Industry gives broad welcome to Olympic Delivery Authority's ODA procurement plan

Contractors have welcomed last week’s announcement by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) that it will use a “balanced scorecard” approach to procurement for the Olympic Games.

ODA chief executive David Higgins said good value and high quality were paramount but that bids would also be judged on safety, security, quality and functionality, sustainability, legacy and equality.

Stephen Wells, group business development director at Costain, said he was encouraged by what he called an “enlightened approach”.  He added: “The ODA has clearly been listening to the industry and realised bids have to be about much more than price.”

A Construction Confederation spokesman agreed. “We’ve long been campaigning for best value to be at the core of bids rather than the lowest price and we’d like to see the approach used more in other areas of public sector procurement.”

But some smaller players had a word of warning about the decision to use e-procurement exclusively. Iain McIlwee, London regional director of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), said: “We are minded that many smaller builders do not regularly employ e-techniques and consequently could be disadvantaged if e-techniques are relied upon too heavily. The FMB will be carefully watching developments in this area and working with the ODA to ensure all members are in a position to benefit.”

In the announcement, Higgins underlined issues such as sustainability and safety. “Our key task is to deliver on time and to the agreed budget. As we do this we want to work with the best of business and companies that also share our values and objectives,” he said.

Olympics minister Tessa Jowell added: “The ODA Procurement Policy will ensure that firms are absolutely clear about what they need to do to supply the delivery of the Games venues and infrastructure.”