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

Thesis Keith Gale 20133.2 Investigation of published research aggregated from elements applicable forframework agreementsA literal review has not identified any established directly comparable literaturearising from research undertaken with framework agreements, reflecting that use offormal framework agreements within the public sector is a relatively newphenomenon. The first recognisable UK structured frameworks were advertisedthrough a contract notice within the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU)in 1995 (BAA, 1995). Objectives from this framework involved capturing resourcesand commitment from suppliers for delivery of a major infrastructure project(Terminal 5, Heathrow Airport). In return, contractors would be granted exclusiveaccess to long term agreements for the supply of construction services.Predominantly reimbursed upon a ‘cost plus’ basis set against agreed targets requireda high risk acceptance of liability from the client in return for strong teaminvolvement. Although the Terminal 5 project was regarded as successful by theclient as timescales were prevalent, use of a procurement method of ‘cost plus’ didnot provide detailed cost benchmarking data for further analysis.Public sector use of frameworks arose through an initiative by the Highways Agency(Highways Agency, 2001) as an attempt to secure long term resources for aprogramme of maintenance and improvements to the motorway and trunk roadnetwork within the United Kingdom. The initiatives included establishment of‘construction management frameworks’, with suppliers collated into select lists forfuture projects. Suppliers would then tender for individual projects in a traditionalmanner from the select list. Apart from securing suppliers to undertake projects, theHighways Agency frameworks sought to gain improvements in performance throughlonger term relationships and closer working between project supervisors andsuppliers. The Highways Agency construction management frameworks commencedin 2002 and completed in 2009. Perceived a success by the Highways Agency,empirical information is available through a pilot project undertaken within theframework from a supplier’s perspective (Amey/Mouchel). The information (Ansellet al, 2009) provides an insight into relationships between a single main supplier anda single supply chain (sub-contractor) but does not investigate relationships betweena multiple supplier framework or interactions between suppliers and a client.50