Applying Delay Analysis Techniques to the World Bank Funded Projects

One of the main characteristics of construction projects in general is that they are subject to a wide range of risks causing delays beyond the planned completion dates. Due to the current unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, it is expected that the World Bank will fund many projects in the region to restore and build the affected and aged infrastructure systems. Under the current circumstances, these projects could be subject to delays. World Bank projects are managed through the Standard Bidding Documents for Procurement of Works (SBDW). The Conditions of Contract included in the SBDW (i.e. WB Contract) are based extensively on the Conditions of Contract for Construction published by the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC). Since the WB Contract and the FIDIC have their own procedures that cover the submission of schedules (programmes, the term used in the WB Contract and the FIDIC), updating programmes and submission of claims for extension of time; some delay analysis techniques would fit to be applied to such contracts whereas other would not. Under these interrelated conditions, it is crucial for U.S contractors to utilize the appropriate delay analysis techniques that will enable them to study and assess the associated impact to the project schedules, and consequently submit well substantiated claims for extension of time. This paper uses a three-step methodology to present administration guidelines for appropriately applying the different delay analysis techniques to the World Bank funded projects