CE vows to cut tender paperwork

Constructing Excellence (CE) has vowed to clamp down on clients demanding lengthy documentation from contractors during the procurement of framework contracts.

Last month, CJ revealed that contractors involved in bidding for the Prison Service's £230m new build and refurbishment frameworks were up in arms over the long-winded procurement process and the requirement to submit "huge piles" of tender documents (CJ 12 May).

CE chief executive Dennis Lenard confirmed that he had been made aware of the unwelcomed practices of the Prison Service and would now investigate the situation further to stop the problem spreading to other clients.

"This is a very worrying trend that is occurring in the industry and has been brought to my immediate attention,"
he said.

"One of our main focuses will be to reduce the amount of unnecessary costs incurred by the industry and stop clients calling for an unnecessary amount of information. Using these problematic processes can cost contractors and consultants around £2m a year on average."

CE has already opened talks with collaborative group Be about drawing up guidance for clients to reduce bid costs, which is based on a similar three-stage model used by Manchester City Council.

This involves getting contractors involved more closely with the work in hand and reducing the number of bidders very early on.

It is expected that the guidance will be completed by the end of the year.