On 8th December 2011 the RIAS's President's Commission on Procurement published its report. This review, over a year in the making, reveals that architectural procurement in Scotland is very costly, highly inefficient and damaging to Scotland's economy.
This is at a time when public projects are vitally important for local employment and to the micro-organisations and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) which employ most of the workforce within the construction industry.
The report, by a committee chaired by Roy Martin QC, examines evidence commissioned by the European Parliament and the Westminster and Scottish Governments, alongside data from academic sources and commissioning bodies.
It indicates that the UK has the second slowest construction procurement in Europe (the slowest is Greece) and that to commission a project worth £130k in architect's fees can cost the public purse an additional £70k and bidders a further £240k in venture costs.
This inefficiency has a direct impact upon construction employment in Scotland.
The Commission recommends that the Scottish Government issues new, brief guidelines to all commissioning bodies relating to projects which sit below the European threshold.
It also seeks a radical revision to the lengthy and cumbersome pre-qualification questionnaire process which is a demonstrable drain on resources and does not achieve best value for the public purse.
The report also recommends a short, sharp Government review involving industry organisations, towards amending procurement processes which are failing Scotland badly.
more: rias.org.uk (106)