Project Services

A key element to a high performing, integrated project delivery team is a framework of accurate project information, one source of truth, and reliable real-time data. Sargent & Lundy’s approach to project and program management controls is based on the principle that program and project managers shall have access to project information, data, and analytics presented in a simple format and in a timely manner to allow for early decision-making and responsiveness to evolving project challenges. We facilitate this approach by implementing integrated and effective project and program management tools.

Our in-depth experience and multidiscipline resources provide clients with effective coordination and administration of each phase of complex programs and projects. This includes development and maintenance of integrated project schedules, preparation of budget estimates, tracking status of engineering, procurement and construction activities, and management of multiple supply and construction contracts.

Our project management office (PMO) services include the following functions:

• Project and program management.
• Project controls and scheduling.
• Cost and earned value management.
  • Cost forecasting.
  • Accruals.
• Construction management and commissioning.
• Procurement services.
• Contract administration and management.
• Project planning and budgeting.
• Administrative services.
  • Document management.
  • Permitting.
  • Material reservations.
  • Project closure.
• Procure-to-pay services.
  • Purchase requisitions.
  • Service entry sheets.
  • Invoice approvals.

We manage and coordinate each project’s construction, testing, and startup, structuring the project team to match the client’s project delivery approach or contracting strategy – multi-contracting, design-build, or engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC)-owner’s engineer. Our project teams’ direct connection to Sargent & Lundy engineers gives us the ability to make crucial decisions and move forward quickly and without delays. 

We focus on multiple project types: combined cycle, simple cycle, reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE), transmission and distribution, oil and gas, and nuclear projects. Beyond traditional energy solutions, we are also specialists in renewable energy. Our proficiency covers diverse fields such as solar PV, onshore wind, BESS, and the innovative leading edge of carbon capture. These intricate areas demand a specialized skill set, and our seasoned professionals have the knowledge and experience to excel in their execution.

• Our construction management team:
  • Provides certified safety professionals to assist in managing and sustaining the desired safety culture.
  • Provides hands-on daily oversite and review of all aspects of installation and construction progress.
  • Maintains a daily presence on-site throughout the project.
  • Monitors and provides feedback on the contractor’s progress concerning safety, quality, non-conformance, schedule status, change orders, environmental, health, and safety matters, and documents consistent with good construction practices.
  • Evaluates and manages implementation of appropriate change orders.
  • Evaluates work performed by contractors.
  • Monitors contractors for the quality of work, project budget, schedule, contract, and specifications.
• Our commissioning team:
  • Provides commissioning management to ensure the safe execution of commissioning activities.
  • Develops and reviews the testing, start-up, and commissioning plans, procedures, and schedules.
  • Manages and facilitates training programs.
  • Serves as a liaison between the contractors and owners.
  • Develops and reviews the construction turnover packages for completeness.
  • Provides oversight of the execution of the testing, start-up, and commissioning program, including lockout and tagout compliance.
  • Manages overall commissioning and testing activities to verify systems are ready for operation.
  • Develops and reviews the commissioning and system turnover packages for completeness.
  • Maintains the project master deficiency list (MDL) and expedites the contractors to resolve open issues.
  • Coordinates vendor-supplied commissioning services.

Sargent & Lundy has a dedicated team experienced in the full procurement lifecycle to support the varying needs of our clients. Our extensive experience and collaborative approach set us apart from all others. We work closely with clients to understand their unique requirements, and we work with all stakeholders to ensure outstanding results. Our expertise ranges from initiating and managing the bid process, all the way through project close-out. We can manage the entire procurement lifecycle of a project, or we can work with our clients on portions of the process where there is a need for our experience and support. Our comprehensive services include developing bidders lists, preparing request for proposal packages, evaluating proposals, supporting contract negotiations, managing supplier document control, and project close-out. We prioritize expediting, monitor fabrication and shipments, and provide material management and inventory support.

Project Start Through Finish

• Develop project procurement plan.
• Pre-qualify and finalize bidders list.
• Prepare request for proposal packages.
• Issue inquiries to client-approved bidders.
• Receive and evaluate bidder proposals.
• Support contract negotiations.
• Prepare client purchase orders.
• Administer purchase orders, often including client-furnished equipment.
• Manage supplier document control submittals.
• Expedite procurement process.
• Monitor fabrication, shipments, and other logistics.
• Manage receipt of material and equipment at the client’s site.
• Manage material and inventory support.
• Close out project and purchase orders.

A high performing, integrated project delivery team depends on a mature framework of accurate project information. We believe project stakeholders must have access to relevant project information in a self-service analytics format to allow for responsive decision-making to meet project challenges as they arise. Our project controls and scheduling experts excel at delivering that information and making those decisions possible.

Project controls establishes the foundation for management decisions. Our project controls experts help each client develop a project execution plan; identify, analyze, and develop mitigation strategies for the many ways a project may deviate from the plan; and whittle down the list of open issues to close a project out. People who plan and execute projects must have control and actionable decision-level data to support appropriate corrective actions. Project planning and scheduling transform scope of work descriptions into workable plans by outlining what, when, how, and who will perform the activities required to achieve project objectives.

We combine our vast experience with detailed knowledge of industry standards to plan new scopes of work. Our experts coordinate inputs from project stakeholders such as owners, contractors, and equipment suppliers; technical leads; project managers; and others to develop a project plan that forms the foundation for future actions. Through the development of the integrated master schedule, we form the basis for the coordination of all project components.

Our project schedule professionals typically plan a resource loaded project in Oracle’s Primavera P6, but we also have direct experience with other applications. Our cost professionals support this effort by identifying project budget planning, forecasting, accruals, cash flow accrual forecasting, and monitoring of budget variances. If the need arises, we also work with stakeholders to support recovery planning.

Our core capabilities include analytical services for several technologies and services.

• Existing generation: We evaluate and optimize existing power plants, ensuring they maintain peak performance amid evolving energy landscapes.
• New generation: Our expertise guides the design, development, and commissioning of state-of-the-art power generation facilities to meet future energy demands.
• Protection and controls: By implementing advanced protective devices and control systems, we ensure the safe and efficient operation of power networks.
• Arc flash: Our team conducts in-depth arc flash studies, determining potential risks and implementing preventative solutions to safeguard equipment and personnel.
• Renewables: We facilitate the transition to clean energy by designing, analyzing, and optimizing wind, solar, and other renewable energy installations.
• FERC and NERC compliance: Ensuring power operations adhere to regulatory standards, our team provides comprehensive compliance support for both FERC and NERC requirements.
• Transmission: From planning to maintenance, we ensure energy is transferred efficiently and safely across vast distances.
• Distribution: We design and optimize distribution networks, guaranteeing power reaches end-users reliably and efficiently.
• Microgrids: Our team specializes in designing autonomous and integrated energy systems, enabling local energy generation and consumption.
• Battery energy storage: We develop and integrate high-capacity storage solutions, ensuring energy availability during peak demands and downtimes.
• Distributed energy resources: By integrating localized generation and storage resources into the wider grid, we enhance grid resilience and flexibility.
• Root cause analysis: Should malfunctions arise, our team will provide data driven condition analysis, diagnosing underlying issues and prescribing corrective measures to prevent future incidents.

We excel in producing capital cost estimates for a range of projects, encompassing technology selection, grid modernization, plant modifications, and more while accounting for regional labor cost variations.

Our expertise spans the following technologies and estimation purposes.

• Technologies: Nuclear generation, gas generation, substations, transmission lines, solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, battery energy storage systems, carbon-capture, hydrogen, oil and gas, electric vehicle charging, and coal-fired projects.
• Estimation purposes: Future generation planning, environmental services, regulatory requirements such as public utility commission rate cases, asset retirement obligations, establishment of project capital cost budgets, and custom client support, including integration with their financial systems.

Our estimating process is a collaborative effort between our engineering and design team, construction management, and estimators. Responsibilities include defining project scope, designing conceptual layouts, equipment sizing, material take-offs, labor-hour estimation, and working with different contracting strategies.

Using a suite of tools, including our proprietary databases integrated with software like Timberline Office and RS Means, we ensure consistent and high-quality estimates. Our databases are updated frequently, ensuring current cost data. Furthermore, our risk contingency analysis program employs Monte Carlo Simulation for precise contingency projections. We also develop cash flow curves, integrating project costs with schedules, escalation expectations, and interest calculations.

Annually, we prepare numerous estimates covering all U.S. and global regions and are backed by up-to-date wage rates and market trends from sources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics.