Framework Agreements are by their definition a “Term Contract”, normally over four years, which were devised in the most part to circumvent having to OJEU individual projects, but tender a string of projects that may collectively exceed EU thresholds.

Framework Agreements, with best intentions, aimed to create longer term relationships leading to better value through improvements in efficiency of the procurement process across the entire supply chain.

The questions that I suggest needs to be asked of the Contracting Authorities and Suppliers alike

 “are they actually achieving the benefits and efficiencies originally thought and has true competition and value simply been lost to unnecessary bureaucracy resulting in little reward for those Clients and Suppliers involved”

I hear mixed messages, not least from Clients themselves. Those at group level who instigate frameworks say they are successful streamlining and regulating the procurement processes making it more transparent, are those on the ground (who operate the frameworks) not necessarily in full agreement. Their views suggest no flexibility, poor performance, and generally a lack willingness to add value (that is code for doing something for nothing).  Equally I hear from the supply side that the work flow suggested never seems too materialised, certainly not at anywhere near the levels or regularity as suggested at the bidding stage. In these tight economic times the basis of the competitive bid that won the suppliers a place on the framework, report key objective of best value are being ignored and now we appear to be slipping back to lowest price in the end and how much can be shaved off the next project or service profit line!

The EU has a lot to answer for, I suggest in not recognising what makes business really happen. Business is all about confidence in the people, those who you know and trust to deliver underline value is fundamental. It seems now to be all about employing professional bidding teams to win tenders and less about on-going performance. I see Contracting Authorities who simply go through the motions of renewing frameworks without any real understanding of how to set up new frameworks based on strong business ethics, and with knowledge of what is really required to deliver underling value to all those involved.

There has to be a “Win Win” situation, not the alternative “Win Lose” or “Lose and Win” or simply the creation of work for those that facilitate the framework, who often seems to have no real understanding of the Clients business or how business gets done in the first place. There are a lot of well off lawyers and specialist consultants out there because it.

Frameworks appear to be “a necessary evil”. I heard said “If I see another gateway question asking do you have ENO9001; or Investor in People, Total Quality Manage (TQM) systems, Sustainability Policy ENO14001, etc I will go mad”.  The question is how many of the Contracting Authorities themselves have these accreditation to which they place so much importance in, or is it all really just padding to justify the involvement of the facilitators? In my opinion, and this is shared by others, the outcome has been the isolation and reduction in the ability of SME having a fair chance to bid with only now the corporate sized companies able to afford compliance and bid costs, monopolising the market. I believe there has been a reduction in true competitive pricing, limiting success to those few who have all the bells and whistles but sometimes no substance when you need it.

I recently attended a seminar on procurement where a framework was devised for a four project programme, a mini PFI took place and the initial investment in the bid was over a million pounds by the winning bidder, the programme was then reduced to only one project and the value of that project was 1.8 million. The true cost of the project was 2.8 million. Sometimes a simple competitive tender starts to look a lot more cost effective!

Today’s Valentine’s day, and hopefully you are planning something special for your partners, friends, or love ones, to celebrate what make us happy, considerate and appreciative to one another.

In business however we not  in the habit of saying to our partners “Well done” or “Thank you, we appreciate what you have done for us”. In these difficult economic times while some maybe concerned about their own security of work, the last thing on our minds may be to recognise when good work is done. So to all out there in business, whether client or supplier, take a little time out to say something nice to your partners, colleagues for a job well done. You will be surprised how good that will make them feel and a little of that good feeling may come back to you as a business opportunity!

There is no doubt snow had arrived in the UK over Christmas and in some areas the conditions  caused major chaos on the road and with public transport. Temperatures recorded in Oxfordshire was as low as -17 C and in Scotland -22 C it was colder than the north pole. 

The smart advice was, if you didn’t need to travel then stay at home.  I thought this was sensible and good advice. Last week however 1 in 7 people did not make it to work, I suggest that even with the severe low temperatures and conditions for some it had become an opportunity to just not turn up for work – period.  I don’t mean stupidity, taking unnecessary and excessive risks but why are some so keen to give up after just looking out of the window from their bed, making no reasonable attempt to establish conditions or to get to their work place.

Even the Meerkats took a look!

I took my Son to the station over the last two weeks, and on day two of his first job opportunity after leaving University the roads near Winchester were well salted, were almost clear of cars, (although I acknowledge it was 6.30 am in the morning)  and passable with care. On arrival at the train station, though a reduced service was in operation my son was still able to get to London by 10am only about an hour late for work.

If everyone just decided not to make the effort the country would simply grind to a halt.

 My respects goes out to whose hardy souls particularly nurses, doctors, emergency services, police, coastguard, mountain rescue, and even those farmers that have helped to keep us moving by fitting snow ploughs to their tractors (though I sure there’e a bob or two to be made).

 Now thats off my chest, this brings me to the second part of this article, is the snow melting on your roof? Do some roofs have lots of snow on them, when compared to your neighbours that may have little snow?

Roof voids that have good loft insulation say over 270mm, current building regulations, may hold the snow on the roof longer, when others has already melted.

Note how the snow will melt at the top first, around roof lights and chimney’s and those roofs which have less snow indicate where heat maybe being lost through the roof due to poor insulation.

 So this is time to get that loft insulation up to specification, but make sure you install the right insulation, and do no block any cross ventilation otherwise you may create other consequencial problems with condensation on the underside of felt underlay, plumbing, etc, leading to possible long term problems of timber decay. 

Happy Near Year to all our Clients, and our Partners in the Construction Industry. 

WELCOME – to  our new and fresh website

G J Taylor consultancy has seen some remarkable growth in the first of completed three years of trading since 2006, with over 20% increase in turnover year on year. 2009 on the back of the deepest and longest ressession (credit crunch) of 18 months has seen less dramatic, but still stable growth and we are looking forward to continuing steady, but positive grow in 2010 and beyond. 

To reflect this we have decided to give our website a fresh new look, to reflect our emerging approach to business in the future, for the need to remain dynamic, flexible and responsive to change. We will be introducing  a newsletter shortly which we encourage you to comment on through our web blog.

We hope to bring existing and new customers to our website more often hopefully through our newsletter and blogs with thought provoking articles and opinions on current thinking and industry news.

Our newsletter will be issues every two/three months to a select few and those that decide to subscribe. More urgent news or topics may be brought to your attention through our e-build marketing.

We welcome positive and constructive input as without it we cannot make the necessary changes to deliver what our clients and partners really want and need.

So join with us, and let us know if there’s anything you would like us to cover in the future in our articles or Blog’s, or give us a ring, phone works just as well!

Garry Taylor MRICS, ACIH