Chapter 78: Procurement and specification

Each construction project will have a unique set of ground conditions to be considered, and it is this unique combination of ground conditions and future applied loadings which presents risk for new developments. Consequently the procurement process which defines the scope of work, allocates responsibilities and risk and chooses the contractor to do the work is critically important. The specification that defines the minimum standard of the work is a key tool in ensuring a successful outcome. Tender documents and submissions must be clear and non-contradictory, and the tender negotiation process must be managed to ensure that the chosen contractor has the necessary skills and tools to undertake the work in the prevailing ground conditions without unduly affecting the design. There are many forms of contract and subcontract used in geotechnical construction, but none has been designed specifically for such specialist works. A common problem with geotechnical construction is identifying who is responsible at interfaces between different elements of work. Works at such interfaces must be clearly allocated in the contract documents, especially when one party will be relying upon another to supply a service. In this way, enabling works can have a significant impact on geotechnical works.