Project Overview

TAG Advisory was engaged by WGA on behalf of the City of Greater Geraldton to provide comprehensive cost management services for the Nangetty Walkaway Bridge Replacement project. This $9 million regional infrastructure project required expert cost estimation through design development, tender documentation preparation and tender evaluation services. The recently completed bridge now provides vital connectivity for the Geraldton community, with the project successfully delivered within TAG Advisory's original budget estimate.

Key Challenges

Regional Western Australia locality presented significant challenges with substantial tender price variance reflecting different contractor risk appetites and capacity constraints. The remote location impacted material supply logistics, labour availability and equipment mobilisation costs, creating wide disparities in tender submissions that required careful evaluation to identify genuine value.

Initial tender prices exceeded the project budget, necessitating strategic value engineering without compromising structural integrity or design life. The challenge involved maintaining essential functionality and safety standards whilst achieving cost reductions to align with available funding. Coordination between the City of Greater Geraldton, WGA design team and contractors, required careful facilitation to achieve consensus on value engineering initiatives.

Market volatility in regional construction, particularly for specialised bridge construction contractors, created uncertainty in pricing that demanded sophisticated risk assessment and contingency planning.

Methodology and Approach

TAG Advisory implemented a staged approach providing consistent cost management throughout the project lifecycle. Independent cost estimates were prepared at 50%, 85% and 100% design completion, enabling proactive identification of cost pressures and value engineering opportunities. Each estimate iteration incorporated market feedback and refined quantities, maintaining cost control as design evolved.

Comprehensive Bills of Quantities were developed for tender documentation, providing transparent pricing frameworks that facilitated accurate contractor pricing and simplified tender evaluation. The detailed quantity schedules reduced tender risk and supported like-for-like comparison of submissions.

Tender evaluation services included:

• Analysis of price submissions identifying abnormalities and qualifications
• Assessment of contractor capability and regional delivery experience
• Evaluation of proposed methodologies and programme implications
• Identification of the preferred tenderer based on value for money
• Negotiation support to achieve contract award within budget

Strategic value engineering workshops with WGA and the City of Greater Geraldton identified savings opportunities without compromising project outcomes, enabling budget compliance whilst maintaining design integrity.

Outcomes and Value

TAG Advisory's comprehensive cost management approach delivered exceptional outcomes with the project completed within the original budget estimate. Systematic value engineering achieved necessary cost reductions whilst maintaining all essential project requirements. The structured tender process, despite significant price variance, successfully identified a capable contractor who delivered quality outcomes.

Collaboration between the City of Greater Geraldton, WGA and TAG Advisory ensured aligned decision-making throughout value engineering and procurement processes. Clear documentation and transparent evaluation processes maintained probity and stakeholder confidence. The successful delivery within budget validated TAG Advisory's estimating accuracy and regional market knowledge.

Conclusion

The Nangetty Walkaway Bridge Replacement project demonstrated TAG Advisory's ability to navigate complex regional procurement challenges and deliver successful outcomes through comprehensive cost management. By providing accurate estimating, strategic value engineering and robust tender evaluation, TAG Advisory enabled the City of Greater Geraldton to deliver essential infrastructure within budget constraints, reinforcing our expertise in regional infrastructure delivery.