Our Services

Cost Control/Estimating

M.A. + A understands that cost estimating and control are fundamental pieces to the effective management of any project. The cost estimate is important to sufficiently budget and track construction activities. Integrating the cost and schedule estimating tools into the project control system is essential to pricing change orders, evaluating the costs of project acceleration and delays, estimating cost-to-complete, scope changes, and other prime factors. On a typical construction project, we prepare the cost estimate for alternative design solutions, conceptual design-phases, competitive bids, and crew analyses. We use cost control to assure management that all alternatives have been explored before a project overrun is accepted; this can be realized through daily monitoring of expenditures and the constant evaluation of work remaining. Our cost control capabilities include establishing a code of account, schedule of values, progress payments, change orders, claim management, and estimate to complete. In addition, we perform cost engineering and economic analyses for construction and operation projects. Many of our cost estimates have been prepared utilizing MCACES, GOLD, and MII.

Value Engineering

M.A. + Associates, LLC conducts value engineering studies on construction projects to develop creative alternatives for possible project improvements. The VE study is conducted by highly trained specialists, trained in VE methodology. Our VE team determines if budget dollars are spent efficiently and ensure that the functional requirements of the project are attained at the lowest life cycle cost. They determine if budget dollars are spent efficiently, and ensure that the functional requirements of the project are attained at the lowest life cycle cost. The VE study is facilitated by a certified value specialist (CVS). The team follows the Society of American Value Engineers (SAVE) Five Step VE Job Plan which is an organized approach that helps experts analyze a design and understand the purpose and function of a facility. Value Engineering also quickly identifies areas with high cost-to-value ratios, and provides a way to develop and select alternatives for project improvements.

Construction Management/Project Management

M.A. + A is committed to providing the client with high quality and responsive construction management services. We have learned that the key to maintaining a good relationship with our clients is to provide them with accurate and responsive service on a continuous basis. Consequently, by subscribing to this particular method of operation, we have consistently been able to meet and exceed client's expectations. The services provided are broken up and dispersed between separate phases of the construction process which enables us to properly monitor the development of the project.

Construction Claims

Claims can be the most troublesome and time consuming aspect of managing any construction project. Claims are expensive to process and are often detrimental to both the Owner and the contractor. Therefore, claims are best avoided or minimized at an early stage by resolution through less drastic approaches. For example, M.A. + A has experience in the use of Dispute Review Boards and other resolution instruments to resolve claim issues.

Critical Path Method (CPM) Scheduling

M.A. + A will work as an extension of staff to perform customary assignments and tasks in support of overload cost estimation, CPM scheduling, and claims analysis, as well as undertake special analytic projects.

Our approach to managing scheduling, cost control, claims, recovery, and change orders is to ensure that they are included as an integral part of the construction management services for the project. Prior to the start of construction, M.A. + A will review the contract specifications for scheduling and identify all necessary schedule related submittals required of the contractor and review actions required of the project. We will review the project plans and specifications to prepare our own CPM schedule that reflects our experience with similar projects and anticipated difficulties. We also review and analyze the project cost estimate to verify quantities and ensure that it reflects current pricing based on the size and complexity of the project.

Building Information Modeling (BIM)

The M.A. + A team understands BIM and is incorporating these processes for improved cost and quality control. BIM embodies the future of design. Building Information Modeling is the result of owner demand for better, faster, and more cost-effective buildings. By using 3D models in place of paper renderings, information reuse, collaboration, and exchange is promoted among design teams in a real-time environment. BIM also gives our clients a resource of building information throughout the life-cycle of the project, allowing them to explore more in-depth design options in the digital environment while conserving both time and materials. In the end, facilities are produced that meet or exceed a client's needs and have improved performance throughout the life-cycle of the building. M.A. + A staff have worked with clients to deliver projects implementing various degrees of the BIM modeling. Recently M.A. + A. utilized BIM Modeling on the following projects:

San Juan VAMC Administration Building
Ft. Belvoir NARMC Headquarters Building

Contract Management, Logistics and Administrative Support

M.A.+ A provides the full range of Management, Logistic and Administrative support services for new and existing public and private contracts. We have a wide range of resources from supplementing management to technical and administrative functions for both short and long-term tasks. We strive to be flexible and adapt to the changing need of our clients and their projects. We strive to be flexible and adapt to changing needs of our clients and their projects. We can perform services at the client site or remotely as dictated by the needs of the contract and the project budget. As previously mentioned, the wide variety of labor categories offered allows M.A.+ A to provide "total solutions" tailored to meet each of our customer's unique requirements. Our project management staff and methods augment M.A.+ A's extensive technical capabilities. Experienced project managers, who are responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring, and managing the delivery of management, logistic or administrative services, lead our projects. In addition, these managers perform quality assurance and control functions to ensure that M.A.+ A's standards of excellence are always achieved and maintained. Furthermore, our project managers provide the client with ongoing insight into project activities, status, and accomplishments through formal reports and day-to-day interface.

AS-Built and Facility Assessment

M.A. + A has resources to provide on-site surveys, site measurements, as-built drawings and documentation. These services are designed to assist in verifying and establishing existing site conditions, or creating record documents as required by the scope of work. These services include but are not limited to:

• Auto Cad Drafting
• Site Measurements
• Digital Photographs
• As-Built Documentation
• Analysis