The Construction and Design Alliance of Ontario (CDAO) brought back Procurement Day on October 28 for the first time since 2015. With a theme of How to Manage and Mitigate Risk, the CDAO offered four virtual sessions free of charge to public sector employees and client groups involved in the procurement of infrastructure projects. If you could not attend any of the sessions or wish to have a refresher, recordings for all four sessions are now available here.
Sessions from the 2022 Procurement Day included:
The Supply Chain Challenges Impacting Critical Construction Materials
Over the past few years, the construction industry has been experiencing significant growth in many market segments. This growth has helped drive the economic recovery in Ontario from the challenges of COVID-19. Unfortunately, this growth, combined with the fallout activities from the pandemic, has significantly strained the construction materials supply chain.
Panelists address the major issues currently impacting the steel, wood, concrete and aggregate industries and discuss how impacts can be minimized on future projects.
Enhancing Project Delivery through Pre-project Investment
Significant schedule delays and cost escalations during project delivery are often a reality with construction projects. The Construction and Design Alliance of Ontario commissioned a research study, Impacts of Pre-Project Investment & Quality of Documents on Project Delivery Efficiencies, from the Ryerson Institute for Infrastructure Innovation to understand the root causes of the problem. (LINK for REPORT – http://www.cdao.ca/news-and-events.html?id=153)
The study sought input from the entire industry, including owners, architects, engineers, contractors, and sub-contractors, and referenced projects from across the country. The results provide an objective framework for a change in the project delivery policies for public infrastructure.
The panelists discuss the findings and key recommendations from this report and what this might mean for the future of the Canadian design and construction industry.
Qualifications-Based Selection in the Procurement of Professional Design Services
Obtaining best life-cycle value for an infrastructure asset requires analysis and key decision-making during the planning and design phases. During these phases, the greatest impact on life-cycle value can be had for the lowest cost. However, using low-price selection for those design services significantly impedes the ability to realize the greatest life-cycle value. A qualifications-based selection process unlocks that value.
Panelists discuss procurement process issues and concerns where low price is a dominant factor and describe qualifications-based approaches that result in better life-cycle value and project delivery. The benefits of the QBS approach are detailed.
Standard Contracts
Annik Forristal discusses how industry-recognized contracts are developed, which standard form contracts (CCDC, OAA, RAIC and ACEC) are most commonly used and when, and what to look out for when reviewing supplementary conditions. Annik focuses on specific items that have been designed to establish transparency, as well as appropriate allocation of risk.