Importance Of Project Procurement

In the construction industry, for a project to be a success it must be delivered safely, on time, within the approved budget and of the required standard of quality. A key element of fulfilling these objectives is choosing the correct method of construction procurement. Procurement is defined as “the act of acquiring, buying goods, services or works from an external source” and is the term that describes a method by which a client/employer will carry out the construction or refurbishment of a Project. The most suitable method will provide the best possible outcome in terms of cost, time, quality and value for money over its life cycle.

There are a number of different methods of procurement available to the Client and deciding which method

They must also critically analyse the possible methods of procurement available to them and determine which method best suits the proposed project. An inexperienced Client may appoint an independent advisor/consultant such as a Project Manager to assist them in the selection of a procurement method to be used as an understanding of the characteristics of the numerous methods of procurement is required before a recommendation can be made (Davis, Peter et al,

These consultants are usually led by an Architect/Project Manager and will usually also include a Quantity Surveyor, Mechanical and Structural engineer and possibly other designers. This team will collectively advise the Client, design the project, control costs and supervise the project through to completion. They will also supply all design and specification information to the Main Contractors whom are competitively tendering to carry out the works. The Contractors will then submit their tender including their Bill of Quantities based on this information and the most appropriate bidder will be appointed to carry out the works. Although supervised by the architect, the design team and the appointed main contractor can have direct access to the client, however, the contractor is responsible for all the construction team, sub-contractors and suppliers which also makes him liable for their performance. (Cooke B. et al,