CPM Planning & Scheduling Services
CPM schedules in Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project that teams can build from, owners can review and specifications can accept.
What we do
A schedule is the working plan for the whole project. We build and maintain CPM schedules that reflect how the work will actually be sequenced, resourced and handed off, from the bid stage through closeout.
Our work follows the schedule specification that governs the contract, including logic, calendar, coding and update requirements, so the schedule can be submitted and accepted without rework.
Built to use the full range of Primavera P6
- Work breakdown structure and activity codes
- Calendars and constraints
- Baselines (BL1 and more) and slippage against them
- Relationships, lags, float and the critical path
- Data date, progress line and earned values
- Resource and cost loading, histograms and S-curves
- Layouts, filters, grouping and reports
- Exports to XER, MPP and PDF
See the schedule come together
Baseline bars sit under every activity, so slippage shows as it happens. Logic, float, constraints, the critical path, the data date with a progress line, and resource and cumulative curves in one view. Illustrative layout with sample data, in the style of Primavera P6.
What is included
Bid and proposal schedules
Concise, credible schedules that show sequence, durations and key milestones for a proposal or bid package.
Baseline CPM schedules
Fully logic-tied baselines with calendars, constraints, coding and WBS structured to the contract requirements.
Monthly and weekly updates
Progress updates that capture actual dates, remaining durations and logic changes, with a clear explanation of what moved.
Recovery and mitigation schedules
Options for regaining lost time, tested against logic, resources and contract limits before they are proposed.
Resource and cost loading
Labor, equipment and cost loaded into activities to support cash-flow, progress measurement and earned value.
Schedule reviews
Independent checks of logic, float, constraints, durations and open ends, with findings ranked by impact.
Look-ahead schedules
Three- and six-week look-aheads built from the master schedule for coordination with the field.
Specification compliance
Checks of the schedule against submittal, format, update and narrative requirements before it goes out.
What you receive
- Native Primavera P6 (XER) or Microsoft Project files
- Schedule narrative and basis of schedule
- Logic, float and critical path report
- Milestone summary and key dates
- Look-ahead schedules
- Review findings with a prioritized fix list
- Update comparison showing what changed and why
Why it matters
A baseline you can defend
Clean logic and documented assumptions make the schedule easier to review, approve and rely on later.
Early warning
Regular updates show slippage while there is still time to respond.
Fewer resubmittals
Checking against the specification first avoids rejected submissions and delays to payment.
One plan for everyone
A clear schedule gives owners, designers and trades the same picture of the work.
How it works
Review the requirements
We read the contract schedule provisions and the scope, and agree the level of detail and update cycle.
Build or update
We prepare the schedule or update in your preferred software and run our quality checks.
Submit and refine
We support your review comments and keep the schedule current through the project.
Delivered remotely: files, calls and screen-share reviews keep the work moving with teams anywhere in the United States, with no site visit needed for this service.
Familiar with owner and agency specifications
Our lead is familiar with the specifications and requirements of public and private agencies and owners across the USA, particularly in aviation, heavy civil and transportation work, gained through prior professional experience.
Aviation, heavy civil and transportation projects carry strict specification requirements for how schedules are built, updated and reported. We bring that discipline to every engagement, working in line with AACE International recommended practices and PMI guidance and to the contract and specification set by each owner.
- Work aligned with recommended practices of AACE International (AACE) and the Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Familiarity with a range of owner contract types, specifications and special provisions, public and private
- Specification-driven schedule submittals, updates and narratives
- Detailed progress reporting and documentation requirements
- Defined milestones, contract times and time-extension procedures
- Coordination across designers, utilities and operating facilities
This describes familiarity with published owner and agency specifications and requirements, and alignment with AACE International and PMI practices. It is not a certification or endorsement. Variance Consulting LLC is not affiliated with or endorsed by any agency or owner.
Related services
Project Controls
Schedule and cost monitoring, earned value, cash-flow forecasting and progress measurement.
Delay Analysis & EOT Claims Support
Technical schedule analysis, time impact analysis and windows analysis to support extension of time submissions.
Reporting, Dashboards & KPIs
Weekly and monthly reports, Power BI dashboards, S-curves and KPI management for projects and portfolios.
Tell us about your project.
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