IC is urged to consolidate similar issues in individual transmittals and present with attachments, references to standards and bid documents. It is also important that such issues shall not cause delays to procurements of items, or activities especially when part items can be ordered to avoid delays in procurement schedule. 

Regarding an important issue raised by IC regarding the ditch construction, SAPMT believes that the IFB required the ditch to be constructed as a solid concrete structure where slopes were to be maintained to allow water to be disposed off, over whatever the lengths may be, towards the flood control channels. During the detailed design phase, it was proposed by IC that such a design would also require deep excavations and require excessive dewatering. Additionally to drain the water accumulating in ditch due to subsurface water or rain water, many lift stations might be required as slopes might bring the bottom of ditch lower than the bottom of the flood control channel.

During the detailed design stage, IC submitted a proposal to allow the accumulated water inside the ditch to percolate into the ground by providing a pervious bed. This would eliminate the need to maintain slopes, need for dewatering, need for lift stations and need to connect to the flood control channels. A change in design was accepted as suggested by IC. IC also opted to raise the ditch bed in certain areas, where ever the existing ground permitted to avoid extremely expensive and prolonged dewatering techniques. The change has obviously benefitted the project where work is being done without the fear of underground water which would have caused delays and need for additional resources.

Based on the above; IC’s claim for extra works providing slope erosion control outside the ditch and providing materials to maintain perviousness inside the ditch is baseless. SAPMT shall not entertain any claims based on the fact that IC is neglecting the original scope of work in its “entiretyâ€ regarding the ditch and highlighting the minor alterations which had to be adopted to achieve a design for which IC is solely responsible. It is also advisable that IC shall provide along with this claim, if raised again, the estimates of all the dewatering operations, deep excavations required to maintain slopes of the ditch bed towards channels, lift stations for draining water into flood control channels etc, which would have been required to follow the original scope. Failing which, any claims pertaining to the ditch construction are henceforth rejected.
