Chapter 10 Procurement

The field of procurement is a complex yet interesting aspect of the construction process. If you get it right then the project is set on track for smooth delivery. Get it wrong and there is heartache and strife almost guaranteed before the contract ever commences. As a competent engineer you will play a vital role, alongside other construction professionals including quantity surveyors to advise and guide your Client towards the best style of contract and best procurement method to suit the construction project. In the years since Michael Latham and John Egan reported on the state of the construction industry, there has been a much greater emphasis on the need for a partnering approach to construction procurement. Whether this has yet been achieved is still a hotly debated topic and one that you can make your own mind up about as your own experiences expand. Needless to say all of these issues are explored within this chapter, with a particular reference to health and safety and how it integrates into the wider procurement process.