Fragmentary networks, or fragnets, are an isolated section of a project schedule affected by a specific event, such as a change or delay. They can be inserted into a critical path method schedule for the entire project. Fragnets have two uses: to track the impact of an actual event and to model or test how contemplated changes will affect the planned work.
A project owner recently conflated the two uses of fragnets. The owner contended the fragnet updates indicated the actual critical path of the work. In fact, the contractor had been modeling a contemplated change in the sequence of work. That contemplated change was abandoned as impracticable. The schedule’s critical path never changed.
The other case in this issue involves a second low bidder’s attempt to displace the low bidder. The protester argued that the low bid’s omission of certain information rendered that bid nonresponsive. Unfortunately for the protester, its bid had omitted the same information.
