Dispute Review Board
DRB Operating Procedures
1 - GENERAL:
1.1 These procedures are for the purpose of providing processes for operation of the Disputes Review Board (DRB) and are intended to be flexible to meet circumstances that may arise during the life of the
project. “Dispute” as referenced in this procedure is defined as a disagreement between the Florida Department of Transportation (“Department”) and the Contractor (referred to herein as the parties) where
the Contractor has submitted, in accordance with Standard Specification 5-12, a notice of intent to seek additional compensation but has not yet submitted a written claim in accordance with Standard Specification 5-12. “Claim”
as referenced in this procedure is defined as a written demand submitted to the Department by the Contractor in compliance with Standard Specification 5-12.3 seeking additional monetary compensation,
time, or other adjustments to the Contract, the entitlement or impact of which is disputed by the Department.
1.2 The role of this DRB is to provide specialized expertise in technical areas and in administration of construction
contracts to assist the Department and the Contractor in resolving disputes or claims in a timely and equitable manner. Within the context of partnering, the DRB serves to assist the parties in working through disagreements.
1.3 As
provided in the DRB Specification contained in the construction contract, except for their participation in the DRB’s activities, neither the Contractor nor the Department will solicit advice or consultation from the DRB or it members on matters
dealing with the conduct of the work or resolution of problems. During meetings, site visits and hearings, no DRB member will express any opinion concerning the merit of any facet of a case or a potential dispute.
1.4 The Department
will furnish to each of the DRB members all documents necessary for the DRB to perform its function, including copies of all contract documents, plus periodic reports such as Engineer Weekly Summaries, minutes of the weekly progress meeting, Submittal
Register, Work Order Register, Supplemental Agreements Register and Claims Tracking Log. Also, at the time a dispute or claim is presented to the DRB for consideration, the Department/Contractor will submit to the DRB members all project documentation
pertinent to the issue as necessary for the DRB to have a complete understanding of the matter.
1.5 It must be emphasized and firmly understood that individual DRB members are not the "representative of" or "advocate for" the
party which selected them. The entire DRB will function as an objective, impartial and independent body at all times. In order to avoid any suggestion of partiality, there should be no individual communication in regard to the project between DRB
members and employees of the Contractor or Department during the life of the DRB. THE PARTIES SHALL DIRECT ANY MATTERS NEEDING ATTENTION BETWEEN MEETINGS OF THE DRB TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DRB AND CONCURRENTLY TO THE OTHER PARTY TO THE CONTRACT.
2 - FREQUENCY OF REGULAR MEETINGS:
In order for the DRB to become familiar with the project circumstances, it will generally meet once per month during the first 3 to 6 months and no less than quarterly thereafter, as
mutually determined by the Contractor and the Department. If conditions warrant, the Contractor and the Department, may reduce/increase the time between meetings to better serve their needs. Factors to be considered when setting the time between meetings
include work progress, occurrence of unusual events and the number and complexity of ongoing or potential disputes or claims. On projects with unresolved issues, the DRB will meet at least monthly until the unresolved issues are resolved.
3 - AGENDA FOR REGULAR MEETINGS:
3.1 The DRB Chairman will develop an agenda for each regular meeting in accordance with the guidelines contained in the DRB Specification. The parties should not be bashful in bringing
to the DRB's attention any disputes or claims encountered (past or present).
3.2 At the conclusion of each meeting, the DRB will do a field inspection of active sections of the work accompanied by a representative of both the Contractor
and the Department. Any areas of the project that are being impacted by a potential issue will be pointed out by the parties.
4 - MINUTES OF MEETING:
The Department will provide minutes of the regular meetings which
will be distributed to all parties for comment, addition, and correction. Minutes as amended will be adopted at the next meeting. No minutes will be kept of hearings in regard to a dispute or claim.
5 - SUBMITTAL OF DISPUTES AND CLAIMS TO DRB:
5.1 The DRB encourages DOT and the Contractor to resolve potential disagreements without resorting to use of the DRB. However, when it becomes apparent that resolution
is unlikely to be accomplished by negotiation, a dispute or claim should be moved as promptly as possible to the DRB for its consideration. An escalation process shall be established between the parties that clearly outlines the steps leading to submission
of an issue to the DRB. This escalation process should be set up during Partnering, where applicable, or at early DRB monthly meetings for jobs without Partnering and should be expedited to the greatest extent possible.
5.2 When the parties
exhaust the written protest procedure set out in the DRB Specification (keeping in mind that, by agreement of the parties, steps may be omitted and time periods changed) either party can refer a dispute or claim to the DRB. However, if the responding
party needs additional time to prepare to present its side of the issue(s), the parties should strive to mutually agree to a future date for presentation to the DRB. Should a mutual date not be agreed upon, the DRB will generally allow one 30-day
continuance for the unprepared to prepare.
5.3 The DRB will generally focus its written recommendation on matters of entitlement, allowing the parties to subsequently negotiate the monetary damages for which entitlement has been
determined. For relatively simple disputes or claims, if both parties request and sufficient documentation is submitted, the DRB may also make a concurrent recommendation on monetary damages. When matters of entitlement and monetary damages are separate,
if the parties are unable to reach agreement on monetary damages, the matter of monetary damages may be submitted to the DRB. Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, the matter of monetary damages should be submitted to the DRB within 30 days after
the DRB issues its recommendation on entitlement.
5.4 The party referring a dispute or claim to the DRB shall submit to the Chairman a written request for a hearing with copies to the other DRB members and concurrently to the other party to the contract. Referral to the DRB is accomplished by providing
an issue statement outlining the nature and scope of the dispute or claim and describing the basis for entitlement to the dispute or claim. Only disputes or claims that have been duly preserved under the terms of the Contract will be eligible to be
heard by the DRB. Requests for equitable adjustment that are disputed must be certified as required by 4-3.2. Claims that are referred to the DRB must be in compliance with 5-12.3. This request shall be accompanied by a summary of the issues on which
the dispute or claim is based, in sufficient detail for the DRB to gain an understanding of the dispute or claim and for the other party to prepare a response.
5.5 Any disputes or claims that were not resolved prior to Final Acceptance
of the project pursuant to 5-11 must be referred to the DRB within 90 calendar days after Final Acceptance for projects with an original Contract amount of $3,000,000 or less, and within 180 calendar days after Final Acceptance on projects with an
original Contract amount greater than $3,000,000. Only duly preserved disputes or claims will be eligible to be heard by the DRB. Failure to submit all disputes or claims to the DRB within aforementioned timeframe after Final Acceptance constitutes
an irrevocable waiver of the Contractor's dispute or claim.
5.6 Upon receiving a copy of the written request for a hearing before the DRB, the responding party may submit a concise written issue statement on a dispute or claim for
which a hearing before the DRB has been requested. This issue statement must be submitted to all DRB members and concurrently to the party requesting a hearing.
5.7 The DRB Chairman will schedule a hearing no earlier than 20 calendar days after receiving the request for a hearing, except that this time may be reduced for simple or urgent matters or in order to schedule a hearing in conjunction with the next Regular
Meeting of the DRB.
5.8 Full position papers shall be submitted by both parties and must be accompanied by supporting documents which are numbered and referred to in the position paper by page number. In the interest of expediting consideration
of a dispute or claim, the DRB encourages the parties to cooperatively prepare a joint compilation of all pertinent documents with pages or exhibits consecutively numbered for ease of reference, for use by the parties in preparing submittals and during
the hearing. The full position papers will be submitted 15 calendar days prior to the hearing directly to each of the DRB members and to the opposing party.
5.9 In large dollar or complex issues, the DRB may meet privately to review the
information provided, discuss the procedures to be followed in hearing the dispute or claim and the method of presentation to be followed. The DRB may also call a pre-meeting conference to discuss procedures with both the Department and the Contractor.
5.10 The parties may submit to the DRB statements in rebuttal to the other parties position statement provided that such statement is submitted to all DRB Members and the other party so as to be received by them not less than 5 calendar days
prior to the date scheduled for the hearing.
5.11 At least 5 calendar days prior to the date scheduled for a hearing, each party must submit to the DRB members and to the other party a list of the persons who will attend and/or represent them at the hearing.
6 - CONDUCT OF HEARING ON DISPUTES AND CLAIMS:
6.1 Hearings will normally be conducted at the job site with representatives of both the Department and the Contractor present. Should the jobsite facilities be inadequate for the number of participants expected, a meeting site agreeable to the
parties will be selected and arranged for by the Department. Any cost for the facility will be equally borne by the parties.
6.2 Hearings will be conducted in an informal manner. The party initiating the hearing will first discuss the dispute
or claim followed by the responding party's rebuttal. Each party will be allowed successive rebuttals until all information has been presented. The DRB members may ask questions as needed for them to have a complete understanding of the evidence.
In large dollar or complex issues, an additional day/days of hearings may be necessary in order for the DRB to fully understand and consider all evidence presented by the parties. Should new information be presented that is not contained in the position
or rebuttal statements previously submitted to the DRB and the other party, the hearing may be continued until a protesting party is afforded the opportunity to research and rebut the new information. This continuance should not exceed 30 days.
6.3 Attorneys are discouraged from attending DRB meetings or hearings. Any participation in a hearing by legal counsel or independent claims or technical experts will be for the sole purpose of supporting a party’s presentation, not making the presentation
or rebuttal statements for, with, or on behalf of the party. Legal counsel may not (a. examine directly or by cross-examination any witness, (b. object to questions asked or factual statements made during the hearing or, (c. make or argue legal motions.
Legal counsel or independent claims or technical experts present must not make statements of fact for or on behalf of a party or witness and shall at all times comply with the instructions of the DRB. The DRB may ask counsel for both parties to address
legal issues that the DRB determines would assist it in resolution of the dispute before it for consideration. There shall be no oral participation of either party's attorneys or independent claims or technical experts at DRB meetings or
hearings except for direct response to any questions asked by the DRB.
6.4 In the interest of keeping hearings completely informal, no formal record will be kept of a DRB hearing. Any departure from this will depend on the nature and magnitude
of the dispute or claim and the attitude of the parties. Audio and/or video recordings are discouraged and may be made only if agreed to by both parties. Formal recording of a hearing by a court reporter requested by a party will be allowed only if
agreed to by the other party. The party requesting a record bears the court reporter costs. The DRB will be provided 4 copies of the transcript and the other party will be provided 1 copy.
7 - ISSUANCE OF DRB RECOMMENDATIONS:
7.1 The DRB will meet in private following the hearing to formulate its recommendations. The recommendations will be based on the pertinent contract provisions and the facts and circumstances
involved in the dispute or claim. All individual views of the DRB members will be kept strictly confidential. Should there be additional questions, the Chairman may schedule a follow up hearing.
7.2 A written recommendation, using the format
below, including the underlying logic will be provided to the parties generally within 15 working days from the hearing. Every effort will be made to reach a unanimous decision. If the DRB is unable to reach a unanimous recommendation, the dissenting
member may prepare a minority report to be included in the written recommendation, but the DRB member preparing such report will not be revealed. Dissenting opinions are discouraged and should be offered only when the dissenting member strongly disagrees
with the consensus opinion. Any request for clarification will be made through the Chairman and answered in writing by the DRB as a whole.
8 - RECONSIDERATION OF DRB RECOMMENDATIONS:
8.1 Although both parties should
place weight upon the recommendations of the DRB, they are not binding. Either party may appeal a recommendation to the DRB for reconsideration. Reconsideration should only be considered when there is new information to present or what was assumed
to be agreement on factual matters turns out to be incorrect, and clarification is needed. However, reconsideration should be the exception, not the rule. Rearguing the same issue on the same facts is not productive.
8.2 When the DRB is
of the opinion that a request for reconsideration or clarification is meritorious and will likely lead to resolution of the dispute or claim by the parties, it will honor that request. Usually, an additional hearing is not needed. The DRB reviews
any new information together with commentary from the parties and, if necessary, prepares a revised recommendation or clarifies its recommendation in response to the matters raised.
PROTOTYPE OF PERIODIC MEETING AGENDA
Project Description: (SR#, Local Road, Location, Work Mix)
Owner/CEI: Contractor:
Date:__________ Contract Day: Actual Day/Total Days: _______/_______
Meeting Number:______
Percent Complete (Days) ____ / ____
Notice to Proceed _______ Original Contract Amount: ___________
1st Chargeable Work Day_______ Current Contract Amount: ___________
Orig. Contract Time____ Revised______ Amount Earned to date:_____________
Orig. Contract Completion Date________ Percent Complete ($) ______________
Revised Contract Completion _________ Scheduled Percent Complete ($) ES/LS _______ / ________
Job Incentives/Bonus?_________________________________
Disputes
Review Board Meeting Agenda
a. Sign-in of all participants
b. Opening remarks of Chairman
c. Description by Contractor
of:
(1) Work accomplished since last meeting.
(2) Current status of the work schedule. Days gained/lost since last meeting. Reason?
(3) Schedule for future.
(4) Potential problems/challenges.
(5) Proposed solutions to these problems.
d. Discussion by Engineer of:
(1) Work schedule as he views it.
(2)
Potential new disputes or claims.
(3) Status of past disputes and claims
(4) Other controversies.
e. Set a tentative date for the next meeting.
f. Revise/Adopt
Previous Meeting Minutes
g. Tour of Project
1. Overview
2. Impacts (Present or Past)
RECOMMENDATION FORM
Recommendation of Dispute Review Board
Dispute No. __ District _____
Hearing Date: _______ Contractor________________
DISPUTE (include project description, Contract #, Financial Project ID, and summary of disputed issue)
CONTRACTOR'S POSITION
DEPARTMENT'S POSITION
RECOMMENDATION CITING SPECIFIC CONTRACT SECTIONS SUPPORTING THE DRB’S
RECOMMENDATION