ABSTRACT
Individual experiences, prejudices, vested interests, the desire to improve the system and the familiarity with particular methods are all factors which have influenced capital project procurement recommendations. In reality too little is known and too little research has been undertaken to evaluate properly the various procurement options. Procurement advisers should offer advice irrespective of any vested interests or personal gains. One of the procurement adviser’s main problems is in separating the employer’s wants and needs. Smaller-sized schemes rely upon the traditional and established forms of procurement, such as a form of competitive tendering or a version of design and construct. It is difficult to make cost-procurement comparisons, even where similar projects are being constructed under different contractual arrangements. The traditional methods of contract procurement fail in many aspects of construction design—not least because of the absence of any constructor input.
