Competency framework connects information management to procurement expertise
Nima has welcomed a new competency framework for procurement practitioners that embeds information management skills and knowledge as minumum competency requirements for professionals engaged in procurement in the built environment in England.
The 14-page Competence Framework for Procurement Professionals in the Built Environment in England has been developed by representatives from six industry organisations: the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, plus the Chartered Institute of Building, the Association for Project Management, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Construction Products Association and the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management.
It aims to promote and uphold “the highest industry standards” across the lifecycle of a building, and prevent the poor commercial and procurement practices in the years leading up to the Grenfell Tower fire identified in Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review. It also references the UK Government’s collaborative procurement guidance for design and construction to support building safety, which highlights four fundamental features of a procurement that need to be present in any project, including:
- selection by value that avoids a race to the bottom
- early supply chain involvement that improves safety and reduces risks
- collaborative relationships that improve commitments and involve residents
- a golden thread of information that integrates design, construction and operation.
Minimum IM competences
The framework document lists 17 ‘minimum competence’ areas with which procurement practitioners must comply, ranging from legal and contractual requirements and stakeholder engagement to procurement strategy and information management. Section 5.10 says the procurement practitioner shall be able to:
- Apply information management principles throughout the procurement activities, including the use of relevant digital technology.
- Make sure the procurement process and contractual obligations takes account of maintaining the ‘golden thread’ of information and all elements of the building that could impact on building safety.
- Understand the requirements of relevant stakeholders, including the (principal) accountable person and those responsible for ongoing operation and management to facilitate the smooth transition of asset information from construction to operations.
- Make sure there is a clear handover of procurement related information between construction stages and that the required level of asset information at handover is clearly defined and understood by the receiving party.
- Understand requirements for exchange of fire and life safety critical information.
- Present information in the format required to ensure compliance.
- Understand the use of technology to communicate data and information in supply chains.
Achieving better outcomes
Speaking to Construction Management, Dame Judith Hackitt said:
“The publication of this framework marks a really important step in changing culture and achieving better outcomes in the built environment.
“Procurement sets the tone of the whole project and must promote collaboration, early stage design work which involves the whole supply chain and delivery of real value and fit for purpose buildings. The challenge now of course is to ensure that the framework is adopted and put into practice – we must not assume that is a given but take steps to ensure that it is taken up across the board.”
