Most contracts require periodic schedule updates; however, sometimes contractors fail to provide these updates. This could be for a variety of reasons; perhaps concealing delays because recovery is anticipated, loss of scheduling staff, or due to a high workload. However, missing schedule updates make it much harder to isolate, identify, and analyze delays that occur during those update periods, as well as dramatically increasing risk to both the contractor and the owner. This paper provides guidance to an owner that will facilitate a collaborative and effective analysis of delays, and resolution of time extension entitlements.

This proven approach is aligned with AACE International Recommended Practice No. 29R-03, “Forensic Schedule Analysis”, and ensures that the analysis will not create any pitfalls at a later date should the issues require more formal dispute resolution. This process has been successfully implemented on multiple projects, and this paper includes a case study of a similar problem that was resolved for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).