Matthew S. Scheps, PE, PMP
Expert Areas
- Project Management
- Constructability Analysis
- Change Order Management
- Labor Productivity Analysis
- Construction Drawing & Specification Review
- Schedule Delay Analysis
- Litigation & Arbitration Support
- Cost Estimation
- Demonstrative Graphic Preparation
Expertise
- Performs research to support claims and expert testimony
- Evaluates design, procurement, and construction issues
- Prepares demonstrative, complex technical graphics
Biography
Matthew Scheps, PE, PMP, a senior consultant with Interface Consulting, relies on his 10 years of industry experience along with his education in the engineering and construction industry to provide expert services and analysis on complex construction projects. Mr. Scheps has eight years of experience with large general contractors as a project manager, project superintendent, and project engineer, which he uses to contribute insight into project management, schedule delay analysis, labor productivity, cost analysis, change order management, planning, and procurement. His practical experience includes projects in multiple industry sectors, including commercial facilities, LNG, utilities, and transportation and infrastructure.
Work History
Interface Consulting International, Inc. – Houston, TX
Senior Consultant
McCarthy Building Co. – Houston, TX
Project Manager
- Responsible for key projects from start-up through close-out
- Analyzed and negotiated change orders, managed staff and craft, worked with owners and subcontractors to mitigate potential delays and costs, and owned job costs, project schedule, and profit projections
- Managed self-perform construction including safety processes, quality oversight, labor productivity, drawing and submittal reviews, purchasing, and cost tracking.
Kiewit Infrastructure Co. – Woodcliff Lake, NJ; Houston, TX; Lusby, MD
Assistant Project Engineer
- Led team tasked with re-estimating all the piping on a $4 billion LNG facility to confirm budgeted amounts
- Directed constructability reviews, examining the model and working with engineering to implement million-dollar cost saving design changes
- Optimized project crane plan, including tower crane layout, and the sequence of installation to minimize costly crane reconfigurations
- Reviewed bids, coordinated with equipment vendors to maintain schedule through engineering changes, and negotiated, reviewed, and approved change orders.
Skanska – New York, NY
Engineering Intern
- Reviewed plans, estimated quantities, conducted a financial sustainability analysis, and performed field oversight and material inspection.
Articles
COVID-19: Managing Construction Delays Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic, March 2020
COVID 19: Trickle Down Effects of Coronavirus on the Construction Industry, April 2020
COVID-19: The Evolution of Force Majeure Clauses in Unprecedented Times, April 2020
Credentials
- BS – Civil Engineering & Environmental Engineering
Lafayette College – Easton, Pennsylvania - Minor – Economics (Financial Policy & Analysis Certificate)
Lafayette College – Easton, Pennsylvania - Licensed Professional Engineer
- Project Management Professional (PMP) – Project Management Institute
Professional Affiliations
- Associate Member – Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC)
- Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society)
- Omicron Delta Epsilon (International Economics Honor Society)
Buildings & Facilities
- 1011 Studemont Condominiums
- Christus Trinity Mother Francis Hospital
- Pulverized Petroleum Coke Manufacturing Plant
- San Antonio Housing Authority Victoria Plaza Apartments
- Texas Rangers Stadium, Globe Life Field
- Yale Street Market Retail Complex
Transportation & Infrastructure
- Alaska Energy Authority West Fork Upper Battle Creek Diversion Dam Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Expansion
- Bayport Container Terminal – Land Development Preparation South of Port Road
- New York City Department of Parks & Recreation High Line Phase Two
- Houston Northeast Water Purification Plant (NEWPP)
- NYC MTA Street Subway Station
- San Francisco MTA Central Subway
- Southwest Airlines Houston Tech Ops Maintenance Hangar
- TXDOT IH 45 Expansion
Power & Energy
- PPL Roseland Susquehanna Transmission Line
- TVA Paradise Combined Cycle Power Plant AQCS
- Woodbridge Energy Center
Marine & Offshore
- Port of Houston Barbours Cut Rehabilitation Phase II
Petroleum Refining & Gas Processing
- Bakersfield Renewable Fuel Project
- Crestwood Midstream Partners LP
- Dominion Energy Cove Point LNG Expansion
- Draft Horse Gas Treating Facility
Chemical & Petrochemical
- INEOS Olefins-2 Debottlenecking Project
- LBC Tank Terminal Expansion
- LBC Tank Terminal ME Global Expansion
Oil & Gas Pipelines
- ONEOK Arbuckle II Pipeline
- The Chesapeake and Access Pipeline Projects
OIL, GAS & CHEMICAL PROCESSING
- Project experience in liquefied natural gas facilities; land & subsea pipelines; petroleum storage terminals
POWER & ENERGY
- Project experience in natural gas power plants; combined cycle power plants; chemical & petrochemical; transmission lines
TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE
- Project experience in airports; highways & bridges; heavy civil; mass transit; ports; utilities; water purification and wastewater plants
BUILDINGS & FACILITIES
- Project experience in entertainment & sports facilities; healthcare; retail; multifamily housing
Buildings & Facilities
1101 Studemont Condominiums
Opined on the condominium association’s claims regarding construction defects on a new multifamily housing project, including numerous leaks and staining to the brick veneer. Analyzed the opposing experts’ scope of repair report and repair estimate, identifying excessive estimated costs. Advised a realistic expectation of the damage valuation, leading to settlement.
Christus Trinity Mother Francis Hospital
Oversaw the installation of sheet pile walls. Managed equipment, manpower, and procurement of materials, and installed vibration monitoring to ensure the safety of hospital patients. Negotiated a change order with the owner and executed a contract with a specialized vibration-free pile pressing subcontractor after traditional pile driving methods proved unable to mitigate vibration concerns.
Pulverized Petroleum Coke Manufacturing Plant
Opined on responsibility for a fire that occurred during start-up of a new petroleum coke pellet factory in Texas. Analyzed purchase order scope of supply, reviewed written correspondence regarding promised deliverables, and investigated the decision not to hire an engineering contractor or general contractor. Responded to expert reports alleging design failures.
San Antonio Housing Authority Victoria Plaza Apartments
Performed a site investigation and advised client regarding issues that were design defects versus construction defects on a project for the modernization and rehabilitation of an affordable senior living facility, adding HVAC and fire suppression systems. Researched noise ordinances and sound specifications regarding a new chiller for the HVAC system that received numerous noise complaints. Inspected, researched, and advised a testing procedure for incorrect valves that were installed on the project.
State Parking Services Catalyst Houston
Analyzed the concierge’s responsibility in allegedly failing to adequately respond to a pipe that burst at night in a section of the apartment building under construction, causing damage to 20 floors of the building’s electrical system. Analyzed the damage and advised the responsibility for the damage.
Texas Rangers Stadium, Globe Life Field
Assisted in resolving numerous disputed PCOs on a GMP construction cost contract with lump sum general conditions. Performed a labor productivity loss analysis and analyzed discrete change order issues and schedule delays. Advised client on negotiations related to increasing the GMP.
Yale Street Market Retail Complex
Opined on a concrete subcontractor’s work regarding tilt-wall panel installation, pile and column installation, and paving work on a retail shopping center in Houston, Texas. Performed a schedule analysis to determine the project’s critical path delays. Analyzed the subcontractor’s scope of work regarding the project design and engineering. Responded to an opposing economic damages report claiming loan interest, lost rent, unpaid reimbursable operating costs, and outstanding back charges. Reviewed outstanding invoices and retainage due.
Transportation & Infrastructure
Alaska Energy Authority West Fork Upper Battle Creek Diversion Dam Bradley Lake Hydroelectric Expansion
Developed the owner’s response to its contractor’s claim on a project diverting water to a hydroelectric dam. Analyzed construction progress reports, schedule updates, crane usage, schedule delays, earthwork, road installation, and bird surveying.
Houston Northeast Water Purification Plant (NEWPP)
Managed the construction of a 320 million gallon per day water treatment plant. Responsible for overseeing mechanical and electrical trades, coordinating with vendors, and executing subcontracts.
New York City Department of Parks & Recreation High Line Phase Two
Estimated restoration of an existing elevated train track in New York City for reuse as a recreational pathway.
New York City MTA 72nd Street Subway Station
Performed takeoffs and created the estimate for all internal finishes including doors, louvers, fire protection, elevators, and escalators. Analyzed structural steel details.
San Francisco MTA Central Subway
Coordinated maintenance of traffic for construction phase estimates at each of four new stations. Designed a traffic safety plan and estimated striping, signs, barriers, pedestrian access, and road closures.
Southwest Airlines Houston Tech Ops Maintenance Hangar
Managed construction of a new maintenance hangar for Southwest Airlines with the capacity to service six 737s at the same time. Negotiated change orders, executed contracts, optimized the construction schedule, performed lease/buy analyses, and managed self-perform staff including earthwork (site leveling, excavation and haul-off, select-fill backfill, lime treated subgrade, cement-treated base), utilities (storm drainage including reinforced concrete pipe/boxes, culvert crossings, aircraft rated inlets; sanitary sewer including precast manholes, PVC pipe; domestic water/fire water including permitting, pipe installation, thrust blocks), concrete foundations (grade beams and building slabs), and paving (various parking lots and 450,000 SF of apron slip form paving including rebar, dowel baskets, and an on-site batch plant).
TXDOT IH 45 Expansion
Estimated the expansion of IH 45, including the installation of new bridges and paving and the maintenance of traffic, guardrail, riprap, and utilities.
Power & Energy
PPL Roseland Susquehanna Transmission Line
Hand-performed cut/fill analysis for earthwork estimate along the transmission line. Performed subcontractor coordination.
TVA Paradise Combined Cycle Power Plant AQCS
Analyzed existing utilities. Compiled a project schedule and determined the indirect cost estimate.
Woodbridge Energy Center
Estimated pipe quantities and installation costs for a new power plant.
Marine & Offshore
Bayport Container Terminal Land Development Preparation South of Port Road
Opined on issues regarding a land development preparation project, including grading and drainage work. Analyzed outstanding change orders that were the basis of the claim. Provided an expert report for mediation responding to an opposing report and opining on the valid portions of the claims. Analyzed differing site conditions that were claimed to have impacted productivity and schedule. Investigated the cause of the changed work sequence, which was claimed to have resulted in site flooding impacts. Performed a schedule analysis and evaluated labor productivity measured mile analyses. Determined the validity of certain changes, the valid amount of the associated damages, amount overbilled on the project, and retainage owed. Assisted in preparation for mediation, which resulted in a settlement.
Port of Houston Barbours Cut Rehabilitation Phase II
Upgraded one thousand feet of an existing wharf to accommodate larger cranes for offloading post-Panamax vessels. Oversaw the installation of drilled shaft foundations, crane rail alignments, utilities, concrete paving, and asphalt paving. Managed mechanical dredging as well as the utilization of dredging spoils to improve a barrier island.
Petroleum Refining & Gas Processing
Crestwood Bear Den II Natural Gas Processing Plant
Opined on cost and schedule overruns on a cost-plus fixed fee EPC agreement for a 120 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) cryogenic natural gas liquids (NGL) plant in North Dakota. Identified the causes of the increased project costs, including identifying major changes to the project through a P&ID analysis and which party initiated those changes. Identified disallowed costs through an analysis of variation order requests and contractual entitlement, performed an estimate adjustment analysis accounting for increased quantities, and benchmarked the final cost against various contemporaneous estimates.
Dominion Energy Cove Point LNG Expansion
Performed constructability reviews and interfaced with the engineering team to optimize the design, saving the project millions of dollars. Coordinated the project’s crane plan, facilitating crane sharing, hook ratios, and cost to budget, and optimizing reconfigurations. Reviewed supplier bids, work with equipment vendors on maintaining schedule, and negotiated, reviewed, and approved change orders. Designed an office/staging/pre-fabrication area. Interfaced with overseas designers to sequence engineering deliverables. Compiled a recovery plan for work pack creation and reviewed all work plans.
Draft Horse Gas Treating Facility
Analyzed cost and schedule issues on a 900gpm amine gas treating facility in Texas. Reviewed site preparation work, including lime stabilization and construction of access roads. Analyzed owner-provided equipment, including planned versus actual delivery dates and the contractor’s scope in coordinating with the equipment supplier. Evaluated termination costs, including excess costs incurred using replacement contractors. Analyzed construction percent complete and compared to percent of contract value paid. Reviewed vendor costs and site remediation costs paid directly by owner. Assisted attorneys with deposition questions for opposing fact witnesses.
Renewable Energy
Bakersfield Renewable Fuel Project
Analyzed construction and schedule issues on a renewable diesel fuel project in California and advised the funding partners regarding the risks and benefits of changing contractors.
Chemical & Petrochemical
INEOS Olefins-2 Debottlenecking Project
Analyzed a dispute notice for outstanding payments and a lien notice on olefins debottleneck EPC T&M turnaround work. Determined the feasibility of a cost recovery program.
LBC Tank Terminal Expansion
Oversaw the installation of pipe rack foundations, concrete walls and slabs, pump pads, concrete paving, and storm drainage. Managed mechanical dredging and plow dredging to increase the channel depth.
LBC Tank Terminal ME Global Expansion
Managed construction of tank ring walls; pipe racks, including pile foundations; and manifolds.
Land & Subsea Pipelines
The Chesapeake and Access Pipeline Projects
Analyzed the contractor’s claimed damages sustained due to adverse weather conditions and other management impacts related to the installation of a pipeline system in northern Pennsylvania. Analyzed move arounds, reviewed winter construction plan, summarized depositions, and prepared demonstratives and testimony questions.
ONEOK Arbuckle II Pipeline
Analyzed construction overruns on a 24-inch pipeline spread and examined the claim for additional compensation due to claimed ROW issues and owner-supplied material delays. Prepared counterclaims for replacement contractor costs and damage repair costs. Evaluated and responded to measured mile analyses, assessed stand-by and move-around costs, and identified bid errors. Investigated material supply delays versus weather-related delivery delays.