Gold Standard

[edit] Background

The Gold Standard, also known as the Mosey review was commissioned by Lord Agnew, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury at the end of 2020. Its commissioning was a natural follow-up to the reforms that were outlined in first edition of the government’s Construction Playbook 2020 of the same year.

Published in February 2022, with the subtitle 'An Independent Review of Public Sector Construction Frameworks' it was written by Professor and Director of the Centre of Construction Law & Dispute Resolution at King’s College London, David Mosey. Mosey noted at the time that over 2,000 public sector construction frameworks were active and the costs associated with the consultation processes linked to these alone were considered to account for £180bn of the public sector frameworks costs.

The review contains contributions from 20 major framework providers and over 100 clients, who brought forward framework examples, the most positive aspects of which then contributed to the gold standard. The document explained how contracting authorities might try to adopt policies that draw lessons from these examples through a series of 24 recommendations which are outlined in detail in the article Constructing the Gold Standard, here the first 5 of the recommendations are given in brief:

• Use in The Construction Play book: Use the Gold Standard features of frameworks, framework contracts and action plans.
• Use for framework comparison: Ensure that all Gold Standard features are adopted by clients and suppliers.
• Safety, net zero and compact with Industry: Requirement that public frameworks prioritise safety, net zero carbon.
• Use as standard form of contract: Reduce costs, improve value and reduce risks with Gold Standard framework.
• Contractually binding economic, social and environmental outcomes: Convert objectives into actions.

Constructing Excellence established a Task Group drawn from framework providers, clients, advisers, suppliers and government stakeholders to explore how to improve value, reduce risk and achieve net zero through Gold Standard construction frameworks and framework alliances.

Governance of Constructing the Gold Standard Verification resides with the Task Group. All submissions to the scheme are reviewed by the Task Group. See here, for a full list of task group members. A panel of Independent Verifiers are appointed with the approval of the Gold Standard Task Group based on their willingness, their independence and their hands-on experience in procuring frameworks that have Gold Standard features.

Verification Process

The applicant will complete a Questionnaire which will be the basis for initial feedback from an approved Independent Verifier with recommendations in respect of Partial Verification or in respect of rejection of the application, and which will be reviewed by the Gold Standard Task Group to identify any areas of concern or in need of particular focus during the Full Verification process.

The Independent Verifier will then carry out Full Verification of the applicant’s processes and action plans to assess how they comply with the 24 Gold Standard recommendations and to recommend Full Verification or rejection of the application.

The findings of the Full Verification process will then be reviewed by the Task Group who will recommend whether there is enough evidence to verify the applicant to the Gold Standard.

[edit] Constructing the Gold Standard