Single stage vs two stage tendering - procurement process (2024)

In difficult times, it is easy to understand why construction contractors may cut prices to win work.

I should start by saying that profit shouldn't be a dirty word in the construction industry - after all, businesses need cashflow to survive and to ensure that they remain engaged with their supply chain. However, recent figures within the sector have given some to question the sustainability of such rates, and whether the method of procurement has been a contributor.

In essence, there are two main procurement routes; single stage and two stage tendering.

Single stage tendering

Single-stage tendering, also known as traditional tendering, is when a client issues a tender for the whole project, with all the relevant information provided at the point of issue. The process seeks to ensure that the client is able to secure a competitive price and to this end, the contractor may decide to price aggressively in order to secure the project.

It can be an efficient route to obtaining a contractor. However, if elements from the project specification are missing or are unclear, it can lead to adjustments being made later in the contract, and the final account may be very different as unforeseen costs mount up. The added pressure may mean contractors look for ways to cut costs, possibly at the expense of quality.

The process also means clients are unable to benefit from early contractor engagement. As the process can take a long time and contractors are increasingly reluctant to engage in single stage tenders due to the bidding risks,

Single stage vs two stage tendering - procurement process (1)

Two stage tendering

Two-stage tendering involves an initial information stage, facilitating early collaboration between client and contractor. For most projects, and especially for those that are more complex, it is useful to obtain input before there is sufficient information available for the main contract. This enables early input between the main contractor and client, helping to ensure design and cost certainty, accelerating the project timescales.

This initial phase allows the contractor to submit details under a pre-construction agreement and includes aspects regarding project preliminaries, method statements, design, overheads, and profit.

Ideally, the second stage of the process is then simply a exercise, using the criteria agreed in the first stage. In reality however, there may be some items not previously considered, around which negotiations will ensue. These typically include where sub-contractors are used. The second stage construction contract is negotiated by the main contractor, and subject to the approval of the design team.

Single stage vs two stage tendering - procurement process (2)

The collaborative approach that the two stage procurement process promotes ensures that both the client and contractor can benefit from better outcomes. It also negates the need for value engineering to reduce cost.

Working with SCAPE is all about partnership and our Construction, Civil Engineering and Consultancy frameworks actively encourage and promote early contractor engagement and the two stage tender process.

As part of our framework process, we invite potential delivery partners to submit bids based on a quality vs price ratio of 70:30 respectively. This emphasis on quality enables our clients to benefit from delivery partners who focus on ensuring the best possible outcomes, whilst also maximising social value, sustainability, environmental and socio-economic benefits that leave lasting legacies in our local communities.

The price element focuses on assessing for NEC based project agreements, including overhead and profit percentages. Charges for life-cycle, design management, pre-construction and people rates are then included within project agreements - typically, around 10% of the project value. With overhead and profit rates fixed for the framework term, clients receive protection from rising market forces.

In addition, SCAPE delivery partners are required to demonstrate, with a full explanation of their logic and assumptions, how they have derived at the tendered charges, rates and percentages.

SCAPE procurement stages:

Stage one

Our frameworks are direct award meaning that our clients benefit from early contractor engagement, which facilitates effective communication and collaboration. This is essentially stage one and ensures the client, contractor and wider stakeholders are fully committed to delivering the best possible outcome.

Stage two

The second stage involves both the contractor and client engaging to fully price the project. In this instance, the SCAPE framework requires the delivery partner to obtain three quotes for each package of works and to evidence value for money. This is true for both option A and C contracts, although the very nature of the option C contract facilitates greater visibility.

Far from promoting a race to the bottom, SCAPE frameworks focus on quality outcomes for clients, evidencing value for money whilst encouraging early contractor engagement and helping clients accelerate projects with collaboration, creating time and saving costs.

Single stage vs two stage tendering - procurement process (2024)

FAQs

Which is the most preferred method of tendering? ›

The most common type of tendering, and the preferred method in public procurement, is the open tender.

What are the two stages of procurement? ›

In essence, there are two main procurement routes; single stage and two stage tendering.

How many stages are in the tendering process? ›

Tenders are usually conducted in four stages: Prequalification; the issue of tender documents; receipt and review of tenders; award of contract.

What is single stage bidding? ›

Single-Stage: One-Envelope Bidding Procedure

Bidders submit bids in one envelope containing both the price proposal and the technical proposal. The envelopes are opened in public at the date and time advised in the bidding document.

Which procurement method is best? ›

For developers that specialize in larger, complex projects and that have internal management resources, construction management may be the best procurement method. In this system, developers sub-contract every aspect of the project to the lowest and most qualified bidder.

What is the best procurement process? ›

An effective procurement process involves in-depth understanding of requirements by all business units, identifying the right supplier for meeting those requirements, periodically evaluating supplier performance, and negotiating contracts that can provide the highest value at minimum cost.

What is single stage and two-stage tendering? ›

The main aim of the single-stage approach is to generate a firm price at the outset through a competitive tendering process, where-as the two-stage approach embraces a collaborative open book approach throughout the project.

How does a 2 stage tender work? ›

Under a two-stage tender, the client tenders the project based on an outline design only. The contractors respond with their proposed fee for profit and overhead and sometimes their proposed lump sum for the cost of preliminary items.

What is two-stage bidding in procurement? ›

First stage responsive bidders are then invited to submit technical and financial proposals based on the amended technical specifications and scope of work. (ii)In the second stage, responsive bidders submit technical and financial proposals as requested.

What are the two types of tendering? ›

3 Types of the Tendering Methods in 2022. Most contractors limit the range of available tendering methods to three of the most popular and efficient ones. They are open, selective, and negotiated tender approaches.

What are the different types of procurement processes? ›

There are three main types of procurement activities: direct procurement, indirect procurement, and services procurement.

What is the difference between a single stage and a multi stage? ›

A one-stage compressor has one or more cylinders each of which compresses air from atmospheric pressure to operational pressure. A multi-stage compressor has two or more cylinders connected in series in which air is gradually compressed to the final pressure.

What is single tender procurement? ›

A Single Tender Action is the awarding of a Contract to a contractor without undertaking a competitive tendering exercise. EMD is not applicable for Single Tender Enquiry. 2. EMD is not applicable for OEM/ OES participating in Open/ Limited tenders for procurement of Spare parts fortheir equipment.

What is L1 L2 & L3 in bidding? ›

What is L1 L2 L3 in tenders? A. In a financial tender evaluation, the lowest commercial bid is marked as L1, the second lowest as L2, and so on.

Which procurement method is the most commonly used today? ›

General contracting is the most popular and widely used method of construction procurement. It involves a company or individual delivering a design for the contractor to build. This procurement method is great when the design has been completed before the project begins.

What is the golden rule of procurement? ›

Timing: The golden rule is don't rush. All too often, procurement is rushed through because existing contracts are coming to a renewal point. RPs should be considering a re-procurement exercise a minimum of twelve months before the deadline to allow for clear strategic thinking before putting pen to paper on the brief.

What is the best value procurement method? ›

Best value (BV) procurement is an alternative to the traditional design-bid-build method of public works contracting. It permits UC to consider the additional value a contractor may offer in concert with their bid price, thus determining the bid which delivers the best value.

What are the 3 main procurement routes? ›

There are three different procurement routes to choose from:
  • competitive procedure with negotiation (CPN)
  • competitive dialogue (CD)
  • innovation partnership (IP).

What is the most challenging part of the procurement process? ›

Risk mitigation

Supply risk is always a major challenge in the procurement process. Market risks, potential frauds, cost, quality, and delivery risks constitute the most common type of risks. Additionally, compliance risks like anti-corruption, policy adherence, and more keep your procurement leaders up all night.

What is the most important thing in procurement? ›

One of the most important procurement department functions is to purchase goods, services or works from external sources. It plays a vital part in the company's overall business strategy as it requires strategic planning to acquire these things at the best possible cost.

What is the difference between single stage and two-stage heating? ›

When the thermostat calls for heat, a single-stage furnace will always run at full blast until your home reaches the desired temperature. On the other hand, a two-stage furnace has two heating modes: high (100% capacity) and low (60–70% capacity, depending on the model).

What is the two-stage process? ›

A two-stage production process assumes that the first stage transforms external inputs to a number of intermediate measures, which then are used as inputs to the second stage that produces the final outputs.

What is difference between single stage and two-stage heat pump? ›

A single stage-compressor only lets the heat pump cool/heat at full blast. A two-stage compressor allows the heat pump to cool or heat at different levels: High (full blast) and low for milder days. OK, so what's the big deal about two-stage? Well two-stage heat pumps run more often, while using less energy.

What is single source procurement? ›

Definition: A Single Source procurement is one in which two or more vendors can supply the commodity, technology and /or perform the services required by an agency, but the department selects one vendor over the others.

What is two stage RFQ? ›

The Two-Stage RFQ functionality enables you to evaluate supplier responses in the technical and the commercial stage based on the scoring criteria that you enter while creating a Two-Stage RFQ.

What is single bid and two bid system? ›

Both technical and commercial bids are opened together for the purpose of evaluation and award. Single Stage Two Bid System: Bid system in which requirements are issued to vendors in forms of tender/enquiry and vendors to submit both their technical and commercial Bid together.

What is stage tendering? ›

Traditionally, two-stage tendering refers to a tender process that is split into two stages: the first stage being to select a contractor to enter into a pre-construction services agreement (PCSA) following a competitive tender and the second stage being the performance of the pre-construction services under the terms ...

What are the 2 types of contracts and what is the difference? ›

There are different types of contracts, and each determines the rights and duties of both sides. A specific type of contract regulates the risks and expenses for the contractor. Two different kinds of groups of contracts are fixed price contracts and cost-reimbursem*nt contracts.

What are the two main types of purchasing contracts? ›

The main types of procurement contracts include: Fixed price contracts. Cost-reimbursable contracts.

What is the final stage in a procurement process? ›

Stage 5: Finalize a purchase order

After the final contract has been approved, the next order of business is the purchase order (PO). The contract typically governs the full buyer/supplier relationship, while a purchase order zooms in on a specific purchase.

What are the five main processes in procurement? ›

There are 5 steps in the procurement lifecycle:
  • Requirements.
  • Vendor selection.
  • Negotiation and contracting.
  • Service delivery and performance monitoring.
  • Renewal/contract closure.

What are the 4 types of procurement? ›

Types of Procurement
  • Direct procurement. This type of procurement refers to anything that is required to produce an end product. ...
  • Indirect Procurement. ...
  • Goods procurement. ...
  • Services Procurement.

What are the two main types of procurement in SAP? ›

Types of Procurement's
  • Procurement for stock: This type of procurement is made mostly to fulfill the requirements of production. Raw materials or components required for production will be procured and stocked. ...
  • Procurement for consumption: This type of procurement is used when the goods bought were directly consumed.
Oct 18, 2018

What is procurement process model? ›

A PPM is the visual representation of the sequence of activities that constitute purchasing and supply management. Such a visual representation can be a tool in teaching PSM since it gives students an overview of an otherwise intangible process.

Why open tendering is the most preferred method in public procurement? ›

Open tenders have no allocated minimum expenditure amount whereas the maximum is determined by the budget allocated for the particular procurement. Open Tenders are underlined by the fundamental principle of allowing a free and fair chance of participation by everyone.

What are methods of tendering? ›

There are three types of tendering methods in construction – by open tendering, selective tendering, or by negotiation. Tendering methods are selected based on requirements of construction contracts.

Which type of tender form is mostly used by government? ›

Open tender

Open tendering is the main tendering procedures employed by both the government and private sector.

What are the two main approaches to tendering? ›

Open Tendering: Where a Notice of Proposed Procurement (NPP) is published and any supplier may submit a bid; Open Tendering is the preferred approach. Selective Tendering: May involve the use of a one-time list of prequalified suppliers or the use of a permanent list of prequalified suppliers.

Which procurement activity is the most important? ›

One of the most important procurement department functions is to purchase goods, services or works from external sources. It plays a vital part in the company's overall business strategy as it requires strategic planning to acquire these things at the best possible cost.

What is single and two stage tender? ›

The main aim of the single-stage approach is to generate a firm price at the outset through a competitive tendering process, where-as the two-stage approach embraces a collaborative open book approach throughout the project.

How many types of tendering are there? ›

In India there are various types of tenders like open tender, selective tender, serial tender, negotiated tender and term tender.

What is single tender? ›

Single tender procurement is the action of awarding a contract, without undertaking a competitive tendering exercise. However, it still needs to comply with the main stays of any spend of public funds: The spend has been for the purpose intended by parliament.

What is two stage tendering? ›

What is two stage tendering? Two stage tendering is typically used for design and build projects and involves engaging a contractor at a much earlier stage of a project. Stage 1: the employer tenders the project on the basis of an incomplete design, price and programme prepared by the employer's professional team.

What is L1 L2 L3 in tender? ›

As per the tender document, the price quoted by L1 vendor will be offered to L2 and L3 vendor provided they are willing to provide supply at L1 rates. If L2 and L3 vendors are not willing, offer will be given to L4, L5 vendors and so on.

What is a tender process in procurement? ›

A tender document is created at the beginning stages of the procurement process. It is a request written by buyers detailing the goods, works or services that they require and the criteria on which they will award the contract to a supplier or suppliers.

What is the 80/20 rule in procurement? ›

The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 Rule, refers to a statistical regularity observed in a number of areas. According to this rule, 80% of overall value comes from 20% of the most important items.

What are the 3 types of procurement? ›

There are three main types of procurement activities: direct procurement, indirect procurement, and services procurement.

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