Project AssureBid and tender programme assurance: stress-testing a schedule before you sign
Stress-test your tender programme before you sign. Independent bid schedule review that exposes optimism, lead-time and FIDIC risk before it becomes a dispute.
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Project Planning
Plan the sequence. Prove the critical path.
A programme is a management tool, a contract document and, if things go wrong, evidence. We build and review tender, baseline, design, MEP and recovery programmes with logic drawn from quantities and method, not from target dates. From Chennai, we serve clients in India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Logic. Sequence. Record.
In brief
What is project planning?
Project planning is the preparation and control of a project's programme: a logic-linked critical path network showing how, in what order and by when the works will be delivered. Project Assure builds and reviews tender, baseline, design, procurement, MEP, commissioning and recovery programmes in Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project for projects in India and the GCC.
What we deliver
Project Planning services
- Tender programmesBid programmes built from the BoQ and method statements, with approvals, lead times and resource peaks tested before the price is fixed.
- Baseline programme developmentA logic-linked, resource-loaded CPM baseline with WBS, calendars and activity codes, checked against DCMA 14-point metrics before submission.
- Design, procurement and approvals programmesDesign release, submittals, authority approvals and long-lead items scheduled as driving work, linked to the activities they release.
- MEP and commissioning programmesBuilding services planned system by system, from first fix through testing, commissioning and integrated systems tests to handover.
- Baseline review and acceptanceContractor programmes reviewed against the contract's programme clause, with a defect register the contractor can close and a clear acceptance position.
- Progress monitoring and updatingMonthly updates at a fixed data date, with critical path movement and float erosion explained activity by activity.
- Look-ahead and production controlSix-week look-aheads, constraint logs and weekly PPC, applying Last Planner principles so site commitments follow the programme.
- Recovery and mitigation programmesRecovery options modelled on the live critical path, costed and logic-tested before anyone commits to a revised date.
Method
Critical path review at the centre of every programme
01Tender programmesA deliverable bid programme drawn from the BoQ and method statements. Durations come from quantities and realistic output rates, and approval and procurement lead times are shown as they are, not as hoped.
02Baseline developmentAfter award, the bid logic becomes a full CPM network: WBS, calendars, activity coding and resources. It is tested against DCMA 14-point metrics before it leaves our hands.
03Design, procurement and approvalsDesign packages, submittal cycles, authority approvals and long-lead orders are planned as driving work and linked to the construction activities that cannot start without them.
04MEP and commissioningServices are sequenced by system and zone, from first fix through testing, commissioning and integrated systems tests, so handover dates rest on a real path.
Critical path review and logic challenge
05Baseline review and acceptanceThe submitted programme is reviewed against the contract's programme clause. Defects are closed out and the accepted version is locked as the reference for progress and delay.
06Updates and look-ahead controlEach update is statused at a fixed data date. Critical path movement and float erosion are explained, and six-week look-aheads with PPC keep site work tied to the programme.
07Recovery and mitigationWhen a key date is threatened, resequencing, added shifts and re-zoning are modelled on the live network, costed and checked for logic before any commitment.
Planning systems
Native files in the system your contract specifies.
01
Primavera P6
Native XER delivery, activity codes and baselines maintained for review and update.
02
Microsoft Project
Native MPP delivery where the contract or employer's requirements specify it.
Methods we apply
Disciplines behind every programme we build.
- DCMA 14-point schedule qualityLogic, leads, lags, relationship types, hard constraints, high float, negative float, high duration, invalid dates, resources, missed tasks, critical path test, CPLI and BEI.
- CPM from BoQ and method statementsActivities and durations derived from measured quantities, crew outputs and the stated construction method.
- Last Planner look-ahead and PPCSix-week look-aheads, constraint logs, weekly work plans and Percent Plan Complete, applied as a method alongside the master programme.
Contract practice
Programme clauses that set the baseline
| Contract | Clause | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| FIDIC Red Book 1999 | Sub-Clause 8.3 | Programme within 28 days of the commencement notice; Engineer has 21 days to notify non-compliance |
| FIDIC Red Book 2017 | Sub-Clause 8.3 | Initial programme within 28 days of the commencement notice; Engineer reviews within 21 days, 14 days for a revised programme |
| CPWD GCC 2023 | Clause 5.1 and 5.4 | Time and Progress Chart within 7 working days of award; monthly report by the 5th; revised programme if more than 10% behind |
| Oman Standard Contract 2019 | Sub-Clause 8.3 | Detailed time programme within the period in Appendix A; Engineer has 21 days to notify non-compliance |
Particular or special conditions often amend these periods. Always check the signed contract.
Standards and practice
The standards we work to
International
- DCMA 14-Point Schedule Assessment, DCMA Earned Value Management System Program Analysis Pamphlet (DCMA-EA PAM 200.1, 2012)
- GAO Schedule Assessment Guide: Best Practices for Project Schedules (GAO-16-89G, December 2015)
- PMI Practice Standard for Scheduling, Third Edition (2019)
- AACE International Recommended Practice No. 49R-06, Identifying the Critical Path (2010)
- CIOB Guide to Good Practice in the Management of Time in Major Projects: Dynamic Time Modelling, 2nd edition (2018)
- Society of Construction Law (SCL) Delay and Disruption Protocol, 2nd edition (February 2017)
- ISO 21502:2020, Project, programme and portfolio management: Guidance on project management
- FIDIC Conditions of Contract for Construction (Red Book), 1999 and 2017 editions, Sub-Clause 8.3 (Programme)
India
- CPWD General Conditions of Contract 2023 Construction Works, Clause 5 (Time and Extension for Delay)
- MoRTH Model EPC Agreement for National Highways (2012, as amended), Schedule J (Project Completion Schedule)
- MoRTH Model Concession Agreement for National Highways under Hybrid Annuity Mode (revised September 2026; projects awarded earlier run on the November 2020 version)
GCC
- Abu Dhabi Government Conditions of Contract (2007), based on the FIDIC 1999 Red and Yellow Books
- Oman Standard Contract for Building and Civil Engineering Works (May 2019, Rev. 01), Sub-Clause 8.3 (Time Program)
- Oman Tender Law (Royal Decree 36/2008)
- Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law (Royal Decree M/128, 13/11/1440H, 2019), in force until the new law takes effect and still governing works tendered under it
- Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law (Royal Decree M/76, 27/2/1448H, 10 August 2026), published in the Umm Al-Qura Official Gazette on 4 September 2026 and in force 120 days later under Article 101, by simple count 2 January 2027
- Saudi Civil Transactions Law (Royal Decree M/191, in force 16 December 2023)
Regional practice
Project Planning in India and the GCC
India
On CPWD works, Clause 5 of the General Conditions of Contract 2023 calls for a Time and Progress Chart within seven working days of award, a progress report by the 5th of each month, and a revised programme once progress falls behind by more than 10% of the stipulated period. NHAI EPC agreements measure performance against Project Milestones in Schedule J, counted from the Appointed Date, so the baseline must map cleanly to them. Central sector projects of ₹150 crore and above also report to MoSPI's PAIMANA monitoring portal.
United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi government departments contract on the Abu Dhabi Government Conditions of Contract, introduced in 2007 on a FIDIC 1999 base and amended to move risk towards the contractor. On FIDIC-based work, Sub-Clause 8.3 sets the regime: an initial programme within 28 days of the commencement notice and 21 days for the Engineer to respond. Where the contract provides for arbitration, programme disputes are commonly heard under the DIAC Arbitration Rules 2022 in Dubai or the arbitrateAD Arbitration Rules 2024 in Abu Dhabi. Other contracts refer disputes to the onshore or free-zone courts, so the disputes clause should be read alongside the programme clause.
Saudi Arabia
Most giga-project employers use FIDIC-based forms with heavy amendment, and some use bespoke or NEC-based terms, so programme submission periods, review times, software and reporting formats must be read from the particular conditions and employer's requirements. Since 16 December 2023 the Civil Transactions Law has governed construction contracts, and the SCCA administers arbitrations under its 2023 Rules. For public work tendered under Saudi Arabia's new Government Tenders and Procurement Law, owners should allow in their baseline programmes for pre-tender review by the unified procurement body, a standstill of 3 to 10 working days and site handover within 60 working days of signing, while contractors should note that bids will stay valid for 90 working days. See what the new procurement law changes.
Oman
Government works use the Standard Contract for Building and Civil Engineering Works issued in May 2019, based on the FIDIC 1999 Red Book. Its Sub-Clause 8.3 requires a detailed time programme within the period in Appendix A, gives the Engineer 21 days to respond and links late submission to delay penalties under Sub-Clause 8.7. Public tendering runs under the Tender Law (Royal Decree 36/2008, as amended). The Tender Board is supported by the Projects, Tenders and Local Content Authority, which was renamed from the Secretariat General of the Tender Board by Royal Decree 57/2025.
Our approach
How we approach project planning
We start with the contract: its programme clause, key dates and reporting requirements set what the programme has to prove. The network is built from quantities and method statements, not worked back from a target date, and tested against DCMA 14-point metrics before anyone relies on it. On site, look-ahead planning and PPC keep weekly commitments tied to the critical path, and every update records why the path moved.
Experience
Related projects
World Bank · Tawi River
Programme assurance where approvals sat on the critical path but were never modelled.
- Approval dependencies mapped
- Baseline revised to realistic timelines
- P50 and P80 scenarios for funder reporting
Barka waste-to-energy IPP
Bid assurance on a waste-to-energy bid whose tender commitments would bind for 25 years.
- Bid programme stress-tested against design and permit lead times
- Risk allocation reviewed against FIDIC Silver Book
- Commercially defensible position established
Palm Jebel Ali villa fit-outs
Independent design assurance on a high-specification villa fit-out programme.
- Independent design review across fit-out packages
- Coordination and buildability risks surfaced early
- Design assurance aligned to construction stage-gates
Insights
Further reading
DCMA 14-Point Assessment explained · with a worked P6 example
What the DCMA 14-point schedule assessment checks, why BEI and CPLI matter, and a worked Primavera P6 example of a failing programme.
ReadWhat an independent Primavera P6 schedule audit actually finds
An independent Primavera P6 schedule audit surfaces broken logic, false float and critical-path manipulation before they cost you at tribunal.
ReadFAQ
Project Planning: common questions
What does a project planning consultant do?
A project planning consultant builds and maintains the programme that shows how a project will be delivered. That covers tender and baseline programmes, design, procurement and MEP sequences, monthly updates and recovery plans. The work is logic first: activities, durations and links drawn from quantities and method, so the critical path reflects how the job will actually be built.
Which planning software do you work in?
We work in Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project. The contract or the employer's requirements usually fix the platform, and we deliver native files in that format rather than exports that lose logic or calendars. Where the choice is open, we recommend the platform the reviewing party can open, audit and update without conversion.
How do you know a baseline programme is fit to accept?
We test it before anyone relies on it. The DCMA 14-point assessment checks logic, leads, lags, constraints, float and durations, and we then read the critical path to see whether it follows the real sequence of work. Each failing check is traced to specific activities, so the contractor receives a defect list it can close, not just a score.
Do you use Last Planner and PPC on site?
Yes, as methods. Six-week look-ahead plans identify constraints such as missing drawings, materials or permits before work is committed. Weekly work plans then include only constraint-free tasks, and Percent Plan Complete (PPC) measures how many commitments were met. Reasons for misses are recorded, so the master programme and site production stay aligned week by week.
When should a recovery programme be prepared?
As soon as the critical path shows a credible threat to a key date, not once the slip is already contractual. A recovery programme models options such as resequencing, added shifts or extra crews on the live network, costs each one and checks the logic still holds. It should also state whether it is mitigation or acceleration, because that affects entitlement.
What programme does a CPWD contract require?India
Under Clause 5 of the CPWD General Conditions of Contract 2023, the contractor submits a Time and Progress Chart for each milestone within seven working days of award, and a monthly progress report by the 5th. If progress falls behind the approved programme by more than 10% of the stipulated period, a revised programme must be produced.
When is the programme due under FIDIC contracts in the UAE?UAE
Under Sub-Clause 8.3 of the FIDIC 1999 and 2017 Red Books, the contractor submits the initial programme within 28 days of the commencement notice, and the Engineer has 21 days to respond. Abu Dhabi government work uses the Abu Dhabi Government Conditions of Contract, which amend the FIDIC 1999 base, so the particular conditions must always be checked.
Do Saudi giga-projects follow standard FIDIC programme clauses?Saudi Arabia
Not necessarily. Many giga-project employers use amended FIDIC or bespoke forms, and submission periods, review times, software and reporting formats are set in the particular conditions and employer's requirements. We read those first and build the baseline to them. Since December 2023 the Civil Transactions Law also governs construction contracts, and its default rules apply where the contract is silent.
Does Saudi Arabia's new procurement law change programme planning?Saudi Arabia
Yes, for public work tendered once the new law takes effect. Owners should build pre-tender review by the unified procurement body into the baseline programme, along with a standstill of 3 to 10 working days and site handover within 60 working days of signing. Contractors should also note that bids stay valid for 90 working days.
What does Oman's standard contract require for the programme?Oman
The Standard Contract for Building and Civil Engineering Works, issued in May 2019 and based on the FIDIC 1999 Red Book, requires a detailed time programme within the period stated in Appendix A. The Engineer has 21 days to identify non-compliance, a revised programme is due when progress diverges, and late submission can attract delay penalties under Sub-Clause 8.7.
Have a programme checked before it is relied on.
Send the contract's programme clause, the current schedule file and the key dates. We will tell you what the programme has to show and where it falls short. We work from Chennai and serve clients in India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman.