Hi All,
1. In a sewergae line laying project, in a particular path there was enough float, say 60 days in the baseline programme.
2. The Contractor started the works 30 days later than the plan date. At the time of investigation he found an underground utility at site, which was not shown in the tender documents.
3. He had to take the authorities permit for the exposing of that utility and the relocation of it, prior to start his scope of work. This relocation took around 45 days and extended the project completion by 15 days.
4. The Contractor issued an EOT Claim of 15 days due to this unforeseen event.
5. The Client denied it saying that if the contractor had started on time, this delay could have been covered within time. The Client put this 45 days rerouting works in the baseline programme and justified it.
6. The Contractor replied that even with a delay of 30 days in the commencement, he could have finished the work on time, if there was no unforeseen utility at site. Since this is an independent path he was focusing to complete just before contract completion date, regardless of the finish date mentioned in the baseline programme.
How this situation can be analyzed?. I think he cannot claim the 15 days EOT, because he didn't utilize the baseline float for the timely completion and success of the project.
Best Regards
Kannan