The Role of an EPC Contractor

A critical infrastructure project is a large investment in capital, resources and time. For that reason, many organizations choose to engage an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor when taking on a large project. Some firms may not employ the appropriate personnel, like engineers or trade craftsmen, to dedicate to the project. Others may employ these specialty workers, but their time is already fully engaged in the business.

An EPC contractor, like Matrix Service Company, can provide turnkey solutions for your project. They will partner with you throughout all of the project stages, ensuring your goals are met and you are satisfied with the result.

EPC contractors leverage their resources, experience and industry knowledge to better your project. You are still in control, making critical decisions and guiding specifications, but your involvement does not sacrifice your business operations. Instead of hiring dozens of contractors each with their own bids and contracts, you have a single relationship and a single point of responsibility to manage.

Next, we’ll take a look at the role of an EPC contractor throughout the phases of your project.

Concept Development
As you begin to frame your project, determining the priorities and objectives for your facility, an EPC contractor can begin working on the conceptual design. The contractor will design a facility or retrofit based on the capacity, inputs, outputs, throughput and other specifications you need.

Feasibility Studies
Once one or more concepts have been identified, an EPC contractor can conduct feasibility studies to help evaluate your options. In this stage, the budget and design are both refined. With better estimates and narrower scope, you can determine which concept is best for your application.

Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED)
With your preferred concept, an EPC contractor can move forward with FEED. Detailed design, engineering and procurement can begin. Process and Instrument Diagrams (P&IDs), Process Flow Diagrams, Process
Hazard Analysis (PHA) are just a few of the documents that will be created for you during this process. The documentation created during FEED will assist during the construction phase but will also be important as you move into operations. FEED will also produce a project cost estimate that is suitable for project financing decisions.

Engineering, Procurement & Construction
With your approval, construction can begin. Your contractor will manage labor, equipment and raw materials. All of the pre-project planning will guide construction. Project managers will proactively troubleshoot any issues on the job site and see that your facility is completed with quality craftsmanship. The EPC contractor will also be responsible for managing the project timeline and budget for the contracted scope.

Commissioning & Operations
Commissioning is a labor-intensive process and an EPC contractor can help you get your facility up and running if you choose. Once everything is running smoothly, it’s time to turn over operations to you.

A Higher Standard for Your Project
Working with an EPC contractor can be a smart investment in your business. When you partner with someone like Matrix Service Company, you bring 35+ years of experience and industry expertise to your project. When you choose Matrix for your next EPC contract, you can be confident your project will be on time and on budget. We have the resources, strategic locations, and engineering capabilities to see that your project raises the bar for facilities in your industry. Move to a higher standard. Call to get started today.