Success with review agencies

If every review agency/governing jurisdiction operated the same, life might be a bit less complicated for consultants and clients alike. Well....unfortunately... they're not. The key is knowing who you are dealing with and what their expectations are. Some agencies review EVERY small detail, while others only review the major design portions of the project. An upfront meeting with the assigned reviewer often provides some insight into what to expect. Also, from the consultants end, consistent and diligent communication throughout the project (with the review agency and with your client) goes a long way to minimizing unnecessary issues and associated costs. From the clients end, expect that the project scope will sometimes vary and additional project requirements are often added to a project once the review agency gets entrenched in the review process. Bottom line--expect the unexpected and be flexible.