Tendering procedures, contractual arrangements and Latham: the contractors' view
Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
ISSN: 0969-9988
Article publication date: 1 January 1996
Abstract
The procedural and administrative aspects of UK tendering have remained largely unaltered for decades but this may soon change in light of the recent review of the construction sector, headed by Sir Michael Latham. This paper presents findings of a nationwide survey of UK construction contractors assessing their opinion of the Latham procurement recommendations, along with their opinion of the authors' proposals for alternative selection procedure. Contractor usage/opinion of current tendering methods, tendering documentation and contractual arrangements are also identified. Analysis techniques primarily involve the derivation of contractor preference, agreement and importance indices (Pri, Agi and Imi respectively). Results show that clients are attempting to cut costs by increased use of open tendering coupled with plan and specification tender documentation, but that savings are offset by clients ultimately paying for contractors' costs associated with their achieving contract award for only 1 in 5 bids. Generally, contractors are in tune with the ideals of the Latham review and characteristics pertaining to the HOLT (Highlight Optimum Legitimate Tender) selection technique.
Keywords
Citation
HOLT, G.D., OLOMOLAIYE, P.O. and HARRIS, F.C. (1996), "Tendering procedures, contractual arrangements and Latham: the contractors' view", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 3 No. 1/2, pp. 97-115. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb021025
Publisher
:MCB UP Ltd
Copyright © 1996, MCB UP Limited