Optimised contractor involvement
Optimised contractor involvement (OCI) is a variation of the ‘early contractor involvement’ (ECI) model that has been adopted widely in the infrastructure sector on large and complex projects.
Devised by Steve Rowsell, Procurement Director for Crossrail, OCI is intended to ensure contract packages are subject to effective competition and maximum output with the available resources.
The subtle difference between ECI and OCI is that in ECI, a contractor’s skills are introduced early into a project to bring design buildability and cost efficiencies to the pre-construction phase. In OCI, contractors are brought in at a stage that is late enough for the target price to be quite firm, but early enough for them to be able to influence buildability and value engineering.
ECI has been used on by many public sector construction clients, however, some clients have been reluctant to adopt the strategy because of concerns associated with appointing contractors before permissions such as planning have been granted, and issues to do with attracting accurate and competitive prices from contractors when the design is not yet well advanced.
The OCI approach optimises contractor involvement, rather than simply trying to make it as early as possible, waiting till a point when the contractor is more likely to be able to offer an accurate and competitive price.
The contractor input into the design under OCI generally takes place post contract award, whereas in ECI, it takes place pre-contract award, under an arrangement such as a Pre-Construction Services Agreement.
The OCI approach may adopt a two stage selection process. The first stage is based on an assessment of the contractor’s technical and quality competence. The second stage involves the shortlisted tenderers carrying out a review of the client’s design. The tenderers then submit their final proposals, including a target price.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Renovating Union Chain Bridge.
Robots in the construction industry
From cultural characterisations to construction sites.
Empowering construction with AI integration
New horizons with a human touch.
A Better Hiring Toolkit for construction
Tooling up to hire under best practice standards in the sector.
Recharging Electrical Skills in Wales
Step by step collaborative solutions.
Ireland budget announcement 2025
CIOB responds with positivity, criticism and clarity.
The continued ISG fall out, where to go?
Support for ISG contractors, companies and employees.
New HES national centre for traditional building retrofit
Announced as HES publishes survey results which reveal strong support for retrofit.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Expected to become one of the largest activities in the global construction industry.
Scope determination appeals and the Building Safety Act
Process explained following release of appeals guidance.
The ECA industry focus video channel
Keeping update with the industry session by session.
Over 25 recorded informations sessions freely available.
AT Awards 2024 ceremony East London October 25th.
Revisiting the AT community at the 2023 awards evening.
The Community Housing Fund and built affordable homes
CLTN reviews the impact of the Fund and calls for extension.
The grading system of the Regulator for Social Housing
A background, an explanation and ten recent enforcements.
Construction, repair and maintenance. Book review.
Putting new life into a city with a 1900 year history.
BSRIA Briefing 2024: Sustainable Futures speakers
Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living 22 Nov.