COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Contractor Selection & Management in Building & Construction course. This training is designed to equip you with the tools, knowledge, and procedures required to engage contractors effectively, manage subcontractor performance, and uphold compliance across all project stages.
Contractors are vital to the delivery of building works, yet poor selection or inadequate oversight can result in safety breaches, costly delays, disputes, or quality failures. A structured approach to contractor management supports legal compliance, operational coordination, and project success.
The course begins by examining the role of contractors and subcontractors within construction projects. Participants will explore the significance of establishing clear selection processes, maintaining oversight during delivery, and identifying the risks associated with informal or poorly documented contractor engagement. Emphasis is placed on ensuring that all contractors meet safety, quality, and performance standards aligned with project expectations.
Understanding project needs is essential to contractor planning. This section focuses on how to review drawings, specifications, and schedules to determine the appropriate subcontractor packages. Participants will learn how to define scope, timelines, and deliverables clearly—ensuring trade responsibilities are unambiguous and contract-ready.
Contractor prequalification is key to risk reduction. This section outlines how to assess licences, insurance, prior performance, technical capacity, and financial stability. Establishing minimum selection criteria ensures that only competent and capable contractors are considered during engagement.
Procurement must be structured and transparent. This section covers how to prepare tender documentation, evaluate quotes for compliance and value, and manage bidder queries. Participants will explore how to issue and assess tenders using defined criteria to support fair and consistent decision-making.
Selecting the right contractor involves more than price. This section introduces weighted scoring systems and comparison matrices to assess contractor methodology, resourcing, and suitability. Documentation of appointment decisions is addressed as a control measure for future accountability and dispute management.
Construction contracts must reflect the intended scope and risk profile. This section explains how to select appropriate contract types and include critical terms such as payment schedules, dispute resolution procedures, and program requirements. Ensuring all documentation is signed and securely stored is highlighted as a compliance requirement.
Contractor onboarding is essential to safe and effective delivery. This section focuses on conducting site-specific inductions, introducing contractors to key team members, and briefing them on communication protocols and access to project systems and documents.
WHS compliance is non-negotiable in contractor management. This section provides procedures for verifying SWMS, licences, and insurances before work commences. Ongoing monitoring, safety inspections, and the immediate rectification of unsafe behaviour are addressed as part of the contractor oversight process.
Coordinating contractor work and site access is essential for safe and efficient delivery. This section explores how to schedule deliveries, avoid clashes with other trades, and manage shared services such as cranes, hoists, and temporary power.
Clear communication supports alignment and control. This section teaches how to establish formal communication lines for queries, instructions, and reporting. Toolbox meetings, RFIs, variation discussions, and written reports are addressed to ensure traceability and compliance.
Supervision is key to maintaining contractor performance. This section explores how to monitor work quality, progress, and adherence to scope through regular inspections, checklist use, and site walks. Early identification and correction of delays or non-conformance are emphasised.
Variations are inevitable and must be managed formally. This section outlines how to identify, document, assess, and approve contract changes. Participants will learn how to integrate variation tracking into financial and program controls.
Contractor claims and payments must follow proper procedures. This section covers how to assess progress claims, issue payment certificates, and manage retentions or holdbacks. Emphasis is placed on verifying completed works and maintaining accurate records throughout the claims cycle.
Contractor quality assurance must be aligned with ITPs and project benchmarks. This section explains how to track, rectify, and report defects and incomplete works, with particular focus on verification prior to milestone completion or practical handover.
Subcontractor risk must be actively monitored. This section outlines how to identify issues such as insolvency, poor performance, or safety breaches. Legal remedies and dispute resolution procedures are discussed as tools to enforce compliance and resolve conflict.
Continuous improvement requires post-project review. This section covers how to conduct performance evaluations, record lessons learned, and update internal contractor databases. Building a reliable pool of preferred and excluded contractors supports long-term operational efficiency.
Legal and ethical standards underpin contractor management. This section explores Australian contractual law, probity requirements, and procedures for ensuring transparency, avoiding conflicts of interest, and upholding fair competition across the procurement lifecycle.
Contractor close-out is the final step in a well-managed engagement. This section explains how to confirm that all deliverables have been met, defects resolved, and handover documentation collected. Proper contract close-out reduces risk and completes the formal contractor lifecycle.
By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the systems, frameworks, and compliance knowledge required to select, engage, and manage contractors effectively—ensuring that all subcontracted work contributes to a safe, high-quality, and commercially successful construction outcome.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to Contractor Selection and Management
- The role of contractors and subcontractors in construction projects
- Importance of structured contractor selection and oversight
- Risks associated with poor contractor management
2. Defining Project Needs and Contractor Scope
- Reviewing project documentation and identifying subcontract packages
- Defining scope of works for each trade or service
- Ensuring clarity in deliverables, timelines, and quality requirements
3. Prequalification and Contractor Vetting
- Establishing minimum criteria for contractor selection
- Assessing licences, insurance, trade qualifications, and past performance
- Reviewing financial stability and capacity to deliver
4. Tendering and Procurement Processes
- Preparing and issuing tender documentation
- Evaluating quotes and proposals for value and compliance
- Managing addenda, queries, and bid clarifications
5. Selecting the Most Suitable Contractor
- Comparing price, methodology, experience, and resources
- Applying weighted scoring or selection matrices
- Documenting and justifying contractor appointment decisions
6. Preparing and Executing Construction Contracts
- Selecting appropriate contract types
- Including key terms: program, payment schedule, variations, dispute resolution
- Ensuring contract documents are signed and stored correctly
7. Contractor Induction and Site Integration
- Conducting site-specific safety inductions and briefings
- Introducing contractors to project teams and communication protocols
- Providing access to documentation, plans, and procedures
8. Managing WHS Obligations of Contractors
- Verifying SWMS, insurances, and licences prior to work commencement
- Monitoring compliance with WHS policies and risk control measures
- Addressing unsafe work practices or breaches immediately
9. Coordinating Contractor Work and Site Access
- Scheduling site access and delivery windows
- Avoiding clashes with other trades and services
- Managing staging, crane time, hoists, and temporary services
10. Communication and Reporting Protocols
- Establishing communication lines for updates, queries, and instructions
- Setting expectations for toolbox talks, meetings, and written reports
- Managing RFIs and variation discussions formally
11. Supervising Contractor Performance
- Monitoring productivity, quality, and adherence to scope
- Conducting site walks, checklists, and progress reviews
- Addressing delays, rework, or compliance issues proactively
12. Managing Variations and Scope Adjustments
- Identifying and documenting changes to the original contract
- Requesting and reviewing variation quotes
- Approving and tracking variations through to payment
13. Contractor Payment and Claims Administration
- Processing progress claims and payment certificates
- Assessing completed work against claim percentages
- Managing retentions, holdbacks, and final account reconciliation
14. Quality Assurance and Defects Management
- Ensuring contractor compliance with ITPs and quality benchmarks
- Reporting, tracking, and rectifying defects and incomplete works
- Verifying quality at handover or milestone stages
15. Managing Subcontractor Risk and Disputes
- Identifying risks such as insolvency, non-performance, or safety breaches
- Enforcing contractual remedies where necessary
- Using dispute resolution mechanisms fairly and legally
16. Performance Reviews and Continuous Improvement
- Conducting post-completion evaluations of contractor performance
- Capturing lessons learned for future procurement or supervision
- Building a database of preferred or excluded contractors
17. Legal and Ethical Considerations in Contractor Management
- Understanding rights, obligations, and limitations under Australian law
- Avoiding conflicts of interest and ensuring fair competition
- Ensuring probity and transparency throughout the engagement process
18. Final Handover and Contractor Close-Out
- Verifying all deliverables have been met and defects rectified
- Collecting warranties, manuals, and certification
- Closing out contracts and formally offboarding the contractor
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.