Level 1 Questions Flashcards
What is procurement?
The process of obtaining goods and services
What considerations affect the choice of procurement strategy?
Client:
- Type
- Experience
Project:
- Nature of the project
- Scope of the works
- Size / complexity
Delivery:
- Time / speed
- Cost
- Quality
- Risk / desired risk allocation
- Single or dual responsibility?
Market Conditions
What are the typical sections within a procurement report?
- Introduction
- Executive summary and recommendation
- Key Considerations
- Project type
- Client objectives
- Market conditions
- Procurement options
- Overview of options
- Allocation of risk
- Pro’s and Con’s
- Forms of contract (that are suitable for the different procurement routes)
- Conclusions and recommendations
What is traditional procurement?
A method of procurement where the design is fully developed (typically to stage 4) before going out to tender
The design process is separate from construction
Advantages of traditional procurement?
- Cost - high cost certainty
- Cost - usually tendered on a competitive basis = value for money
- Cost - best comparison of tender bids as all tenders are based on the same measured information
- Cost - good basis for valuations of variations / IVs
- Quality - Client is responsible for design
- Widely understood procurement route
Disadvantages of traditional procurement?
- Time - slow process, full design is required before going out to tender
- Buildability - no contractor input in terms of buildability, programming or construction methodology
- Risk - risk is dependent on status of design, must ensure design is 100%
What is design and build procurement?
Where the contractor is responsible for both design and construction of a building
Advantages of design and build procurement?
- Time - shorter programme length as design and construction can be overlapped
- Cost - reasonable cost certainty (however costs will include for risk)
- Responsibility - Single point of responsibility
- Risk allocation - most of the risk is allocated over to the contractor
- Buildability - contractor input in terms of buildability, programming and construction methodology
Disadvantages of design and build procurement?
- Quality - client has to commit to a concept design early
- Quality - ease of fabrication may be prioritized over quality / aesthetics
- Quality - the client has little to no control over the design
- Can be mitigated by:
- Novating the design team
- Robust set of ERs
- Cost - variations from the original brief can be difficult to arrange and expensive
- Cost - harder to compare tenders to ascertain value for money
What is management contracting?
Where the client appoints a full professional team and a management contractor who is responsible for managing the works
The works contractors will be appointed by the management contractor, and are directly and contractually accountable to him
MC paid a fee
Advantages of management contracting?
- Time - design and construction can overlap
- Quality - the client retains overall design control through the professional team, works packages are individually tendered meaning the best works contractors will be appointed
- Buildability - mc to input on buildability, programming and construction methodology
Disadvantages of management contracting?
- Cost - there is no cost certainty at the outset of the project, and a total cost is only known once the final package is let
- however, each of the works packages can be procured using a competitive tendering procedure
- Cost - the appointment of the MC is usually by negotiation and their services can be quite costly
- Experience - client experience required
What is construction management?
Where the client appoints a design team and enters into an agreement with the construction manager
These trade contractors are appointed by the client and are directly and contractually responsible to him
The client therefore assumes a major role in directing the project, whilst leaving the management of it to the construction manager
Advantages of construction management?
- Time - design and construction can overlap
- Quality - the client retains overall design control through the professional team, works packages are individually tendered meaning the best works contractors will be appointed
- Buildability - CM can input on buildability, programming and construction methodology
Disadvantages of construction management?
- Cost - there is no cost certainty at the outset of the project, and a total cost is only known once the final package is let
- however, each of the works packages can be procured using a competitive tendering procedure
- Cost - the appointment of the MC is usually by negotiation and their services can be quite costly
- Experience - client experience required
- Risk - client retains all the risk
When is a design and build procurement route suitable?
- Early start on site required
- When the client wishes to minimise risk
- For complex projects which can benefit from the contractors input
- Where the client does not want to retain full responsibility over the design development
When is a traditional procurement route suitable?
- Where time is available for 2 sequential processes
- Where the client wants to retain responsibility over design / design team
- Where the client wants cost certainty
When is a management procurement route (MC / CM) suitable?
- For large, complex projects
- Early start on site required
- CM / MC buildability can be put to use
- Client has enough experience
What other methods of procurement are commonly used in the industry?
- Design build finance operate (contractor to operate it for a period of time)
- Design build operate (contractor to operate it for a period of time)
- Public private partnerships - public & private sector collaborate
What is tendering?
The bidding process, to obtain a price, how the contractor is actually appointed
What are the main types of tendering procedure?
- Single stage
- Two stage
- Negotiation
- Early contractor involvement
What is single stage tendering?
A form of tendering strategy for obtaining a price for the whole of the construction works, typically carried out at stage 4
What is two stage tendering?
Where the contractor is engaged earlier in the design stages via a PCSA to work alongside the client to develop the design, assist with buildability, programming and construction methodology
What is negotiated tendering?
A negotiated tender is similar to a single-stage competitive tender, however the process involves 1 preferred contractor who bids for the works, after which a firm price is negotiated with the clients professional team (PQS)
How is the first stage of a two stage tender assessed?
- Quality of the bid
- Quality of their team
- Preliminaries price
- Overheads and profits allowances
What are the main advantages / disadvantages of negotiated tender
Advantages:
- Quick process to obtain a price
- No programme implications of a long tender process
Disadvantages:
- No competitive advantage, can’t ascertain value for money
- Not suitable for public procurement as most public sector projects need to demonstrate value for money
What are the main advantages / disadvantages of two stage tender
Advantages:
- Contractor involvement may reduce outstanding design / construction risk
- Contractor involvement for buildability / programming / construction methodology
- Ability to overlap tendering and design
Disadvantages:
- Lack of competitiveness during 2nd stage
- Programme implication to include a tender period
What are the main advantages / disadvantages of single stage tender
Advantages:
- Competitive price, ascertain value for money
- Widely understood form of tendering
Disadvantages:
- Time consuming process
- (if SS traditional) - no contractor involvement
What is Early Contractor Involvement?
ECI is a form of negotiated tender but emphasis is put on the contractor as the lead designer from the outset of the project
This is beginning to be seen in infrastructure projects where the early appointment of a contractor can significantly affect the direction of the emerging design
Contractor selection is similar to two-stage tendering as it is done not on a cost basis but rather on the quality of the team and bid
JCT Practice Note 2017
- General guidance document on procurement
- Describes best practice for tendering in the construction industry
- Looks at the tendering process as a whole from shortlisting and PQQ to recommendation and award
BS 11000-1 Collaborative Business Relationships – what is it?
The release of the British Standard (BS) 11000-1 Collaborative business relationships: A framework specification in 2010 has had a significant impact on large infrastructure companies and strictly relates to partnering projects.
The partner-selection phase gives guidance on how to select and evaluate proposed partner bids; for any large PPP/PFI scheme the existence of the BS should be understood, particularly its effect on the partner selection stage.
The RICS Construction Policy
The RICS Construction Policy was published in 2013, which contains important guidance, particularly relating to current trends; the policy also called for governments to increase transparency in its construction contracts and to simplify the procurement process.
What are the reasons for having a robust tendering strategy?
Robust tendering techniques can help to ensure positive tender results through:
1) Accountability
2) Auditability
3) Ensuring everything has been picked up
4) Parity
5) Helping to reduce claims of corruption; and
6) Ensuring that the correct price has been paid for the proposed works.
Producing the Pre-Tender Estimate
- Final estimated cost of the project
- Allows the employer to understand if they can afford the development
- Provides a basis for analyzing the tender returns
What tendering strategy is most suitable for:
1) Traditional
2) D&B
3) MC / CM
1) Single stage
2) Two-stage
3) Negotiated or two-stage
What are some contractor selection techniques? When should you begin to think about contractor selection?
- Open tendering (such as public procurement)
- Selective tendering
- Single contractor selection
It is advisable for project teams to start considering suitable contractors as soon as the project begins
What is the aim of the pre-qualification process?
1) Relevant experience?
2) Relevant financial standing / funding requirements?
3) Suitable H&S record?
4) Adequate tender period?
5) Assurance they are keen to submit a tender
What is the UK Governments Pre-Qualification Questionnaire -
The UK Governments standard form of PQQ is PAS 91 2013 Construction Prequalification questionnaires. This is mandated for central government departments, and the government recommend that the entire supply chain should adopt it.
How do you assess a suitable tendering period?
1) The complexity of the project
2) The size of the project
3) Time of year (i.e. pubic holidays such as Christmas and Easter)
4) Market conditions
5) The type/stage of the tendering procedure (i.e. single stage, 1st stage of a 2 stage, etc)
How does tendering procedure affect deciding on a suitable tendering period?
1st stage of a 2 stage tender:
- Based on prelims, OH&P and qualitative part of bid
Single stage tender:
- Contractor to submit a full price, need to allow enough time for them to receive quotations from the supply chain