ODA announces e-tendering process for Olympic projects

E-tendering is the Olympic Delivery Authority’s (ODA) preferred method for procurement and David Higgins, ODA chief executive, unveiled two key online tools at last week’s second Building for London Conference: one provides information on contracts up for grabs while the other is a site designed to manage the actual tendering.

The procurement process begins with the ‘Future Opportunities’ section on the standard ODA website (www.london2012.com/futureopportunities); this gives advance notice of major tier one contracts (signed directly with the ODA), ranging from work designing sports venues and landscaping, to providing occupational health services and logistical support to construction projects.

Users of the site can register to receive e-mail alerts for particular contracts as they go live.

Once live, firms will need to access etenders.london2012.com, where responses and bids can be submitted electronically. All ODA contracts will be let through the website, which is secure, Higgins said.

"The basic principles of tendering will not change, just the method. All the data is encrypted.

"With 2,000 contracts to let, the procurement method needs to be efficient. It needs to comply with UK and EU law, but I don’t want it to be a burden for the industry."

He added: "Tell us if it’s not working and we’ll respond."

Meanwhile, the main contractors in charge of the major venues will be required to set up microsites, through which they will advertise subcontract opportunities. Higgins said: "We appreciate that major contractors have their supply chains, but they will be encouraged to open up opportunities to others."

From April/May, a third website will be launched, known as the Business Network. This is for tier two contractors and below; the majority of these opportunities will be from 2008 onwards.

Asked about the other high-profile fixed date project in London that should have been finished some time ago, Higgins said: "We are in no way complacent about attracting contractors after the problems with Wembley. We will have to work very hard to get the industry to come to us and we are very aware of that.

"When projects go wrong, it is often because the brief changes. The brief will be totally locked down at each stage. People will only remember the ODA if we deliver the Olympics late so we will force stakeholders to make decisions early."