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Our Services
We offer advice across a wide range of pre and post contract services. This includes advising on the best plan of action for procurement, drawing up contracts and checking all work completed. We offer unbiased advice to ensure contractual conditions are met and that our client’s interests are always at the forefront of everything that we do.
These are services OTA Consulting provides as early as the ‘concept design’ stage, before the client may even have all the details of their project. These include but are not limited to:
- Creating budget estimates or ‘ballpark’ figures with limited design information (preliminary estimates)
- Checking the budget as more information becomes available and the design develops (cost planning & value engineering)
- Confirming the budget so you can feel secure moving forward (Bill of Quantities-estimate based on detailed measurements)
- Preparing tender/bid documents to send to potential contractors and provide advice on the appropriate tender procedures
- Evaluating tender documents and making recommendations on the most suitable contractors for the job
- Preparing contract documents to be signed by the client & contractor
We offer the following services after you have engaged a contractor. They include but are not limited to:
- Valuation reports reflecting the value of the work in progress and recommendations for payments to the contractor
- Cost reporting and monitoring for any changes in design
- Review of and advice on, any claims that arise out of the terms and conditions of the contract (such as, an increase in contractor pricing, costs related to delays, etc)
- Final reports calculating and agreeing to any adjustments so that the final payment due to the Contractor or the Client can be determined (Final Accounting and Project Evaluation)
Why Us ?
OTA Consulting brings the following added value to projects:
Each QS is either accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), or supervised by a member of the RICS; a UK body responsible for quality assurance within the profession.
We are constantly exploring and testing new technologies that improve the accuracy of our services. Using the latest technology, OTA Consulting has developed techniques that allow shortened turnaround times to assess valueengineering options, which can be invaluable in the usual iterative process of designs.
We boast full integration with the Building Information Modeling platforms (BIM) such as Revit, allowing us to explore the price of design options within minutes.
Through the use of technology, we are also able to reduce our operational time in providing services by as much as 60%. As a result, we are able to be competitive with our industry peers. This benefit translates to project savings en-route to our goal of ensuring the client achieves good value for money.
Several of our associates have presented papers at the Institute of Surveyors of Trinidad & Tobago (ISTT) and the Caribbean Procurement Institute (CPI). The papers examined the role of the traditional QS and the use of specialist software in the modern construction industry.
OTA Consulting tailors its services to focus on helping the client to achieve economy and efficiency on their projects. Integrating us in the project from inception gives the benefit of establishing early budgets so that designers can design within budget and not retro-fit their design to fit the budget.
Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP) Works are often included in the contract as provisional sums (rough estimates). OTA Consulting however, as a result of specialist training in MEP works, is able to define in detail the scope of works, provide accurate estimates and prepare tender documents so that fixed contract sums can be agreed-upon. This lessens the likelihood of cost overruns.
All documents are subject to, at minimum, an internal peer review and when necessary, an external and independent review. All work is meticulously checked by the time it is delivered to the client. Technology again, plays a very important part in our Quality Control process, systematically flagging any issues before they are incorporated into the project.
The Firm
The Chartered Quantity Surveying firm of OTA Consulting (Omar Thomas & Associates Limited) was established in 2009.
We provide total costing services – from preliminary estimates and feasibility studies through to final valuation.
Please view our Project Portfolio, for a listing of clients we have had the pleasure of assisting on their development ventures. Most of our clients are on a referral basis, and our numbers have more than doubled in the last three years. This is a testament to the quality of service and professionalism which OTA Consulting brings to every project.
OUR EXPERIENCE
OTA Consulting’s experience ranges from small scale housing to the development of master plans for cities and hospitals. We are equipped to handle projects at all ends of the spectrum from conducting feasibility analysis to final account settlement. Our partners and key associates have over 15 years of experience in both the private and public sectors. We are perfectly positioned to fulfill the requirements of any client and offer professional services to ensure proper control of costs, which is essential at all stages of a project, large or small. Our projects have ranged from USD $0.2 million to USD $843 million in value.
OUR PROMISE TO YOU
VISION
Our vision is to be the most reliable and preferred provider of QS services for everyone – small, medium and large projects, within the CARICOM region.
MISSION
To provide accurate, reliable and timely cost management services to clients by using the latest and most efficient technologies.
To focus on value engineering, offering our clients advice not just on the costs of their proposed design but also on more cost-effective alternatives.
To engage in continued professional development and training, internationally and locally, to ensure that our members are abreast of new technologies within an ever-evolving construction industry.
To uphold the standards and codes of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Institute of Surveyors of Trinidad & Tobago (ISTT), and all affiliated Professional bodies.
VALUES
Our firm is built on the values of:
1. Reliability
2. Accuracy
3. Economy & Efficiency
4. Professionalism
Our partners and key associates live and exemplify these values in their work.
Our Team
OMAR THOMAS
Managing Director/Chartered Quantity Surveyor
Omar is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor with over fifteen years’ experience. He serves as the Managing Director and Principal Quantity Surveyor at OTA Consulting, providing construction cost and finance management in various countries throughout the CARICOM region.
Omar holds a MSc degree in Quantity Surveying, and a BSc in Construction Engineering & Management. He is also a member of the Institute of Surveyors of Trinidad & Tobago (ISTT) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
His portfolio ranges from small housing projects to large scale hotel redevelopments and master planning for city and town expansions.
Omar has worked with numerous clients, both in the public and private sector, as well as completed pro-bono work for nonprofits and community groups.
Omar is very passionate about the application of new technologies in his field that increase efficiency and lower costs. He has presented papers for the Caribbean Procurement Institute (CPI) and the ISTT demonstrating the role of Quantity Surveyors in the modern construction industry.