Technical Experience

Gordon Barry is the founder of Aquarius Dispute Resolution Limited and has three decades of professional experience in capital infrastructure, from feasibility studies, through detailed design, statutory approvals, procurement, construction supervision, commissioning and supervision of operating and maintenance activities.

Contract Administration

Gordon has extensive experience in the delivery of infrastructure projects and the administration of the associated construction contracts. His experience includes the main recognised international suites of contract forms:

  • FIDIC – International Federation of Consulting Engineers
  • IChemE – Institution of Chemical Engineers
  • NEC – Institution of Civil Engineers

In particular his experience with the FIDIC forms of contract, includes the use of the Orange, Yellow and Gold versions for process plant contracts. He also has experience with other recognised contract forms used in Ireland and Britain; including:

  • IMechE/IET Model Forms;Model Forms published in the UK by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institution of Engineering and Technology. These model forms were previously published by IMechE / IEE, the IEE being the Institution of Electrical Engineers. The IEE ceased to exist when it merged with the IIE, the Institution of Incorporated Engineers in 2006 to create the IET.
  • Public Works Contracts –IrelandPublished by the Office of Government Procurement in Ireland.
  • ICC Forms;Infrastructure Conditions of Contract Forms published in the UK by the Association of Consulting Engineers (ACE) and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA). These forms are the natural successors to the old Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Forms, which were withdrawn in 2011, when the ICE decided to commit solely to the NEC Forms.
  • Engineers Ireland Forms
  • JCT Forms;Published by the Joint Contracts Tribunal in the UK and focused on building contracts.
  • RIAIRoyal Institute of Architects in Ireland Forms

Gordon’s professional experience comprises 10 years working for contracting organisations and 20 years working as a consulting engineer. He consequently has experience in the delivery of construction contracts from the perspective of sub-contractor, contractor and contract administrator.

He Is also experienced with the methods of measurement that are used in the construction industry and very familiar with the different contract structures available within the different suites of contract forms, whether:

Gordon has extensive experience in the delivery of infrastructure projects and the administration of the associated construction contracts. His experience includes the main recognised international suites of contract forms:

  • FIDIC – International Federation of Consulting Engineers
  • IChemE – Institution of Chemical Engineers
  • NEC – Institution of Civil Engineers

... Read More

  • Remeasured
  • Employer Design
  • Lump Sum
  • Contractor Design
  • Target Cost
  • Design Build & Operate

Infrastructure Projects

The majority of Gordon’s career has been focused on the delivery of capital infrastructure projects, predominantly in the water services sector. He has been responsible for the delivery of all of the different stages of such projects, including:

  • Feasibility Studies & Preliminary Reports
  • Public Procurement Legislation & Procedures
  • Environmental Impact Assessment
  • Stakeholder Liaison & Community Relationships
  • Land Acquisition & Statutory Approvals
  • Contract Administration & Supervision
  • Detailed Design & Tender Documents
  • Supervision of Operation & Maintenance

In addition to Gordon’s experience in the role of Engineer or Employer’s Representative advising the client organisation on the progression of the project from an engineering and technical management perspective, he also has experience from the contracting side of the industry. The experience from the Contractor’s perspective is naturally focused on the project delivery stages of detailed design, procurement, contract administration and facility commissioning.

Gordon’s experience obviously includes detailed design of areas where he is personally technically expert, in addition to the management and supervision of the wider project design and construction tasks. The wider areas where he has experience is in respect of areas such as civil engineering works (including structures, impounding dams, tunnelling, geotechnical and archaeological investigations) and building projects (including building services and architectural finishes).

The majority of Gordon’s career has been focused on the delivery of capital infrastructure projects, predominantly in the water services sector. He has been responsible for the delivery of all of the different stages of such projects... Read More

Water Services

Gordon Barry core technical expertise is in water services and water resources, where he has extensive experience. He is a Chartered Water and Environmental Manager and a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management.

He is personally technically knowledgeable in all stages of the anthropogenic water cycle from source abstraction to receiving water discharge, including:

Gordon Barry core technical expertise is in water services and water resources, where he has extensive experience. He is a Chartered Water and Environmental Manager and a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management.

He is personally technically knowledgeable in all stages of the anthropogenic water cycle from source abstraction to receiving water discharge... Read More

  • Water Source Quality & Yield
  • Waste Water Collection
  • Pumping & Hydraulics
  • Wastewater Treatment Processes
  • Water Treatment Processes
  • Sludge Treatment Processes
  • Treated Water Distribution
  • Assessment of Receiving Waters
  • MEICA Facilities
  • Operation & Maintenance

He has delivered numerous water services projects over the course of his professional career and is highly experienced in the management and/or engineering of all stages of such infrastructure projects. Gordon’s CV includes both drinking water and wastewater projects, which he has taken from feasibility stage through to supervision of the operation and maintenance of the completed scheme and includes both greenfield and brownfield projects. Two examples of the type of the projects delivered included the following activities:

Drinking Water Project (Brownfield – Capacity Doubled)

Feasibility Stage

  • Lake Source (quality and yield assessment)
  • Impoundment Dam (condition assessment)
  • Existing Distribution Network (flow & pressure surveys, creation of audit zones)
  • Assessment of Existing Infrastructure
  • Ground Investigations

Project Progression

  • Planning Permission
  • Stakeholder Liaison

Construction (Multiple Contracts)

  • Detailed Design (Treatment Plant, Reservoir & Pumping Stations)
  • Tender Documents (Remeasured Civil Works, MEICA Model Form 1, Design Build)
  • Restricted Procedure Procurement
  • Construction Supervision (water retaining structures, pipelines and treatment facilities)

Operation & Maintenance

  • Supervision of WTP O&M for 24 months
Wastewater Project (Greenfield Wastewater Treatment Plant)

Feasibility Stage

  • Existing Collection Network (impermeable area, manhole survey, CCTV, flow & load, and rainfall)
  • Receiving Water (marine modelling and quality assessment, bathing and shellfish waters)

Project Progression

  • Environmental Impact Assessment
  • Natura 2000 Sites Assessment

Construction (Single Contract)

  • Detailed Design (Pipelines, Pumping Stations, Treatment Plant & Marine Outfall)
  • Tender Documents (FIDIC Design, Build & Operate)
  • Restricted Procedure Procurement
  • Construction Supervision (pipelines, treatment facilities and 1km marine outfall)

Operation & Maintenance

  • Supervision of WWTP O&M for 24 months

Process Engineering & MEICA

Gordon’s original qualification in Chemical Engineering, together with his first decade of experience working with process engineering contractors, means that he is technically proficient in both process engineering and the MEICA (mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control and automation) aspects of various types of facilities. In addition to his experience in municipal water services, Gordon also has experience providing services into a range of process industries. His experience includes the following elements:

  • Process design and development of process control philosophies
  • Detailed design of process engineering facilities
  • Selection and procurement of mechanical and electrical equipment and instrumentation
  • Specification and procurement of mechanical and electrical installation sub-contractors
  • Specification and procurement of civil works sub-contractors
  • Supervision of dry and wet equipment commissioning
  • Process commissioning and supervision of operations

Gordon’s experience additionally includes dealing with building services, including heating, ventilation, and lighting.

Gordon’s original qualification in Chemical Engineering, together with his first decade of experience working with process engineering contractors, means that he is technically proficient in both process engineering and the MEICA (mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, control and automation) aspects of various types of facilities.... Read More

Stakeholder Liaison & Community Relationships

Gordon has significant experience in stakeholder liaison and community relationships in the context of the delivery of infrastructure projects. He has been responsible for:

  • Drafting of public communications
  • Facilitating discussions with sector specific stakeholders
  • Hosting open information events for wider interests
  • Assisting clients with negotiations with internal stakeholders.

His experience includes making presentations to inform stakeholders and facilitating discussions to invite stakeholder input into schemes. He also has experience in the role of meeting facilitator to permit discussions between project owners and affected stakeholders.

Gordon’s experience additionally includes the facilitation of discussions on environmental affects and personnel impacts, in addition to the more straightforward discussions regarding the details of the particular project

Gordon has significant experience in stakeholder liaison and community relationships in the context of the delivery of infrastructure projects. He has been responsible for:

  • Drafting of public communications
  • Facilitating discussions with sector specific stakeholders
  • Hosting open information events for wider interests
  • Assisting clients with negotiations with internal stakeholders... Read More

Environmental Assessment

Assessment of environmental impacts is a key part of any modern infrastructure project. It is necessary at the planning stage in the form of formal procedures, such as Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment Appropriate Assessment is a European Union requirement which arises under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). The purpose of the assessment is to assess the impacts of plans or projects on Natura 2000 sites.
Natura 2000 sites comprise an EU network of ecological sites of strategic importance. The sites consist of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), which are designated under the Habitats Directive, and Special Protection Areas, which are designated under the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC).
which are an essential part of the approval process for projects in Europe. However, in most instances the environmental impact assessment and management is an ongoing process throughout the life of the project.

Gordon is experienced in both the ongoing informal assessments and the formal environmental assessment processes, including giving evidence as an expert witness, in the oral hearings required by some statutory approval procedures.
The types of environmental studies, which Gordon has directed and been responsible for include the following:

  • Odour Modelling & Assessment
  • Noise Modelling & Assessment
  • Air Quality Assessments
  • Modelling & Assessment of Marine Wastewater Discharges
  • Archaeological Assessments – Desktop & Fieldwork Surveys
  • Marine & Terrestrial Ecological Assessments – Desktop & Fieldwork Surveys
  • Visual Impacts and Photomontages

Assessment of environmental impacts is a key part of any modern infrastructure project. It is necessary at the planning stage in the form of formal procedures, such as Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment Appropriate Assessment is a European Union requirement which arises under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). The purpose of the assessment is to assess the impacts of plans or projects on Natura 2000 sites. Natu... Read More

Procurement

Gordon is highly experienced in the intricacies of Public Procurement from the perspective of both the Purchaser and the Supplier. He is very much a Procurement Practitioner and has significant practical experience, on the techniques required to navigate a clear path through the different stages of the procurement process.

Gordon also has very significant experience advising Public Bodies on the most appropriate procedures to be followed for the different types of procurement activities. He has previously provided advice in respect of the following aspects of Public Procurement:

  • EU Public Procurement Procedures
  • Procurement of Works, Services & Public Private Partnerships
  • Selection of Appropriate Contract Forms
  • Preparation of Bespoke Contracts
  • Use of Open, Restricted & Framework Procurement Procedures
  • Development of Candidate Suitability & Tender Award Criteria
  • Preparation of Notices for OJEU
  • Evaluation of Prequalification Candidates
  • Evaluation of Tender Proposals
  • Debriefing of Non-Compliant & Unsuccessful Candidates & Tenderers

Gordon is highly experienced in the intricacies of Public Procurement from the perspective of both the Purchaser and the Supplier. He is very much a Procurement Practitioner and has significant practical experience, on the techniques required to navigate a clear path through the different stages of the procurement process.

... Read More