procurement and contract award

Here’s a breakdown of this process:

1.Project Inception:
At the start, a client defines the project’s requirements and their desired outcomes. Usually, this involves preliminary discussions with architects or consultants to establish the feasibility and the scope of the project.

2.Procurement Strategy:
The client, often advised by their consultants, decides on a procurement route. Common methods include:

• Traditional (Design-Bid-Build): Architects and consultants design the project in full, and then contractors bid to construct it.
• Design and Build: The contractor is responsible for both the design and construction.
• Construction Management: The client hires a construction manager to act as an agent, with trade contracts made directly between the client and the trades.
• Management Contracting: A management contractor is engaged to manage the works, but the trade contracts are placed with the separate trades.
• Partnering: The client enters into a collaborative contract with a contractor or a team where risks and benefits are shared.

3.Prequalification:
Potential contractors or service providers may go through a prequalification process to ensure they meet the requirements to perform the scope of the work—this involves assessing financial stability, experience, technical skills, and capacity.

4.Invitation to Tender:
Prequalified contractors are invited to tender, providing detailed proposals that include price, methodology, and timelines for the delivery of the work.

5.Tender Assessment:
Received tenders are assessed against a range of criteria. It isn’t always the lowest price that wins but rather the “most economically advantageous tender” or MEAT which considers price alongside factors such as quality, technical ability, and aesthetics.

6.Contract Award:
Once a tender is chosen, the contract award process begins. This involves:

• Notifying the successful tenderer.
• Finalizing contract terms, which detail the responsibilities, roles, and financial agreements.
• Signing the contract, after which it becomes legally binding.
• Public announcement of the contract award, which is sometimes required in public projects for transparency.

7.Construction Phase:
After the award, the construction phase begins in accordance with the terms stipulated in the contract. Throughout the construction phase, the contract provides a framework to resolve disputes, manage changes, and ensure the project is completed as agreed.

8.Completion and Aftercare:
Once construction is done, the project moves to the completion and aftercare stage. This includes handover of the building to the client, resolution of any defects during the defect liability period, and final payments as stipulated by the contract.

Throughout the procurement and contract award process, it’s essential to maintain transparency, fairness, and legal compliance, ensuring that all parties are treated equitably, and the project can progress smoothly to a successful completion.

9.Post-Construction Evaluation:
After completion and during the defect liability period, sometimes referred to as the maintenance period, clients and contractors review the project’s success in addressing the initial goals, quality standards, and performance. It is also an opportunity for architects and contractors to gather lessons learned to improve future projects.

10.Final Account:
This refers to the agreement of the final sum to be paid to the contractor. It encompasses any changes to the contract sum due to variations, claims, additional work, or losses during the project. Final account negotiations can be complex and may require detailed discussions and possibly the involvement of a quantity surveyor or a contractual advisor.

11.Facility Management and Building Operation:
Although not always part of the architectural procurement and contract award process, it’s crucial to consider facility management and building operation during the early stages of design. It involves planning for the practical aspects of maintaining and operating the building efficiently after project completion.

12.Guarantee Period:
Typically a contract includes a guarantee period for certain elements of construction, which ensures contractors or manufacturers rectify any issues that arise with their works free of charge.

13.Sustainability and Lifecycle Considerations:
Modern procurement processes often place a strong emphasis on sustainability and the life cycle impact of building materials and construction methods. Evaluating the building’s environmental performance and long-term sustainability can be an ongoing process involving monitoring and adaptation.

14.Role of Technology and Software:
Project Management Information Systems (PMIS) and other digital solutions such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) are commonly integrated into the procurement and construction process to enhance collaboration, efficiency, control costs, and manage project schedules.