Framework for a National Register for Contractors: A Report (CIB Reports) Book

This report develops a standard pre-qualification form for public sector work. It considers the issues relating to the creation of a single register of contractors seeking public sector work, and the appropriate requirements for entry on that register. The working group for this guide was chaired by Ted Evans from the Construction Industry Employers Council. In "Constructing the Team", Sir Michael Latham argued that qualification to approved lists needs to be rationalised in the UK as the costs to firms (and clients) are too high. He urged the development of a single qualification document, and recommended that the Department of the Environments (DOE's) Contractor Management Information System (CMIS), should form the basis of a national qualification system for contractors seeking construction work for the whole of the public sector in the UK.The CIB's Working Group 5 was established to: develop a single form; assess in detail the adequacy of CMIS for this task; and, make recommendations on how to improve the system and its administration to best serve the interests of its users and also those registered on the system. The working group concluded that Sir Michael's recommendations on a single national qualification system are sound, and that CMIS is the right basis. A single qualification form was developed - which could be used by the CMIS system and is included as Appendix 3. This report also makes a number of detailed recommendations for the further development of CMIS, including improvements in the data held, the management and ownership of the system, the expansion of its user base and recognition as an 'official list' in the EU.As Working Group 5 and Working Group 4 (on CMIS' sister, the Consultants Register - ConReg) neared the end of their deliberations, the DOE commissioned consultants to review whether the system offers value for money, review the options open for its future organisational structure, and develop viable charging strategies. The DOE has now established an advisory group of clients and users of the system, together with industry representatives, to steer the implementation of these recommendations, and it is anticipated that the new version of CMIS will be on-line in the spring of 1997.Implementing these recommendations and creating a single national qualification system would have two implications: the majority of firms in the construction industry would be listed, or would actively seek to be listed; and by reducing the present burden of duplicative work there would be significant savings both to the public purse and to the industry. CMIS would therefore make a significant contribution to Sir Michael Latham's proposed 30 percent savings target for the industry.Read More