Geotechnical baselines — Part of the problem or a solution?

In order to realistically bid on an underground project, a contractor must be able to answer four very significant “how questions”: how will it be constructed how much will it cost how long will it take how will he be paid The integration and coordination of the Geotechnical Baseline Report (GBR) with the plans, specifications and schedule of bid items must be conducted by people who understand the contract documents and their use in construction and not be in a defensive mode for the parties who created the contract documents. A datum or baseline is a contractual statement of parameters for soil/rock characteristics and behavior as well as stated quantities of bid unit price items. By utilizing the schedule of bid unit prices for adjustment of datum or baseline quantities, a “fair to all parties” solution can be attained for varying conditions, within the site, that exist in all underground construction. However, a GBR that is a litany of geotechnical horrors (LOGH) without recommendations or conclusions guarantees going to Dispute Review Board(s) or to court.