ABSTRACT

Deciding the procurement strategy is the foundation stone to a successful outcome to a contract for providing professional services, but this process is very often understated or almost overlooked as Employers and their advisers, in their urgency to get projects out to tender and their Consultants appointed, tend to select the procurement strategy and standard form of contract most familiar to them, rather than spend time properly considering the project in terms of the Employer's resources and his objectives in terms of time, price and quality, with the additional factor of risk also having to be considered and evaluated. It is rarely achievable for all three to be fully satisfied, and it is usually a balancing act between them. Procurement of services may also be required to conform to EU Procurement Directives, see Section 11.11.