Enhancing the effectiveness of design and build tendering.

Design and Build is a range of procurement routes believed to effectively transmit client value through the supply chain owing to its integrative nature. However, the tender process is characterised as complex and there is a lack of practical guidance for practitioners. The aim of this research is to critically evaluate Design and Build Tendering in the UK construction industry using a modified grounded theory methodology and mixed-method approach. A number of important themes emerged during the analysis.Client-main contractor tender processes were mapped and several areas of best practice were articulated. Alternatives and menu pricing emerged as being important as they allow contractors to add value in developed forms of Design and Build. In addition, a Value Management-based tender evaluation process was developed which more closely relates the client's value system to the selection of the main contractor. The study of main contractor-subcontractor tender processes and contractor-centric SCM was carried out using a case study. It was found that effective tender processes overwhelmingly rely on healthy relationships. The properties found to be necessary to cultivate and maintain these relationships include trust, communication, collaboration, commitment, integrity and honesty, concern for each other's interests, recognition and incentives, and transferability. Similarly, a number of important findings relating to the actual tender processes emerged including, for example, 'secondary sendouts' and unsolicited tenders. This research represents a unique synthesis of Design and Build tendering, VM and SCM. It provides numerous and significant contributions to knowledge in the field by focusing on the different levels of the supply chain. The research highlights the importance of transitioning client value through the wider supply chain by focusing on main contractor-subcontractor tender processes, in addition to the client-main contractor tender process. It draws on a number of new findings to make the case for contractor-centric SCM. The number of recommendations which are made for Design and Build tendering strategy, at both the client-main contractor and main contractor-subcontractor level of the supply chain, will collectively help enhance the effectiveness of Design and Build tendering.