Construction contracts are normally awarded to a qualified bidder who is having: – Appropriate capabilities; and – Other resources. This can be achieved in two ways: a) To verify whether the selected bidder possesses the required qualifications and experience before the contract award (post qualification); b) To ensure that bids are submitted only by firms…

The implication of the public procurement system to the economic growth and development of a country
Economists distinguish between growth, by which they mean more of the same – more goods and services; and development, growth with structural and technological change. An important feature of the development is seen when goods and services enter into markets. For example, when people have meals away from home and pay for restaurant services, the restaurant sector grows up…

VALUE FOR MONEY IN PROCUREMENT
Value for money is an audit examination designed to determine whether the organization in question is performing economically, efficiently, and effectively in its use of resources, operating procedures, and in pursuit of objectives. In the private sector, the economy, effectiveness, and efficiency of their services or products are reflected in the Balance Sheet and in…

Conditions of Contract – in Works Contracts
Definition of a Contract The term contract can be defined as an agreement that is enforceable by law. Works contracts are different from other contracts. Some of the special features of civil engineering works are:- 1. One-off projects – never the same, e.g. location, time. 2. Labour is transient and recruited on an ad-hoc basis….

BIDDING DOCUMENT for Works contracts
Purpose of the bidding document The most significant purposes of the Bidding Document are: i) To instruct bidders on the procedure for submission of bids (steps, what to do, when, etc.); ii) To describe works to be procured (specifications / BOQ, etc.); iii) To inform the bidders of criteria for evaluation (price & non-price factors);…

Service Contracts
Definition of a service contract A contract for pecuniary interest concluded in writing between a service provider and a contracting authority, i.e. client. Definition of a service A service is a work that is not part of an organization’s core business, i.e. its main function, but which needs to be provided to carry out the…

Contract Administration
Contract administration is a term used to describe the functions that are performed after the contracting parties have signed the contract. As a precise term, contract administration refers to those activities that take place after contract award and can include a plethora of activities ranging from routine to unusual. It requires the contract manager to…

Quality of mixing water for Concrete
Cement and aggregates are the main ingredients in making concrete. Water is the third. The quantity of water in the concrete mix strongly influences the strength of the resulting concrete. Undoubtedly, water is necessary to make the concrete mix adequately workable. There is another important thing. Water is necessary to hydrate the cement in the…

The Building Team
The Employer The employer is also called the client or building owner. He is the organization or person who commissions the construction project. The important thing is that employer is the person who pays the cost of the work. Much of the success of a building contract will depend on the employer and the motivation…

LIME – as a construction material
Lime was used throughout the world by ancient civilizations as a binding agent for brick and stone. The concept was brought to Britain in the first century AD by the Romans

Glass – as construction material
The term glass refers to materials, usually blends of metallic oxides, mainly silica, which do not crystallize when cooled from the liquid to the solid state. It is the non-crystalline or amorphous structure of glass that gives rise to its transparency

Law of Contract – Unilateral and bilateral contracts
Most contracts are bilateral. This means that each party takes on an obligation, usually by promising the other something – promise in return for a promise.