Procurement Strategy & Contract Advisory Services

Setting Projects Up for Success from the Start

The procurement strategy selected for a construction project can have a significant impact on cost, schedule, quality, risk allocation, and overall project success. Choosing the wrong procurement approach can result in cost overruns, schedule delays, disputes, and missed project objectives.

Our Procurement Strategy and Contract Advisory Services help owners make informed decisions before projects are tendered, ensuring that the delivery model, contract structure, and procurement process align with the project's specific goals, risks, and market conditions.

As independent Quantity Surveyors, we provide objective advice that is focused solely on our clients' interests. We help clients navigate the increasingly complex construction procurement landscape by identifying the most appropriate project delivery and contractual approach for each unique project.

Independent Advice. Better Decisions.

Every project is different.

The procurement approach that worked successfully on one project may not be the best solution for the next. Factors such as project complexity, schedule constraints, market conditions, funding requirements, risk appetite, and stakeholder involvement all influence the most appropriate procurement strategy.

Our role is to provide independent, evidence based advice that allows clients to make informed decisions with confidence.

We act as trusted advisors to:

• Developers
• Institutional Owners
• Municipalities
• Healthcare Organizations
• Educational Institutions
• Industrial Clients
• Commercial Property Owners
• Public Sector Agencies
• Infrastructure Project Sponsors

Procurement Strategy Development

We work with clients during the early planning stages to evaluate the procurement and project delivery options best suited to their objectives.

Our analysis considers:

Risk Allocation

Risk ultimately translates into cost.

We assist clients in determining:

• Appropriate risk allocation between owner and contractor
• Risk transfer strategies
• Project specific risk profiles
• Contractual risk exposure
• Contingency requirements
• Commercial implications of various procurement approaches

Our objective is to ensure that risks are allocated to the parties best positioned to manage them while avoiding unnecessary premiums associated with inappropriate risk transfer.

Schedule and Delivery Objectives

Project timing often drives procurement decisions.

We evaluate:

• Design and construction timelines
• Fast-track opportunities
• Early works packages
• Schedule compression strategies
• Procurement impacts on project completion dates
• Critical milestone requirements

Where speed to market is essential, we help clients identify procurement methods that can accelerate project delivery while balancing cost and risk considerations.

Cost Certainty

Different procurement methods provide varying levels of cost certainty.

Our assessments examine:

• Budget reliability
• Pricing transparency
• Change order exposure
• Competitive tendering opportunities
• Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) structures
• Market competitiveness

We help clients understand how procurement decisions will affect overall project pricing and financial certainty.

Client Control and Flexibility

The level of owner involvement is an important consideration when selecting a delivery strategy.

We advise clients on:

• Design control requirements
• Decision making authority
• Flexibility for scope changes
• Level of owner involvement during construction
• Governance requirements
• Stakeholder management considerations

Contract Strategy Advisory

Selecting the right contract is as important as selecting the right procurement method.

We provide expert guidance on industry standard contracts and customized delivery frameworks, including:

Traditional Design-Bid-Build

Suitable where:

• Complete design development is preferred before tendering
• Competitive pricing is a priority
• Maximum owner control over design is required
• Scope is well defined

Design-Build

Suitable where:

• Schedule acceleration is important
• Single point responsibility is desired
• Early construction commencement is beneficial
• Owners are comfortable with reduced design control

Construction Management

Suitable where:

• Fast-track delivery is required
• Flexibility during construction is important
• Collaboration is essential
• Complex phasing or stakeholder management is required

Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Structures

Suitable where:

• Cost certainty is a primary objective
• Early contractor involvement is desired
• Design development may continue during procurement

Collaborative Delivery Models

Including:

• Progressive Design-Build
• Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
• Alliance Contracting
• Public-Private Partnerships (P3)

These approaches may be appropriate for complex projects requiring greater collaboration between stakeholders and more sophisticated risk-sharing arrangements.

Tendering and Procurement Management

Once the procurement strategy has been established, we assist clients throughout the procurement process.

Services include:

• Procurement planning
• Prequalification programs
• Request for Qualifications (RFQ) development
• Request for Proposal (RFP) development
• Tender documentation review
• Bid evaluation criteria development
• Tender management
• Tender analysis
• Contractor evaluation
• Best-value procurement assessments
• Contract award recommendations

Our goal is to ensure a fair, competitive, and transparent procurement process that delivers maximum value to our clients.

Contractor Selection and Best Value Procurement

Lowest price does not always mean best value.

We assist clients in evaluating bids using both financial and non-financial criteria, including:

• Relevant project experience
• Financial strength
• Proposed project team
• Health and safety performance
• Quality management systems
• Construction methodology
• Schedule capability
• Innovation and technology
• Sustainability initiatives
• Past performance

Our structured evaluation processes help clients select contractors that offer the greatest overall value and the highest likelihood of project success.

Market Intelligence and Procurement Risk Analysis

Our Quantity Surveyors maintain an active understanding of:

• Construction market conditions
• Labour availability
• Contractor capacity
• Material pricing trends
• Tendering competition
• Supply chain risks
• Regional construction market dynamics

This insight allows us to advise clients on optimal procurement timing and potential market risks before procurement begins.

Why Choose Our Firm?

Our expertise extends beyond contract administration and cost estimating. We understand how procurement decisions influence every aspect of project delivery.

Clients rely on us because we provide:

• Independent and unbiased advice
• Extensive construction cost expertise
• Deep understanding of procurement strategies
• Strong knowledge of CCDC contracts
• Experience with P3 and collaborative delivery models
• Comprehensive risk analysis
• Tendering and contractor evaluation expertise
• Practical, commercially focused recommendations

Most importantly, we provide advice that is entirely aligned with our clients' interests, not those of contractors or other project participants.

Creating the Right Foundation for Project Success

The most successful projects are often determined long before construction begins. Selecting the right procurement strategy, delivery method, and contract structure can significantly reduce risk, improve cost certainty, and enhance project outcomes.

Our team provides the expertise needed to develop procurement strategies that support successful project delivery from concept through completion.

Contact us to learn how our Procurement Strategy and Contract Advisory Services can help position your next project for success.