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The phrase we should be using for this is "contract administration" which is the specific type of project management we are talking about. Even though it has been discussed a bunch of times, it is a vast subject with a lot of points of views and perspectives.
The text book version of contract administration (and I do have at least one text book on the subject) that is part of the standard curicullum of landscape architecture goes like this:
It is the 5th step in a complete design service contract.
1. schematic design
2. design development
3. contract documents
4. bidding and contract negotiations
5. contract administration
Most design/build landscape contractors limit design services to the schematic design with some limited design development whether they have staff designers or hire subs. The reason is that they have their own methods and specifications whether written or not. The reason for specification writing and in depth construction details is for bid packages to make sure everyone is on the same page. It is a great deal of work and expense to do all of that and where the design/build contractor has no interest in the job going out to bid or to have flexibility removed from his ability to finish out the job, he is not going to have you do all that work.
The design/build contractor is also not going to have you produce bid packages as that is not in his best interest.
Contract administration is just that - acting as the administrator FOR THE CLIENT to observe the progress of the work, evaluate materials and workmanship, and resolve conflicts involving interpretations of drawings and specifications*.
If you are working for a specific contractor there is no contract administration role since you are an agent of the contractor rather than the client. This is something that is not well understood by a lot of people if you look at most of the other threads on this subject.
Many designers think they should be able to get 10% because they drew the plan as if it were a commission. I'm all for that, but good luck getting it (anyone in my area that wants to pay me 10% and can give me enough leads to get the job done, send me a PM). Many contractors are shooting for a profit margin of 10% after taking on every other part of the job. I'm not going to wager that if they can get that up to 20%, they will split it with the designer.
The standard method to earn the 10-20% contract administration fee is to get your own clients, go through full design development, write specifications for everything from grass seed to soil to stone to color ranges of stone,...., put together full bid packages, put it out to bid, check out the qualifications including bonding and insurances for all of the bidders, advise the client and make recommendations on who to award the bid to, monitor progress, inspect workmanship and materials, resolve conflicts (draw up adendums and/or approve change orders) and basically assume total responsibilty of the job for the client.
You can't administrate a contract for the client if you are aligned in any way with the contractor. It is a total conflict of interest.
There is no reason for the contractor to pay you to administrate the contract on his behalf. He has himself and his foremen and crew to do that (one of which may be called the project manager for the contractor). It is possible that the contractor's designer is capable of being his project manager as well if (s)he has the supervisory experience to do so. In fact it is not uncommon if the designer has worked extensively in the field in the past because it is pretty difficult for most contractors to supply 40 hours of design work a week for a year 'round designer and they don't want to pay you to do nothing. They may pay bonuses for work that you sell, but I don't think any will fork over 10%.
The hardest thing about contract administration work is that it is limited to large enough projects that the client is willing to pay someone else an additional 10% to essentially take the burden for them. Most are going to handle the contractor directly themselves which you have obviously experienced already. Add to that the fact that these kinds of projects already have an architect doing the same thing who is not about to give the 10% of the landscape up to someone else.
When someone is willing to put out that type of additional money, they usually want to get the best of the best to do it. That makes it hard for someone to work their way up to it. It is much easier to gain your reputation doing this work as a contract administrator as a salaried employee until you are well enough known by architects and developers. Then you make a lateral move instead of climbing a ladder.
It is not easy, to say the least.
*Ready, Set, Practice - Elements of Landscape Architecture Professional Practice by Bruce Sharkey
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