Milwaukee Water Pollution Abatement Program Owner Implementation Of Better Contracting Practices Recommendations

The paper will describe the $1.7 billion Milwaukee Program. Past contracting practices of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District are discussed. To minimize costs and claims, the MMSD has implemented some recommendations from Better Contracting for Underground Construction. Currently implemented are: full disclosure of subsurface data including interpretations, the deletion of disclaimers relating to subsurface information, use of the federal Differing Site Condition clause, payment for mobilization. Also considered was the recommendation concerning Wrap Up Insurance. The MMSD shares and allocates certain designated risks through the Contract. A claims handling methodology has been developed and used on this major construction program.