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Procurement Issues

Partnering was used extensively on all of the INTEGER Pilot Projects and proved to be an important factor in successful project delivery. It is inevitable within such innovative projects that difficulties will arise which could strain team relationships within a conventional contract framework. A degree of flexibility and tolerance was often required to overcome problems which could otherwise have led to dispute.

Contract arrangements varied. Two stage tendering, early selection of main contractor and selection of principal sub-contractors on a package basis worked well at West Bromwich, while design and build was the client’s preferred process on the Harlow development. Both methods of procurement had their benefits and drawbacks, but most significantly the process employed in West Bromwich offered maximum flexibility throughout.

The availability of suitable suppliers can impact on the efficiency of the process. Many of the technologies which INTEGER uses come from small, nascent industries and as such supply chain delays can occur, as happened with the supply of timber panels to two Pilot Projects. Equally, teething problems occurred with the grey water recycling system and with heat meters on one of the projects. However, these problems were overcome to the satisfaction of the project team, the client and the tenants themselves.