Department of Defence - Defence Infrastructure Panel 2014 – 2017 - Scope of Services
SCOPE OF SERVICES - FIRE SAFETY SURVEY
1.
Introduction
The provision of professional building fire safety surveying consultancy services in support
of Commonwealth infrastructure development and management strategies is vital to
achieving efficient procurement and effective compliance with mandated policies and
standards. These specialist services will also enhance Commonwealth capability.
2.
Building Surveying - Fire Safety Survey Consultancy Services
2.1
Reference Documents and Policies:
(a)
Defence Manual of Fire Protection Engineering (MFPE);
(b)
Defence Manual of Fire Protection Engineering (MFPE) Procedural
Guidelines;
(c)
The Building Code of Australia (BCA);
(d)
Defence WHS Manual and the WHS Legislation;
(e)
Commonwealth policy requirements for the use of Transportable Buildings in
Defence Facilities; and
(f)
Commonwealth policy requirements for the Provision of Disabled Access and
other Facilities for Disabled Persons in Defence Facilities.
With the exception of the BCA and the WHS Legislation, all the documents and policies
listed above can be accessed from the Defence Estate Quality Management System
(DEQMS) website http://www.defence.gov.au/estatemanagement.
2.2
The Defence Manual of Fire Protection Engineering (MFPE), the Building Code of
Australia (BCA) and other Commonwealth fire safety policies referenced above contain
mandatory provisions for the management of fire safety in Commonwealth establishments
and facilities. These provisions are mandated as the Commonwealth designated benchmark
for assessment of fire safety requirements at all Commonwealth sites. Therefore, all
Commonwealth facilities are to be assessed against the policies and standards referenced
above.
2.3
The Consultant must have an extensive knowledge of fire protection policies and
procedures and their application to Commonwealth. This shall include the interpretation
and application of the Building Code of Australia (BCA), Australian Standards, the MFPE
and other Commonwealth fire safety related policies.
2.4
In carrying out the Services, the Consultant must also consider the application and
requirements of the WHS Legislation, as relevant to fire safety, including the
Commonwealth's responsibility to ensure the health and safety of workers and persons.
2.5
Building Surveyors performing Building Certification and Fire Safety Survey activities
must be accredited by the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors. In addition, Building
Surveyors performing Building Certification activities must meet all other relevant State
and Territory requirements (for example Accreditation to Building Professional Board
for practicing in NSW).
2.6
Consultants must provide the Accreditation Number of personnel they nominate to
undertake Building Certification and the fire safety surveys for each engagement.
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Department of Defence - Defence Infrastructure Panel 2014 – 2017 - Scope of Services
3.
Services Required
3.1
The Consultant may be required to provide written reports on building surveying and
certification matters as required, including:
3.2
3.3
(a)
conducting fire safety surveys for Commonwealth regions in accordance with
the MFPE, Chapter 13;
(b)
completing site inspections to assess compliance with the BCA, the MFPE and
other Commonwealth fire safety policies, including providing fire safety
survey and BCA/MFPE compliance audit reports;
(c)
provision of general building surveying and building compliance advice;
(d)
interpretation of relevant codes, policies and standards;
(e)
WHS Legislation compliance of the fire safety elements of the Defence Estate
(including hazard and risk identification); and
(f)
conducting inspections of Commonwealth facilities and buildings and
providing certification of compliance with BCA and MFPE.
Where required, the Consultant shall provide clear reports on a building by building basis.
The report recommendation section shall include a comprehensive explanation of any
survey aspect (including hazards and risks) assessed as Generally Satisfactory,
Unsatisfactory, or Dangerously Unacceptable, including the relevant reference upon which
the assessment is based. Each report shall contain detailed recommendations including:
(a)
remedial actions required, including actions to eliminate or minimise risks to
health and safety;
(b)
indicative cost estimates and resourcing requirements; and
(c)
suggested priorities.
The Consultant may also be required to provide other building surveying and fire safety
services, including:
(a)
providing reports both electronically and in hard copy format;
(b)
electronically attaching reports to the structure in the Defence Estate
Management System (DEMS);
(c)
raising work requests;
(d)
acting as the point of contact for tradespersons completing work requests;
(e)
developing or assisting with the development of [Corporate Services
Infrastructure Requirement] documents;
(f)
assisting with development and implementation of risk mitigation strategies;
(g)
certifying remedial and new building works upon completion;
(h)
providing written reports on fire safety issues, incidents and investigations;
(i)
a written reporting on WHS Legislation compliance of the fire safety elements
of the Defence Estate; and
(j)
conducting workshops and other training activities as required by the
Commonwealth's internal stakeholders.
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Department of Defence - Defence Infrastructure Panel 2014 – 2017 - Scope of Services
3.4
Where site surveys, investigations, inspections or audits are required, the Commonwealth's
Representative will identify individual facilities, groups of facilities, sites or equipment to
be surveyed, inspected or audited. When multiple buildings are required to be inspected,
surveyed or audited, the completed reports shall be returned to the Commonwealth's
Representative progressively throughout the period of the project to distribute the workload
as evenly as possible, and ensure that higher priority issues are addressed without delay.
3.5
Where site surveys, investigations, inspections and audits are required, the Consultant shall
arrange access to Commonwealth establishments and buildings as required by
Commonwealth protocols.
3.6
The Consultant shall obtain permission from the occupants prior to entering a building to
commence a survey, investigation, inspection or audit. The person nominated as the
building contact (or his/her representative) shall be provided with a general brief at the
conclusion of the survey, investigation, inspection or audit.
3.7
The Consultant shall assume a proactive role to ensure the project objectives (as set out in
or to be reasonably inferred from the contract documents) are met.
4.
Interpretation
Unless the context otherwise requires, capitalised terms in the Scope of Services or Brief
will have the meaning given to them by the Defence Infrastructure Panel 2014-2017 Terms
of Engagement, Panel Conditions, Letter of Acceptance, or the meaning given to them by
the Commonwealth as published on the Defence Estate Quality Management System
(DEQMS) website (http://www.defence.gov.au/estatemanagement), from time to time.
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