By Jaap Huisman
Strukton’s Erik Hermsen on the subject of the initial projects:
“PPPs offer small businesses in particular a chance.”
If it were up to Strukton, the percentage of projects eligible for integrated contracting would be raised to around a quarter or even a third. Erik Hermsen, integrated projects manager, also thinks that complicated projects, city centre restructuring and historical buildings are suitable for PPPs, and not solely ‘greenfield projects’, as Ryan van de Ven of the Government Buildings Agency describes the package: “The Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management put the Second Coen Tunnel out to public tender. This basically comes down to area management, which is no simple task either.”
Strukton is a member of the Safire consortium that ‘won’ the Ministry of Finance tender. The construction of KV7, as the project is officially known, is already in full swing. What is the preliminary conclusion? It is proceeding more favourably than ever expected, in Mr Hermsen’s opinion: “The client gives you substantial scope, and offers us the opportunity to supply even greater quality. This applies not only to new technologies in the case of systems, but also the option of placing more emphasis on innovation. The user comes out better off in the long run. Since the consortium bears responsibility, the contract states what sort of performance is to be supplied and how it is to be measured. This also offers a measure of security for the future.”
One common complaint is that small businesses and architects’ offices are passed by in the case of integrated contracting. Mr Hermsen does not share this view: “We are basically obliged to cooperate with others, which is to everyone’s benefit. Things largely depend on the client’s envisaged level of ambition. And they certainly don’t play it safe in every case. As architects, Meyer and Van Schooten had no experience whatsoever of either renovation or government buildings. It was therefore quite a brave move on our part to propose the designers of the ING ‘shoe’, as it is popularly known, for the renovation of the Ministry of Finance. It is also the aim of the Government Buildings Agency and the government architect to engage the appropriate architect for a project. I therefore consider it inappropriate to draw up a limited list of twenty architects for a consortium to choose from. This is nothing short of excluding candidates.”
Ambitions
Strukton is also among the three consortiums to have reached the shortlist for PPP Groningen. The difference between this and the Ministry of Finance was that it was based on ‘dialogue aimed at promoting competition’ and that selection based on quality took place much earlier in the process. “The proposals are therefore much more in line with the ambitions, while candidates are not kept ‘hanging on,’ to put it bluntly. The consortiums were asked to present a clear vision.”
The assessment criteria vary from one project to another. “In the case of a detention centre at Rotterdam Airport, security was naturally paramount, while in Groningen, the layout of public space was a major issue. In our experience, the considerations are well weighed up for each project.”
On weighing up the matter, Mr Hermsen came to the conclusion that the benefits of PPP far outweigh the drawbacks. One major advantage is that market parties are asked to share thoughts on a possible solution at a much earlier stage of proceedings than previously. “This may ultimately lead to a reduction in the construction costs, as there is scope to consider alternatives. Another major advantage is the level of cooperation, not solely with the client, but also other companies. One can now offer a genuinely full service organisation. PPP does call for more consultation, however.” One of the disadvantages is that the threshold for an integrated contract is higher than that for a traditional tender. “Consortiums have to spend a great deal of time and money on their bids. This places certain demands on capacity, and therefore obliges you to carefully choose which projects to participate in. You have to consider what you can actually handle.” The suggestion that small businesses don’t have a chance is simply not true. “Otherwise they would not have been involved in such major projects as Groningen and the Ministry of Finance. Consortiums are actually more inclined to choose small, specialist agencies with a view to prompting unexpected solutions. One constantly has to seek new powers of distinction.”
Mr Hermsen also envisages further opportunities for more standardised contracts, once integrated contracting really catches on. The threshold of €40 to €50 million could easily be lowered a little, in his opinion, as the projects in question need not necessarily be buildings: “Infrastructure, area development, everything is possible. And I can even envisage a time when clients will be less focused on detail and more on the basics.”
Source:
Bron: SMAAK, blad voor de Rijkshuisvesting nr. 33