PhD Final Thesis April 2013.pdf - Anglia Ruskin Research Online

Thesis Keith Gale 2013Following an initial participant selection procedure, the framework agreement itselfis prepared. Framework agreements follow contractual themes and these can bevaried according to objectives of the framework. The themes are:• A framework agreement which includes a significant number of terms,conditions and prices. Individual contracts for work packages are chosenfrom a list of suppliers in accordance with the selection procedurecontained in the framework agreement.• A framework agreement which has few terms, conditions or prices.Suppliers are chosen for individual contracts for work packages by a secondstage (mini-competition) procedure.• A framework agreement with a single supplier. Work packages are alloffered to the single supplier on the basis of acceptability.The boundaries at which the framework agreement operates and those of individualcontracts may vary, but actual terms and conditions for a work package are includedwithin that work package and will operate as a standard construction contract. Legalconvention determines that terms in work package will take precedent overframework conditions – although remedies for both contracts are available.2.3 Characteristics of the framework agreement approachAn assumption made by early central government reports is that public sectorprocurement cannot manage large scale projects as effectively as the private sectordue to reduced market pressures (Construction Excellence, 2009). Evidence placedbefore the House of Commons (Business and Enterprise Committee, 2008, p20)suggests that ‘it is false dichotomy to differentiate between the public and privatesectors on their performance as construction clients’. The committee concluded thata significant influence upon project success is the frequency of use of constructionservices rather than the sector within which the project is set. Experienced clients,either public or private sector based, are more likely to understand how theconstruction process operates and realise the critical nature of key decisions atappropriate stages than those clients who use construction services infrequently.Clients that align critical phases of a construction process with their own control34