4.4 To estimate the cost of outstanding work, the Department tasked its quantity surveyors, Turner & Townsend to prepare current estimates of the costs of:
■ Remedying defects in the new facilities.
■ Upgrading the electrical supply and the machinery used to chill water for air-conditioning and for cooling scientific equipment (Figure 6).
■ Fees and other costs that the Department would incur as a result of terminating the contract and managing the remedial works.
4.5 The Department asked PricewaterhouseCoopers, its solicitors (Herbert Smith) and specialist legal counsel for advice on the costs it should include in its calculations and the sustainability of each element if challenged by Laser. On the basis of the received advice, the project team concluded that the value of Laser's interest in the contract was subject to several uncertainties, but fell within the range £54 million (on the most favourable interpretation of the Department's position) to £93 million (the least favourable interpretation) (Figure 13 and Figure 14).