Collaborative procurement in the construction industry
Collaborative procurement, published by Constructing Excellence in 2009, defines collaborative procurement as: 'Two or more organisations (buy side or sell side) that agree to work together having identified the benefits that can be achieved by aligning their purchasing power and resources to deliver financial savings, efficiencies and effectiveness without any detriment to the project(s) and/or service objectives. It is the best use of procurement expertise and resources that eliminates duplicated effort. It should also lead to a collaborative working environment which brings about additional benefits not directly related to the procurement benefits.'
'Collaborative Procurement is an effective way for more than one client, contractor, consultant or supplier to join together to procure works, services, materials or goods, share expertise, promote efficiency and deliver value for money savings in the delivery of a project (or series of projects) or service objectives.'
It suggests that there is some confusion between this and collaborative working, which it defines as: 'Two or more organisations that work together in a collaborative team-based environment to deliver contract or service objectives efficiently and effectively that demonstrate value for money.'
The UN Procurement Practitioner's Handbook, produced by the Interagency Procurement Working Group (IAPWG) in 2006 and updated in 2012, defines collaborative procurement (or common procurement) as: ‘A procurement arrangement in which several (UN) organizations combine their efforts to undertake procurement in cooperation or share the outcome of a procurement process, thereby achieving benefits for the group in its entirety. The objective of collaborative procurement is to achieve reduced price or better service through economies of scale and to reduce inefficiency and duplication across the (UN) organizations.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Global Asbestos Awareness Week 2025
Highlighting the continuing threat to trades persons.
The context, schemes, standards, roles and relevance of the Building Safety Act.
Retrofit 25 – What's Stopping Us?
Exhibition Opens at The Building Centre.
Types of work to existing buildings
A simple circular economy wiki breakdown with further links.
A threat to the creativity that makes London special.
How can digital twins boost profitability within construction?
The smart construction dashboard, as-built data and site changes forming an accurate digital twin.
Unlocking surplus public defence land and more to speed up the delivery of housing.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill
An outline of the bill with a mix of reactions on potential impacts from IHBC, CIEEM, CIC, ACE and EIC.
Farnborough College Unveils its Half-house for Sustainable Construction Training.
Spring Statement 2025 with reactions from industry
Confirming previously announced funding, and welfare changes amid adjusted growth forecast.
Scottish Government responds to Grenfell report
As fund for unsafe cladding assessments is launched.
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Architects Academy at an insulation manufacturing facility
Programme of technical engagement for aspiring designers.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
Life Critical Fire Safety External Wall System LCFS EWS
Breaking down what is meant by this now often used term.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.