Best value
The term ‘value’ relates to the benefits brought by something in relation to the resources needed to achieve it. Value for money (VfM), relates to the optimum balance between the benefits expected from something and the resources expended in its delivery. Value for money is sometimes expressed as a ratio between a function and the whole life cost for that function.
The similar term ‘best value’ (BV) refers to the most advantageous combination of the whole-life cost, quality (fitness for purpose) and sustainability (in terms of the economic, social and environmental benefits) available to meet client requirements.
Best value is often referred to in relation to the procurement system introduced in the UK by the Local Government Act 1999, which charged local and national government with a general duty of obtaining best value by ‘…securing continuous improvement in the way in which its functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness.’
The Act was introduced as a manifesto commitment of the Labour government following years of compulsory competitive tendering under the previous Conservative government, and was intended to improve the quality and delivery of public services by preventing local and national government clients simply opting for the lowest cost options, as this did not always provide the optimum long-term solution.
An important aspect of best value procurement is the examination of prospective suppliers against a range of pre-defined criteria. Values can be assigned to factors such as price, past performance, relevant experience, technical ability, sustainability, health and safety, innovation, resource availability, management skills and systems, proposed methodology, and so on. The bid evaluation criteria and their respective weightings give expression to the perception of what represents the best value to the client. The supplier achieving the highest score may then be appointed.
However, the best value approach was seen by some to increase bureaucracy, and in 2011, the coalition government introduced guidance that went some way to watering down the requirements of the Act.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Appointing consultants.
- Auction theory.
- Balanced scorecard.
- Best value procurement.
- Bid strategies.
- Budget.
- Competitive tender.
- Construction contract.
- Cost vs price.
- Cost-benefit analysis in construction.
- Expression of interest.
- Invitation to tender.
- Key performance indicators.
- Mid tender interview.
- Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT).
- OJEU.
- Overcoming difficulties in value management.
- PAS 91.
- Pre tender interview.
- Price.
- Procurement route.
- Public procurement.
- Reverse auction.
- Selection criteria.
- The benefits of e-procurement in construction.
- Tender documentation.
- Tender evaluation.
- Tender processes.
- Tender.
- Unit price.
- Value engineering.
- Value management techniques.
- Value management.
- Value planning.
- Variant bid.
- Whole life costs.
- Why the lowest price isn't sustainable.
Featured articles and news
The benefits of writing articles for your organisation
How to create a profile for your organisation and publish for free.
No Falls Week. The importance of safe working at height
What to expect and what is on offer to avoid accidents.
Scottish Government action to reach net-zero targets
Retrofit expert group highlight critical actions needed.
A forward thinking, inclusive global community of members.
From engineered product life-spans, to their extension.
Circular economy in the built environment
A brief description from 2021. Where are we now?
Mental Health Awareness Week with ABS
Architects Benevolent Society programme of activity.
CLC publishes domestic retrofit competency framework
Roadmap of Skills for net zero.
May 13-19: Moving more for our mental health.
Understanding is key to conservation.
Open industry engagement survey seeks responses
Institutions and the importance of engagement.
National Retrofit Hub unveils new guide
Digital Building Logbooks and Retrofit: An Introduction.
Enhancing construction site reporting efficiency
Through digitisation and the digital revolution.
Noise in the built environment
BSRIA guide TG 20/2021.
17,000 people suffer conditions as a result of exposure to excessive noise at work.
Turning down the noise: Auditory health
A pervasive risk with far-reaching consequences.
Getting the most out of heat pumps and heating
How heat pumps work and how they work best.
Electrotechnical excellence, now open for entries.