Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
• Audited to BS EN 9002 for Quality
• Audited to BS EN 14001 for Environmental
• Audited to BS EN 18001 for Safety
• A member of the CRA or other appropriate body
• Past references
• CSCS-carded operatives (UK only)
• Training
• Safety record
•
Professional qualifications of management.
The list can be endless but it is important to select a minimum of three
comparable contractors and a maximum of six for larger schemes. Clients
often allow a contractor to tender who does not have the experience and
qualifications to undertake the work then find that their tender is the lowest
and are obliged to award them the contract.
12.7 Tendering the work
With a specification, conditions of contract and an agreed budget it is time
to procure the work. Time and timing are important factors.
•
The right time for the client for operational reasons. Retail clients
will want to avoid Christmas. Educational clients will want the work
done during summer closures. Industrial clients will have operational
constraints.
•
The right time for the contractor. The contractor will not want to be
applying specialist coatings during the winter. Marine works should be
scheduled to avoid the winter period.
•
Sufficient time to tender for the contractor. Usually this will be a minimum
of three working weeks and up to six weeks for complex contracts.
It is important to remember that the concrete repair contractor will
need to seek subcontract prices for access and surface preparation etc.
Insufficient time will lead to poor tenders and fewer returned tenders
which will be detrimental to both parties.
•
Sufficient time for assessment and contract award by the client. The
client will need time to assess the tenders and seek clarification from
tenderers where necessary. There may be a need for post-tender
interviews of the short-listed contractors. The final contract award
may be subject to a standstill period of at least ten days to allow for
any objections or a consultation period with housing or commercial
tenants.
The tender enquiry should be specific on how the tenders will be assessed
to ensure that the procurement is fair and legal. Clients have in the past
favoured cheapest as best but this has proved to be a false economy which
