Contracts Specialist
Sadara Chemical Company
Total years of experience :17 years, 7 Months
Saudi Aramco, one of the leading energy suppliers to the world, and Dow Chemical Company, a leading science and technology company of the world, have formed a joint venture, Sadara Chemical Company (Sadara), which will construct, own and operate a world-scale integrated chemicals complex in Jubail Industrial City II, in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Once completed, the Sadara complex will represent the largest petrochemical facility ever built in a single phase. My responsibilities included;
Job Responsibilities:
• Building Strategic Contracting Agreements to meet business requirements and add business value.
• Analysing received procurement requirements from internal customers for materials and services.
• Collaborating with engineers and technicians in order to understand their needs and accurately draft corresponding material/service requests and assisting in the preparation of estimates by contacting vendors for “Budgetary pricing” for equipment, material and services.
• Analysing supply base and market trends (e.g. suppliers screening or qualification process).
• Developing sourcing/contracting strategy (e.g. approach, tactics, contract method, sourcing project details & timeline, analyze opportunities and threats, selection/evaluation criteria etc.).
• Leading a team from different business stakeholders to conduct the sourcing exercise.
• Negotiating with contractors as part of a negotiating team comprised of contract specialist/proponent.
• Overseeing the processing of RFQ (Request For Quotation), bid evaluations and release orders for supplies and services and assess the bidders’ technical qualifications along with their service history.
• Commercial/technical evaluation of bids, award recommendation and contract award and signing.
• Engaging suppliers in RFP or RFQ process, evaluate responses/proposals, select and negotiate terms, conditions and rates to eventually implement agreement.
• Evaluating the alternative contracts by studying the financial, procedural and administrative aspects and assessing the feasibility of each contract.
Job Responsibilities:
Ma’aden is developing several Gold Mines in Western Region of Saudi Arabia. Ad-duwayhi Gold Mine with expected recovery of more than 1 million ounce of Gold is the largest development currently underway and I am involved in this project for procurement and administration of EPC and support services contracts such as supply of major equipment, inspection services and security control etc. My responsibilities included;
Bid and Tender Phase:
• Administrating the whole process of tendering from sourcing to signing of the contracts.
• Sourcing of potential bidders, soliciting their expression of interest and finalizing the bidders list.
• Reviewing and preparing the Invitation to Bid / Request for Proposal (RFP) documents for EPC/ Other Contracts in consultation/ coordination with finance, legal, project management and operations team.
• Receiving and reviewing and responding to questions/ requests for clarification from EPC Bidders.
• Preparing Addenda to Request for Proposal/ ITB and issuing to all EPC Bidders/ Vendors/ Suppliers.
• Reviewing the proposals from EPC/ other Bidders and evaluating their compliance to ITB.
• Legal and commercial evaluation of Bids in consultation with Ma’aden’s corporate legal office.
• Participating and/or negotiating with successful bidder on commercial and contractual matters, finalizing the contract and compiling all the contract documents for signature taking into account the pre and post bid clarifications, all negotiations and other communications held between the parties.
• Maintaining the record of all communications, clarifications, transmittals, tender documents, addenda, and MoMs, contract documents & variations using Aconex, online document management system.
• Maintaining the log book for all signed and under-progress contracts with all financial details.
Programme Phase:
• Arranging and attending the Kick-Off meeting with successful Bidder to discuss key issues.
• Making technical and commercial communication with EPC contractors and equipment suppliers.
• Reviewing the contractor claims for additional works and time extension claims, making recommendations to the management and negotiating with contractors for settlement.
• Negotiating variations with contractors, forming and issuing the Variation Orders.
• Sourcing, tendering, tender evaluation, finalizing the best proposal and further negotiations for small services contracts, issuing of service orders and approving the invoices and contract administration.
• Receiving and processing the contractor invoices by ensuring that all contract terms are satisfied.
• Attending weekly progress meetings, reviewing MoMs before signing by PM, general contract administration, extending contractual and legal support to the PM.
• Monitoring contractor’s performance against time, cost, quality and safety parameters, issuing them notices of default when needed, meeting with contractors to discuss their future course of action to improve the performance and making recommendations to the management for further action.
• Maintaining the financial record of the main contract and small services contracts with respect to variations, change orders, claims, invoices, retentions and performance bonds etc.
• Tracking the submission and validity of key deliverable e.g. insurance certificates, salary certificates, advance payment bond, performance bond and retention bonds.
• Innovated and prepared Contract Register to maintain the record of each contract. The record includes communication in-out, variations and claims and critical contractual deliverables (commercial) etc.
Job Responsibilities:
Thales was contracted by Saudi Aramco as an EPC Contractor for implementation of data communication network. The project included core, distribution, access and fibre optic network spread over 2, 200 sites across the Kingdom. Project was designed by WorleyParsons (subcontractor) and delivered by Thales as a Turnkey solution and there were more than 25 suppliers/ subcontractors involved with in this Project. My responsibilities included;
• Prepared RFPs/ Bid packages for design and services sub-contractors and equipment suppliers sourced and finalized list potential bidders for procuring services and equipment and issue the RFP package.
• Reviewed client’s bid documents for tendering, evaluated contractual T&Cs and commercial issues pertaining to financial guarantees / bonds, payments mechanism and division of responsibilities.
• Ensured appropriate 'back to back' offers from co-contractors and key subcontractors; prepared contract gap analysis between client requirements and supply chain commitments from suppliers.
• Managed all pre-contract conditions affecting the coming into force, maintained and updated all contract documents, agreement & subcontracts, traced changes and updated the project team.
• Drafted, negotiated, issued and administered subcontracts, purchase orders services and supply of equipment, monitored performance, issued notices, managed invoices and payments, and handled/ negotiated and issued variations, claim analysis and prepared final account each PO/ subcontract.
• Monitored subcontractor’s compliance with contract requirements, undertake contractual and financial analysis of change/waiver requests and not meeting their commitments and generate the amendments.
• Defined and implemented a circuit for examining, processing and issuing contractual correspondences from the client/ subcontractors and defined interface approach based on mapping their organization.
• Preparation and circulation of report of continuing obligations (such as warranty), recovery & closure of financial and performance bonds, notified the suppliers of their continuing obligations.
Job Responsibilities:
Arabian Bemco was contracted by Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) as an EPC Contractor for Combined Cycle Power Plant (PP10) in Riyadh with installed capacity of 3, 000 MW. My role in this Project was limited to procurement and administration of major subcontracts for civil and structural works. My responsibilities included;
• Reviewed/ prepared and issued bid documents to subcontractors for tendering of civil works, evaluated proposals, negotiated commercial and contractual terms and conditions, issued Letter of Intent/ Award, prepared final subcontracts and issued to successful bidders for signatures.
• Analysed quotations received for sub-letting works, prepared prices comparison and reports on the basis of availability of services, commercial, contractual and technical aspects and submitted the same to management for approval of most viable quotation and recommended necessary action.
• Coordinated with client/ subcontractors for completion of additional works other than Scope of Work within schedule and budgeted cost in strict accordance with Project’s terms and conditions.
• Assisted the Project Manager in resolving contract conflicts, commercial matters, claims and disputes.
• Prepared work orders for specialized services in consonance with project technical specifications.
• Supervised sub-contractor’s delivery of materials/ services, issued default notices, received progress invoices and sanctioned approval for release of payments to enable release of bonds / guarantee.
• Coordinated with finance for upgrading/ clearance of payment to subcontractors/ suppliers.
• Analysed and defended subcontractor’s extra works and delay/ extension claims.
Job Responsibilities:
Descon was subcontracted by Technip France (EPC Contractor) for construction of an Olefin Plant in the Ras Laffan Industrial City. Descon’s scope of works included civil, structure, electrical, instruments, piping/equipment erection and pre-commissioning activities. Scope also included construction of a 7.4 km transmission gas pipeline. It was a remeasurable subcontract with original estimated price of USD 64 million. My responsibilities included;
• Prepared claims and variation order requests to Contractor for extra works instructed by contractor and for deleted but executed works with reference to IFC/As-built drawings, negotiated and settled the claims and requests with Contractor’s quantity surveyor and subcontract administrator.
• Managed a team of 4 quantity surveyors and reviewed and finalised claims/ variations order requested and responsible for preparing and issuing technical/ contractual correspondences with Contractor.
• Managed more than 20 sub-subcontractors and supplier for services and consumable materials.
• Pre and Post Award negotiation with technically & commercially feasible sub-subcontractors, coordination with the sub-Contractors for mobilization to site, arrangements of Access Passes, Work Permits, the submission of Bonds, guarantees and for other commercial related issues.
• Devised cost comparison statements for quotations received from different vendors, determined budgeted v/s actual costs for consumables/equipment and identified on regular basis during project execution and recommended site managers on activities/ resources costing over planned budget.
• Liaised with Procurement, Store and Planning departments to source and schedule materials as per project specifications/requirements and avoid excess purchase. Also coordinated with Quality Control department to ensure the quality of material received, negotiating with suppliers for replacements.
• Negotiated with Subcontractors/vendors for settlement of accounts and release of bonds/guarantees. Prepared of Work Orders for specialized services as per the requirements and Project Specifications and Prepared of Flow Sheets for Invoices and accrual for Cost and Budget Analysis for Subcontracting.
LLM Specialities are; • Legal Systems and Contract Law • Reparation Law and Evidence • Arbitration Practice & Procedure • Advanced Construction Law • Construction Adjudication Law • Construction Adjudication Procedure