THEME FOR ACPP MEETING

Procurement Strategies and Policies

 

Architects are trained as Artists and not trained as businessmen. So when it comes to starting an office and procuring projects, most of the professionals are left looking for support. Especially for young architects’ procurement of projects becomes a difficult job as they have to compete against their own peers and senior members of the profession. Sometimes senior members face difficulty in the fee discounts the junior architects have to offer.

 

Therefore Procurement of Projects in an Architectural Practice has been a subject of debate for long. There are different methods adopted by different agencies and architectural firms. Many countries do not allow advertising of consultancy practices but then there are other methods for an Architect to create his visibility in society. What are those? What should be the blue print for procurement of projects in the future within the framework of the Regulations of the profession.

 

There are majorly three formats in which presently Project Procurement is made in all the Government and Private sectors.

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• System of Tender and Professional Profile evaluation

• System of open Competition for a project

• System of direct references and past projects experience

 

In the system of Tender and Professional Profile evaluation, the client advertises in the newspaper for Expression of Interest from various Architectural Firms stating a minimum qualification criteria. After which interested shortlisted firms are asked to bid for the project with their Professional Profile. Some Clients have a point system in which the bid and Profile are equalized therefore the project may not go to the lowest bidder but to the person with better project profile.

 

The open competition allows for everyone to participate without any restriction of Senior or Junior professional profile but then it has its downside as the Architect has to invest heavily in the presentation. Direct reference system is probably the most widely prevalent system in which the Architect is assured in getting the project without any competition.

 

But then it is also about brand creation for an architect and his visibility in the profession and his/her own city. How does an Architect create his visibility in his area of operations within the framework of his association. What are the norms of this framework. We would like to discuss this for the various participating countries to arrive at a comprehensive policy.

 

We hope to discuss this in the Forum and get a better ground view of the practicing professionals in UAP. The discussion then will be documented and summarized to be presented to the ARCASIA Council to be then sent to all ARCASIA country heads.

 

Members of ACPP are suggested to follow the following format for their presentations. They can alter and add slides as per their requirement.

 

• Country Demography with number of Architects, Age wise with Male/Female ratio

• Number of Architectural offices in major Cities

• Method of Procurement of Government Projects

• Method of Procurement of Corporate Projects

• Method of Procurement of Private Projects/small scale projects

• Prevalent Methods of creation of visibility of Architects in society

• Bylaws of Country Architectural association/council stating Advertising Policy

• Professional Practice syllabus in colleges – (Is Procurement of Projects taught)

• Suggested Solution to the issues discussed above

 

Each member shall be given 10-15 minutes to make their presentation. At the end, the Chairman may open the house for discussion if time permits.