ABSTRACT
There are a number of approaches available to quantity surveyors when sending projects to tender or inviting bids from suitable contractors. These methods range from uncontrolled open advertisements in trade magazines or local newspapers, whereby any party interested in tendering can make an enquiry and perhaps for a small fee receive the bid documents, to the use of a tightly controlled range of potential contractors, selected from an existing database of pre-approved organisations, such as Constructionline. Equally, the contractors could be selected from an externally managed framework such as the North West Construction Hub, which serves public sector employers operating in the Northwest of England. Some employers have their own select list of contractors who are regularly invited to tender for projects, perhaps as part of a framework.
