The Scottish Building Federation recently reported some interesting findings. Its’ survey results indicated companies were spending huge sums on unsuccessful bids. The probability of winning a contract was reported as 1 in 36, remarkably similar to the odds of betting on a single number at a casino. It further claims that two-thirds of companies have opted out of tendering for public sector work. Three quarters of those who completed Pre Qualification Questionnaires (PQQs) were not short-listed. There was a one in eight chance of being successful at Tender stage.
This was followed by the UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment’s report into public procurement. It states that reforms to the complexities of tendering for Public Procurement Construction contracts can help Tenderers. In particular the standardisation of the PQQ documents could save bidders as much as £40,000 per year.
The cost of tendering must be borne by someone and ultimately it is the buyer who will pick up this cost. The report suggests the use of PAS91 to standardise the Questionnaire. This seems a wholly sensible approach. Let’s hope the Public Sector embraces it.
Need to know more about PAS91 or any PQQ matter? Then please give me, Ray Gambell a call on 01744 20698 or email me on [email protected].
