L2B Blog: Reporting for Dummies (Part 2)

 

Your Online Footprint:

 

A. Online Activity – This details your overall usage statistics, such as how many searches you have performed, items you have viewed, downloaded, monitored or annotated, you can search up to 3 months.

By clicking on the blue links, you will be able to view the specific Projects / Tenders viewed or monitored over the period selected.

 

B. Site Engagement – provides a graph showing the number of searches performed on the site and the number of Leads that have been tagged within the time period chosen, not exceeding 3 months.

By clicking on the headings, you can expand the categories to see the searches performed and you can choose to perform that specific search again, or to display the date, name of tag and item tagged.

 

C. Project Engagement – This details your engagement with Project Leads. Informative graphs illustrate your Industry focus, what stage of the project lifecycle is beneficial to your business, which geographical area you target and the allocation of potential revenue values across the projects you monitor, can be searched for the last 3 months.

 

D. Tender Engagement: This details your engagement with Tender Leads. Informative graphs illustrate your Industry focus, which geographical area you target and the allocation of potential revenue values across the tenders you monitor. You can search for up to 3 months.

 

E. Vendor Engagement: This details your engagement with the Requests for Quotes you have received from Buyers on our site. It showcases the Requests you have responded to by pricing online /offline or declining to price. You can perform a search for three months.

By clicking on the headings, you can expand the various categories to see the specific instances where you have priced online, submitted your intension to price, declining to price or not responded to a RFQ.

 

F. Buyer Engagement: This details your engagement with Bills of Quantity you have sent using our electronic pricing distribution system for up to a range of 3 months.

With regards to all the graphs, you have the ability to download the graph to the following formats: png, jpg or pdf. You can also annotate the graphs with your own notes and observations and open the graphs to full screen.

 

Part 3 of Reporting for Dummies coming soon…

About Cecile Van Deventer

I joined the L2Q Team in 2006, as a L2Q Support Assistant and have been the HOD since 2010. I supervise L2Q Bills, Daily Tender Bills, Control Lists and Directory.

Potholes and Pitfalls in civil engineering contracts

Potholes and Pitfalls in civil engineering contracts

Potholes… an infrastructure issue that deserves a whole blog to itself! How often during your travels (be it your annual drive down to your favourite holiday spot, or your daily route to work) do you face the inconvenience of roadworks? I think all of us experience this from time to time. It goes on for months, sometimes even years. Finally, the works are completed and we breathe a sigh of relief. No more queues of traffic or uneven road surfaces, no more narrowing down to one lane. Phew! At last. A few weeks down the line…. a POTHOLE!!?? The blame gets shifted around quite a bit between all the parties involved in the contract, but where does the problem really lie?

 

I must admit. This blog title planted a new “anxiety seed” in my brain, and I found myself trying to put on a civil engineer’s shoes (figuratively, not literally).
I follow the progress of numerous infrastructure projects (but not pothole repairs!) in the department that I work in – the Projects Department. Or more affectionately known as the PP office. A few months (usually about 3 months) after a Tender is advertised for a civil engineering contract, we follow up with the relevant contacts in order to obtain the awarded civil engineering company’s details. We then contact the civil engineer and follow the design process, then the tender and construction progress, until the Project is complete. We do not delve too deep into the issues that may be presented during or after the life-cycle of the project, however, we do try to ascertain if or how those problems will affect the time frame of the development.

 

During my research for this topic, and on more than one occasion, education and training seemed to be a major area of concern when looking at civil engineers in the public sector. South Africa’s public sector appears to have very few professionally registered civil engineers and some of the engineers are placed in positions without possessing the required skills and experience. This could lead to errors in proposals when tendering for contracts and can have serious consequences.

 

Numerous failed infrastructure projects throughout South African history must surely be making things a bit more difficult for companies to win civil contracts. I would imagine that quality standards have been raised in order to improve public health and safety. These standards would hopefully be imposed on both engineering and construction firms, as both (among other professionals) are just as important in the quality of the completed project.

 

One example of a failed project is the collapse of the P166 bridge over the N4 in Mpumalanga in 2009. The beams collapsed and blame was shifted between a speeding truck which caused vibrations while travelling under the bridge, to vibrations caused by jackhammers and manufacturing errors. Another concern was the amount paid for the beams – it was substantially lower in comparison to what other engineers said the beams would usually cost. Sub-standard materials constitute a huge issue and can end in disaster.

 

The Foreshore Freeway Bridge in Cape Town is a well-known incomplete road structure. The bridge was designed in the 60s, and in the early 70s construction commenced. Construction was halted in 1977, apparently due to a lack of funding. However, rumour has it that there was an error in calculations during the design phase and that the two ends of the bridge would fail to meet!

By Flickr user Paul Mannix – https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulmannix/552103944, CC by 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46305687

 

Perhaps one of the most spectacular bridge collapses in the world was that of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (also nicknamed Galloping Gertie) in the USA, over 76 years ago due to strong winds. The design of the suspension bridge did not allow wind to pass through the sides, causing the bridge to sway and eventually collapse. It only stood for about 4 months after completion before disaster struck. Lessons have been learned and the way in which future suspension bridges are designed, have changed. The parts of the bridge that plunged into Puget Sound have formed a man-made reef, which is protected by the National Register of Historic Places. Click here to see the video, and to see where the bridge got its nickname.

By Barney Elliott; The Camera Shop – Screenshot taken from 16MM Kodachrome motion picture film by Barney Elliott, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23093518

 

Project failures, such as the ones I have mentioned above, can cast a dark shadow over the industry – an industry which is partly responsible for ensuring that our country’s infrastructure withstands time, utilising taxpayer’s money in a responsible manner. It is critical that we recognise the importance of skilled civil engineers and that employees of the profession look to improve their skills if given the opportunity.

 

Don’t get me wrong, we have some excellent civil engineering structures on our continent. The Maputo / Catembe Bridge, a 680m suspension bridge standing 60m over the water between Maputo and Catembe, is just one example to prove that:

 

Sources:
https://www.businesslive.co.za/fm/features/2017-03-16-cracks-in-the-walls/

http://www.lowvelder.co.za/index.php…news&Itemid=98

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacoma_Narrows_Bridge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreshore_Freeway_Bridge

http://journals.co.za/docserver/fulltext/civeng/24/2/civeng_v24_n2_a13.pdf?expires=1493899313&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=2EB4C398FA20074700668F139373D9BDhttp://www.africaranking.com/top-10-longest-bridges-africa/3/

About Bianca Warwick

I had the privilege of joining the Leads 2 Business content team in January 2012. I work in the exciting Projects department, following the progress of construction developments in KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State.

Featured Project: Setlabotsha Mine Project, Mpumalanga

Description: Anglo Operations proposes the development of the Setlabotsha Mine located near Standerton in the Lekwa Local Municipality and the Gert Sibande District Municipality in Mpumalanga Province. The proposed Setlabotsha project will involve the extraction of coal by means of underground mining methods. The coal resource will be accessed by two new shafts and the coal will be transported via a new overland conveyor to the existing new Denmark Colliery. No processing will take place at the Setlabotsha shaft complexes.

Status: Procedural

Industry: Infrastructure

Region: Mpumalanga

Sector: Private

Value: R 100 million+

Timing: 2017 onwards

Notes: Anglo has appointed SRK Consulting as the Independent Environmental Assessment Practitioner to undertake the environmental authorisation process for the proposed project. The Scoping Report was submitted to the DMR in December 2016 and they are currently evaluating the Report. DMR Ref MP 30/5/1/2/2 1015 EM

If you are a valued Projects subscriber, you can find more details click here

About Marlaine Andersen

Leads 2 Business Advertising Co-ordinator and Digital Designer

Featured Tender: Upgrading from Gravel to Surface Standard of Road 479 from Khunotswana Village Towards N4 at Tweefontein

Contract Number: PWR127/14 – Department of Public Works and Roads

Description: Department of Public Works and Roads Mmabatho invites tenders for Upgrading from Gravel to Surface Standard of Road 479 from Khunotswana Village Towards N4 at Tweefontein approximately Six (06) Kilometres.

Industry Sector: Road

Industry: Infrastructure

Region: North West

Site Inspection: A compulsory clarification meeting with representatives of the Employer will take place at Khunotswana Tribal Hall on 18 May 2017 starting at 10:00.

Closing Date: 02 June 2017 at 11:00

Restrictions: It is estimated that tenderers should have a cidb contractor grading of 7CE. Preferences are offered to tenderers who 7CE or higher. Telephonic, Telegraphic, Telex, Facsimile, Emailed and Late Tenders will not be accepted. Tenders may only be submitted on the tender documentation that is issued. Requirements for sealing, addressing, delivering, opening and assessment of Tenders are stated in the Tender Data.

If you are a valued Tender subscriber, Click to find more details about Upgrading from Gravel to Surface Standard of Road 479 from Khunotswana Village Towards N4 at Tweefontein

About Claire Donaldson

I started working at Leads 2 Business in February 2005, and have served as Head of Department of Daily Tenders from 2007 until the present. I oversee both the Daily Tenders South Africa and Africa Departments.

Did you know #DYK – Cost to build Roads

Cost to build Roads

Cost to build Roads

What is a road?

 

A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places that has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by foot or some form of conveyance, including a motor vehicle, cart, bicycle, or horse) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road which costs a vast amount of money to build

 

The question “Cost to build Roads” was ignited from Trevor Manual’s speech to CESA (Consulting Engineers South Africa) dated 08 October 2009 (#throwback) where he had mentioned the high cost of building of roads in South Africa.

 

Please Click on link to view the speech: http://www.cesa.co.za/cesaway_presentations/Trevor_Manuel_%20Speech.pdf

Flanders Drive Intersection – Mt Edgecombe:

This is a very difficult question to answer as road construction costs may vary as there are many factors to consider when building a road, please view the list below:

  • Design
  • Amount of environmental mitigation required
  • Terrain
  • Soil Conditions
  • Type of Roads
  • Width of Roads
  • Road Standards
  • Machine and Labour Costs
  • Skill of operators and labours
  • Accommodation
  • Contractors operating cost (such as fuel, labour, interest rates, insurance)
  • Traffic Management
  • Safety Aspects of pedestrians, detours
  • Time available to complete the task
  • Time of the year
  • Construction materials used
  • Availability of materials (shipping material outside the province vs using local materials)

“Road construction techniques are similar throughout the world, you can possibly achieve cost estimates once the main conditioning factors have been identified, by applying figures from similar Road construction projects. For reasons of comparing costs, it is advisable to break down labour and machine costs into different elements. The following breakdown is suggested: Surveying, staking the alignment and clearing right of way; formation of the road; rock blasting; Draining facilities (ditching, culverts); Crushing gravel; Gravelling, grading and compacting; Construction and environment protection works (bridges, retaining structures and soil stabilisation works). The cost of construction; Miscellaneous works (such as transport, delivery and minor earthworks; Projects servicing costs). Once the costs have been calculated for the different elements, unit costs (costs per m, per square m, per piece of construction work) should be developed to facilitate in estimating costs in future road projects and for comparative purposes. http://onlinecivilforum.com/site/index.php/2016/10/27/road-estimate-excel-sheet/

 

What does 1 km of road cost to build in South Africa? Up to R25 million per km according to CSIR (this information is sourced from the link below if you beg to differ please let us know): http://www.answers.com/Q/What_does_1km_of_road_to_build_cost_in_south_africa

 

The question still remains to be answered why are the construction cost of roads still so high and are they paved with “gold”?

 

For your information from OUTA (Organisation undoing Tax abuse): Please see Paper on High Pricing, Collusion and Capture of National Road Construction.

 

Please click to view active (Road) Projects currently on our system:

About Pauline Rainbird

I have been working at L2B since March 2011 and my current position is Deputy Head of Department - Africa. When I am not working I am either riding my bicycle or spending time with my dogs.

Industry Event: African Utility Week + Indutec 2017 + Hostex 2017

1. Event:

African Utility Week

 

Date:

16 May 2017 – 18 May 2017

Site visits on 19 May 2017

 

Event location:

CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa

 

Event Description:

The 17th annual African Utility Week is the only global meeting place, conference and trade exhibition for African power and water utility professionals. African Utility Week offers a unique networking opportunity for engineers, stakeholders and solution providers alike.

 

Contact:

Exhibition space/sponsorships:
Loudon Cito, Business Development Manager

Tel: +27(0)21 700 3564
E-mail: loudon.cito@spintelligent.com

and

Conference passes/submit a paper:
Natalie Bacon, Senior Conference Producer

Tel: +27(0)21 700 3585
E-mail: natalie.bacon@spintelligent.com

 

Event Website:

African Utility Week

 

 

2. Event:

Indutec 2017 incorporating PVP Live & WaterTec Conference

 

Date:

17 May 2017 – 19 May 2017 from 10:00 – 16:00

 

Parking:

Security monitored parking is available in an open air opposite the venue as well as behind Hall 5. The cost per day is R20

 

Event location:

Gallagher Convention Centre, 19 Richard Drive, Midrand, Johannesburg, 1685

 

Event description:

The largest and most comprehensive African Tradeshow dedicated to the Industries involved in the Conveyance of Liquids, Gases & Slurries.

 

Contact:

Tel: +27 11 783 7250
Email: info@indutecafrica.com

 

Event Website:

Indutec 2017

 

 

3. Event:

Hostex powering Food and hospitality Africa and IFEA 2017

 

Date:

07 May 2017 – 09 May 2017

Sunday to Monday, 09:00 – 17:00

Tuesday, 09:30 – 16:00

 

Event location:

Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg

 

Event description:

Hostex powering Food and Hospitality Africa and IFEA 2017 is the largest Pan-African food, drink and hospitality trade expo. It is the ultimate melting pot for the foodservice, hospitality, catering, retail and wholesale industry and leverages the synergies, size and scale of two industry heavyweights, namely the 30-year-old Hostex and innovative IFEA expos.

 

Contact:

Nick Sarnadas (Event Director)

Tel: +27(0)11 835 1565

 

Event Website:

Hostex powering Food and hospitality Africa and IFEA 2017

About Eldary Carpenter

I have been with Leads 2 Business for 5 years and absolutely love working for such a dynamic company. I started off as a Content Researcher in the Tenders Department before being promoted to Customer Relations.

L2B Blog: 5 Ingredients in the Constructions of a Road

5 Ingredients in the Constructions of a Road

5 ingredients in the Construction of a Road

Have you ever baked a cake and realised you forgot to add the flour or the baking powder? What tends to happen? Your cake flops or does not rise. Building a road is similar, but a lot more complex. There are so many ‘ingredients’ and important aspects that need to be considered before and during the construction of a road.

The first step to constructing a road would be planning. Your engineer/consultant would come on site and decide what type of road will be built and what materials would be used to construct the road. This will all depend on how much traffic will occupy this road. Even the simplest of roads can take up to months or possibly even years for the planning of the road. The engineer will need to evaluate many factors such as the environmental impact of the road, the availability of materials needed to construct the road, will the road be safe and, the most important factor, the cost of the road. These plans will be written into a final proposal where the consultants will need to evaluate these plans. Meetings will take place with all parties concerned and all the pros and cons will be discussed in vast detail. Without proper planning and careful consideration of all these factors, there is a chance that the foundation will collapse.

Shortly after careful planning and long and tedious meeting’s the plan will either be approved or rejected. We are going to assume that the planning was approved. The next step would be the construction of the actual road.

Ingredients used to construct a road:

 

1. The standard Foundation:

Bulldozers and graders, which are two types of machinery, will be used to flatten the ground surface. This ground layer will make up the bottom layer of our road

(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Afghan_engineers_work_on_a_road_construction_project_in_Panjwa%27i_district_at_Forward_Operating_Base_Shoja_in_Kandahar_province,_Afghanistan,_March_28,_2013_130328-A-PV892-022.jpg)

 

2. Gravel:

The gravel will be added in layers where a roller machine will be used to roll over this surface to ensure that the surface is compact and flattened

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gravel_small_stones.jpg

 

3. Drainage facilities:

Drainage facilitates play a huge role in ensuring that the road is safe at all times from water backlogs. We are not able to control the weather and for this reason, we need to ensure that the road never gets saturated and water-logged. Firstly it is not safe for drivers on the road and secondly, the road will soon disintegrate and start deteriorating over time. Examples of drainage facilities would be drain and storm water sewers.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Storm_drain_pipe_(crop).JPG

Once the foundation is complete and compact and has been inspected by the consultant, it is time to pave the road!

4. Asphalt / Bitumen

Asphalt uses an oil based substance called bitumen to make sand and crushed rock stick together like a glue-like substance. The asphalt is heated to +- 300 Degrees Fahrenheit (148,88 Degrees Celsius), where it

will be transported to the site where the construction team will spread the mixture evenly across the smooth gravel service. The mixture is rolled over the gravel surface where it will form a solid layer on the top.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AF-asphalt-laying-machine.jpg

 

5. Concrete Slabs

The finishing touches will be the concrete slabs that are laid on the side of the roads. Workers will pour liquid concrete into a steel mould called forms. A finishing machine is used to shake these moulds to ensure the mixture is distributed evenly for an even finish. The concrete slabs are laid alongside the road where incisions in the road are made to allow the concrete to expand and contract depending on the temperature, this will ensure that the road does not crack

https://www.google.co.za/search?q=Concrete+Slabs&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi7xaKyytXTAhVCwBQKHZTXCEIQ_AUIBigB&biw=1600&bih=751&dpr=1#tbs=sur:fc&tbm=isch&q=laying+Concrete+Slabs+for+a+road&imgrc=szGP9Kx5Ii-zkM:

 

Every day we take our course of life, may it be a trip to the shop or work and take for granted these roads that we drive on. Most people think they just appeared or are set up overnight by machinery. The planning and work that goes into these roads are far more complex than most can imagine.

 

Sources used:

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-do-you-build-a-road

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road

 

About Roxanne Mustard

My Name is Roxanne Mustard and I started working at Leads 2 Business in September 2016. My role in the Leads 2 Business team is as a Regional Content researcher in the Projects Department.

Featured Project: WindNam Wind Farm, Namibia

Description: Construction of the proposed 500 MW WindNam plant to be developed within the Sperrgebiet National Park, on a piece of land of approximately 8 700ha in size, in Namibia. Estimated value: USD $943.9 million.

Status: Procedural

Industry: Infrastructure

Region: Namibia

Sector: Private

Value: R 100 million+

Timing: 2017 onwards.

Notes: The proposed development remains in early planning stage.

If you are a valued Projects subscriber, you can find more details click here

About Melanie Miles

One girl who would rather wear boots than high heels...

Featured Tender: Burbreeze Reservoir: Construction of 3.3 km of DN 300 Continuously Welded Steel Rising Mains, 5Ml Reinforced Concrete Reservoir, Pumpstation Auxilliary Mechanical, Electrical and Instrumentation Plant

Contract Number: WS-6991 – Ethekwini Metropolitan Municipality

Description: Ethekwini Metropolitan Municipality invites tenders for Burbreeze Reservoir: Construction of 3.3 km of DN 300 Continuously Welded Steel Rising Mains, 5Ml Reinforced Concrete Reservoir, Pumpstation Auxilliary Mechanical, Electrical and Instrumentation Plant.

Industry Sector: Water

Industry: Infrastructure + Electrical and Instrument + Plant & Machinery + Mechanical

Region: KwaZulu-Natal

Site Inspection: A compulsory clarification meeting with representatives of the Employer will take place at In Room 301, 3rd Floor, Ethekwini Water & Sanitation Building, 3 Prior Road, Durban on 09 May 2017 starting at 10:00.

Closing Date: 02 June 2017 at 11:00

Restrictions: It is estimated that tenderers should have a cidb contractor grading of 8CE. Preferences are offered to tenderers who are registered with CIDB Only tenderers who are Grading 8 CE /higher are eligible to submit tenders. Telephonic, Telegraphic, Telex, Facsimile, Emailed and Late Tenders will not be accepted. Tenders may only be submitted on the tender documentation that is issued. Requirements for sealing, addressing, delivering, opening and assessment of Tenders are stated in the Tender Data

If you are a valued Tender subscriber, Click to find more details about Burbreeze Reservoir: Construction of 3.3 km of DN 300 Continuously Welded Steel Rising Mains, 5Ml Reinforced Concrete Reservoir, Pumpstation Auxilliary Mechanical, Electrical and Instrumentation Plant

About Claire Donaldson

I started working at Leads 2 Business in February 2005, and have served as Head of Department of Daily Tenders from 2007 until the present. I oversee both the Daily Tenders South Africa and Africa Departments.

Industry Event: 2017 Vision in Energy LPG Event + Machine Tools Africa 2017

1. Event:

2017 Vision in Energy LPG Event

 

Date:

09 May 2017 – 11 May 2017

 

Event location:

Montecasino, Johannesburg

 

Event description:

The 2017 Vision in Energy LPG Event, South Africa, represents a premium opportunity for international and local companies to showcase their offering to the sub-Saharan Africa LPG industry.

 

Contact:

Phone: +27(0)10 003 0295

E-mail: info@visioninenergy.co.za

 

Event Website:

2017 Vision in Energy LPG Event

 

 

2. Event:

Machine Tools Africa 2017

 

Date:

09 May 2017 – 11 May 2017

 

Time:

09:00 – 17:00

 

Event location:

JHB Expo Centre, Johannesburg

 

Event description:

Looking for the latest machine tool products, solutions and suppliers to gear up your business for 2017 and beyond? Then look no further than Machine Tools Africa 2017. It’s a revolution. A showcase of all that rotates, turns, cuts, forms, bends, shapes and more. It’s the place where you’ll find the most innovative products, technologies, solutions and services that this industry has to offer in machinery, tools, spares and technical support.

 

Contact:

John Sterley

Sales Executive

Specialised Exhibitions (Pty) Ltd

Tel: +27(0)11 835 1565

E-mail: JohnS@Specialised.com

 

Event Website:

Machine Tools Africa 2017

 

About Eldary Carpenter

I have been with Leads 2 Business for 5 years and absolutely love working for such a dynamic company. I started off as a Content Researcher in the Tenders Department before being promoted to Customer Relations.

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