Transportation Curriculum Coordination Council

Pay

To the Contractor, this is the most important part of the Inspector's paperwork and reporting. They want no mistakes here, unless it is in their favor, and of course, the Inspector represents the State and doesn't want to make any mistakes. It is important the Inspector be thoroughly knowledgeable of Method of Measurement and Basis of Payment, and maintain excellent records and documentation. The Contractor should be paid for those things they are entitled to.

The specifications detail the payment quantities for each pay item and therefore a Contractor may provide a 60-foot pile, but after installation, be paid for 110 feet for that pile. For many of the pay items, the Contractor is paid in terms of "piling".

Let's review the most common Pay Item terms and definitions. The Inspector needs to have a good understanding of these terms.

"Piling"- This replaces the previous "Length Furnished". The Contractor will be paid their bid price per foot (meter) for the authorized pile length furnished. Remember, if the Contractor elects to bring piles longer than the Authorized Lengths, they are not paid for the extra length. (Example: Authorized Length is 70 feet but Contractor can get some 80 footers on sale and brings the 80's. They are only paid for 70 feet).

"Build-ups"-Remember, these are splices less than 2 feet in length. The Contractor will be paid 9 feet (2.7 meters) of "Piling". Should they have to drive the splice to achieve driving criteria, they are paid 10 feet (3 meters) for production piles. For Test Piles, they are paid the Test Pile bid price unless the splice is not driven and the Test Pile is used as a permanent pile, in which case they are paid at the Production Pile bid price.

"Splices"- Remember, these are greater than 2 feet in length. Two items are involved here: 1 - the supplying of the piling to be spliced onto the driven piling; 2 - the actual materials and labor to splice the two pile sections together. The Contractor will be paid their bid price per foot (meter) for the pile length furnished for splicing on the driven pile and 30 feet (9 meters) for performing the splice (20 feet for steel piles). However, if the Authorized Length was 80 feet, and the Contractor brings two (2) 40 footers, they would not be paid for the splice to achieve the Authorized Length.

"Set-Checks on Test Piles"- There is no payment for up to four set-checks performed within 72 hours of stopping pile driving. For additional set-checks performed within 72 hours the Contractor is paid 10 feet (3 meters) of "Piling". Remember, beyond 72 hours, a set-check is really a Redrive, and that pay quantity is different.

"Set-Checks on Production Piles"- There is no payment for one initial set-check performed within 15 minutes of initial driving. For additional set-checks performed within 72 hours the Contractor is paid 10 feet (3 meters) of "Piling". Remember, beyond 72 hours, a set-check is really a Redrive, and that pay quantity is different.

"Redrive"- This is like a set-check only it occurs after 72 hours of initial driving and therefore it is called a Redrive. The Contractor is paid 20 feet (6.0 meters) for a Redrive. This is twice as much as a Set-check so you can see the importance of noting accurately the time of completing initial driving and the scheduling of any anticipated "set-checks".

"Preformed Holes"- Preformed Holes, unlike Predrilling, is paid for. The Contractor is paid at 30% of their Piling bid price, per foot (meter). If the bid price for Piling was $10.00 per foot, they would get $3.00 per foot for the preforming.

"Cut-offs"- This item pays the Contractor for cutting off the excess pile to achieve the "Cut-off Elevation" or finished top of pile. The Contractor is paid 5 feet "Piling" for the cut-off of concrete piles. There is no payment for cut-off of steel piles.

This section started out with a comment concerning how the Contractor may provide a 60 foot pile, but end up getting paid for a 110 foot pile. Now you understand how this can happen.

Let's go through an example.

The Contractor drives a 60 foot production pile, which was the authorized length. It doesn't take up and following two set-checks, one at 15 minutes and one at 2 hours, a 20 foot splice is performed and driven and finally, the Contractor cuts off the excess piling. Therefore:

In summary, know the applicable specifications, accurately record data and keep your records current.