Forward Commitment Procurement
"Delivering best value Through innovation - Forward Commitment Procurement: Practical pathways to buying Innovative solutions' published by the Department for Buisiness, Innovarion and Skills in November 2011 describes Forward Commitment Procurement (FCP) Concept thus:
"Delivering social objectives (such as environmental sustainability) often requires new solutions that are either not available in the market or are available at excessive cost, because they aren’t available, customers don’t demand them; because there is no demand, the solutions do not receive the investment required to enter and be competitive in the market. Consequently, public sector objectives are compromised by lack of affordable and effective products and services to deliver them."
"The FCP approach unlocks this stalemate by making the market aware of genuine needs and requirements. It offers to buy solutions that meet these needs once they are available at a price commensurate with their benefits. This ‘credible articulated demand’ provides the necessary market pull to galvanise supply chains and unlock investment to deliver the requirement."
"It is both innovative procurement and smarter procurement creating better outcomes for society. With future markets more certain our industries and enterprises will invest in innovation to meet demand and grow, and by buying smarter, public services can become more efficient and more effective."
"... A critical factor for suppliers of new products is the confidence that there will be a market once the solution is proven. The amount of investment made by product developers and by their supply chain depends on this confidence. The future customers of the new products can significantly affect investments decisions by making the future market as certain as possible (while retaining competition). FCP is a way for public procurers to make this future market visible and credible without either procurer or supplier incurring unmanageable risks."
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Admeasurement
- Build lease transfer BLT.
- Build operate transfer BOT.
- Competitive procedure with negotiation.
- Complex project.
- Connected procurement.
- Corporate objectives for procurement.
- Design and build procurement route
- Design and manage procurement route.
- Design build finance and operate.
- Design, build, finance, maintain DBFM.
- Design Build Finance Operate Maintain DBFOM.
- Design build finance transfer (DBFT).
- Design, build, manage contractor.
- Design build operate maintain DBOM.
- Design Build Operate Transfer DBOT.
- Design construct manage finance DCMF.
- Difference between procurement and purchasing.
- Engineering procurement and construction contract.
- European Single Procurement Document ESPD.
- Framework contract.
- Lump sum contract.
- Maintenance Repair Operations MRO.
- Management contractor.
- OJEU procurement procedures.
- Partnering in construction.
- Private finance initiative.
- Procurement policy.
- Procurement route – frequently asked questions.
- Procurement route.
- Procurement strategy.
- Public private partnerships PPP
- Public procurement.
- Renovate, operate, transfer (ROT).
- Restricted procedure under the Single Procurement Document (Scotland).
- Reverse auction.
- Shadow tolls.
- Single-stage tender
- Subcontract procurement.
- Tender processes for construction contracts.
- Traditional contract for construction.
- Transforming Public Procurement Green Paper.
- Two-stage tender.
- What is the most common procurement route?
Featured articles and news
New Scottish and Welsh governments
CIOB stresses importance of construction after new parliament elections.
The sad story of Derby Hippodrome
An historic building left to decay.
ECA, JIB and JTL back Fabian Society call to invest in skills for a stronger built environment workforce.
Women's Contributions to the Built Environment.
Calls for the delayed Circular Economy Strategy
Over 50 leading businesses, trade associations and professional bodies, including CIAT, and UKGBC sign open letter.
The future workforce: culture change and skill
Under the spotlight at UK Construction Week London.
A landmark moment for postmodern heritage.
A safe energy transition – ECA launches a new Charter
Practical policy actions to speed up low carbon adoption while maintaining installation safety and competency.
Frank Duffy: Researcher and Practitioner
Reflections on achievements and relevance to the wider research and practice communities.
The 2026 Compliance Landscape: Fire doors
Why 'Business as Usual' is a Liability.
Cutting construction carbon footprint by caring for soil
Is construction neglecting one of the planet’s most powerful carbon stores and one of our greatest natural climate allies.
ARCHITECTURE: How's it progressing?
Archiblogger posing questions of a historical and contextual nature.
The roofscape of Hampstead Garden Suburb
Residents, architects and roofers need to understand detailing.
Homes, landlords. tenants and the new housing standards
What will it all mean?



















