Two stage open book procurement in construction

[edit] Introduction

The Government Construction Strategy published in May 2011 stated an intention to reduce the cost of public sector construction by up to 20% by the end of the parliament, and to stimulate growth in construction.

The Government Construction Strategy: Final Report of the Procurement/Lean Client Task Group, published in July 2012, developed three potential new strategies to help achieve this aim:

• Two Stage Open Book.
• Cost Led Procurement (CLP).
• Integrated Project Insurance (IPI).

All three of these strategies propose early contractor involvement, integration and transparency. They are expected to achieve cost reductions, enhanced project programming, improve working relations and reduce project risks.

[edit] Process

In the two-stage, open-book bidding process, an outline bid and benchmark cost are provided to prospective project teams. Following the first stage, the project teams work with the client to develop the proposal and the contract is then awarded at this second stage. This allows the client to work at an early stage with a single, integrated team and allows faster mobilisation.

Two-stage, open-book can be used on single projects or a programme of works.

The flow chart from the Kings College publication (on behalf of the Cabinet Office), summarises the two-stage, open-book process.

[edit] Requirements

There are ten fundamental requirements for the two-stage, open-book process (ref Cabinet Office, 2014):

• Client commitment to the early creation of an integrated team.
• Demonstrable benefits of the processes to all those involved.
• EU compliance.
• Agreed activities for the client, contractor, consultants and suppliers.
• Governance and continuity from the client and project team.
• Collaborative culture.
• Conditional contracts based on the agreed budgets, meeting the brief and any other agreed preconditions.
• Open book costs which include the agreement of fees, profit and overheads.
• Guidance and case studies.

[edit] Benefits

The ten benefits of the two-stage, open-book procurement method are described as (ref Cabinet Office, 2014):

• Cost savings of up to 20%.
• Cost competition and control.
• Improved design.
• Risk management.
• Time management.
• Extended warranties.
• Sustainable solutions.
• Stakeholder consultation.
• Appointment of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and local/regional businesses.
• Employment and skills commitments.

[edit] Trial projects

A number of trial projects were established to assess the two-stage, open-book method.

• Ministry of Justice, Cookham Wood – achieved a 20% cost saving.
• Surrey County Council, Project Horizon – achieved a 17.4% average saving over 5 years.
• Hackney Homes and Homes for Haringey – achieved a 14% cost saving.

This article contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v2.0. Ref Government Construction Strategy: Final Report of the Procurement/Lean Client Task Group. July 2012.

[edit] Find out more

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.

• Collaborative working.
• Construction 2025.
• Cost Led Procurement.
• Early contractor involvement.
• Government Construction Strategy.
• Integrated Project Insurance.
• Open-book accounting.
• Two-stage tender.

[edit] External references

• Government Construction Strategy.
• Government Construction Task Group Report.
• Hackney Homes and Homes for Haringey case study.
• Ministry of Justice, Cookham Wood case study.
• New Models of Construction Procurement.
• Project Procurement and Delivery Guidance, Using Two Stage Open Book and Supply Chain Collaboration.
• Surrey County Council, Project Horizon case study.