 1999, South African prisons were in a state of disrepair. Virtual Consulting Engineers developed contract documentation to roll out pilot projects for the Repair and Maintenance Contracts at Diepkloof, Leeukop, Odi, Atteridgeville, Zonderwater, Baviaanspoort, Losperfontein and Rooigrond, including buildings, fences, boiler and steam systems, water and wastewater treatment, solid waste handling, roads and stormwater.
Centralised Drawing Archive (2001 – 2007)
Department of Public Works
The Department of Public Works served all building and infrastructural needs of the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek from 1877 and much of the Republic of South Africa today. The engineering and architectural drawings of state infrastructure and buildings are archived in Pretoria. Project repair work improved electrical and mechanical installations and resulted in the barcoding and filing of more than one million drawings.
Proclaimed Fishing Harbours (2002 – 2010)
Department of Public Works / Environmental Affairs
Implementation of 25 maintenance contracts, as programme manager with various engineering consultants, for repair of breakwaters, jetties, quays, buildings, civil infrastructure, electrical infrastructure, slipway installations and cranes at Lamberts Bay, Laaiplek, St Helena Bay, Saldanha Bay, Hout Bay, Kalk Bay, Gordon’s Bay, Hermanus, Gans Bay, Struis Bay, Arniston and Still Bay.
Land Ports of Entry Pilot Projects (2004 – 2008)
Department of Public Works / Border Control Operation Coordinating Committee
South Africa shares 54 border control land ports of entry with neighbouring countries, where facilities are shared by different government departments. Virtual Consulting Engineers managed consulting engineers who worked on the initial Repair and Maintenance Programme to restore buildings, services and infrastructure for all ports of entry that give access to Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Eswatini.
New National Archive (2007 – 2010)
Department of Public Works
Virtual Consulting Engineers was appointed as principal agent and professional construction project manager (PrCPM) to lead architects, engineers and quantity surveyors. The planned new facility would provide for an estimated 500,000m storage space in a facility of 107,000m2, with cutting edge technology to ensure a national archive facility to reflect South Africa’s rich cultural history.
National Health Insurance Pilot Projects (2015 – 2021)
National Department of Health
Virtual Consulting Engineers was appointed to centrally manage the NHI Infrastructure Backlog Maintenance Programme, to renovate buildings and associated infrastructure of health facilities, which included Community Health Centres, Clinics and Hospitals, covering at least 571 facilities in eight provinces through involvement of 108 professional services providers and 71 contractors.