If we take a closer into the government’s construction program, which constitutes a bulk of the financial obligations and spending of the government; it becomes clear that construction projects and physical assets in the country have been facing perennial issues.

These issues have negatively impacted the State development plan and led to financial burdens, which have resulted in massive losses for the national economy. These issues include, but are not limited to the following:

• Improper facilities planning,
• Delayed projects delivery,
• Large number of variation orders,
• Unprecedented number of claim disputes,
• Below average construction quality,
• Lack of efficiency and sustainability,
• Unsatisfactory operational performance.

Despite the tremendous efforts of concerned government authorities to address these issues, they have failed to achieve breakthrough results and comprehensive solutions. Most of the time, temporary measures are taken quickly in response to a crisis or escalated case.

At this point, it is vital to deal with the current situation, and take immediate and long-term steps to address perennial issues at the very early stage of the project; particularly during planning, design, tendering, execution and operation phases.

Following are the reasons:

• Project management processes and procedures,
• Facilities management processes and procedures,
• Improper saving methodologies,
• Professional practices and competencies,
• Bylaws
• Building codes

Project management processes and procedures: If we review the duties of engineers in government and private entities who are responsible for the execution of construction projects, we will realize that their main functions include representing the project‘s sponsor, implementing the construction contract, ensuring completion of the project in accordance with the timetable and objectives, assessing commitment to contractual requirements and monitoring cash flow.

The tasks of the project manager are as follows:

• Conduct project needs assessment and analysis,
• Assist in identifying optimum delivery methods,
• Apply proper tools and techniques in the form of written work processes and procedures,
• Design, review and coordination,
• Manage tendering and awarding procedures,
• Contract administration,
• Utilize computer-aided management program to plan and control the scope to ensure completion of the project on time and within the budget,
• Apply quality parameters and achieve added value in accordance with the specifications, • Prepare consultancy and construction contracts,
• Performance measures and auditing,
• Manage project risks.

Facilities management processes and procedures: If we analyze the duties and asses the nature of tasks carried out by professionals working in facilities services departments in government and private entities, we will see that their main functions are to represent the facility owners, manage support services contracts to ensure the service providers execute the work in compliance with contractual requirements, and monitor and review cash flow.

The facilities manager perform the following:

• Conduct facilities services needs assessment and analysis,
• Assist in identifying the facilities services optimum delivery methods,
• Apply proper tools and techniques in the form of written work processes and procedures,
• Manage facilities services tendering and awarding procedures,
• Service contracts administration,
• Utilize computer-aided management program to plan, coordinate and integrate support services to ensure service delivery on time and within the budget,
• Apply quality parameters and achieve added value in accordance with the specifications, • Service contracts performance measures and auditing,
• Manage facilities risks.

Improper saving methodologies: If we shed light on the saving and cost-reduction methodologies applied by government and private entities; it is clear that the traditional approach is still being used rather than new and modern techniques based on the concepts of value, effectiveness, quality and efficiency, without realizing the difference between ‘savings’ and ‘cost-reduction’.

It is also clear that traditional tendering and awarding procedures, which entail choosing the lowest bidder, are still utilized. This has negatively affected the quality, efficiency and sustainability of projects and facilities. So far, we have outlined the main issues that public and private projects sponsors in the country usually face during design, tendering, construction and operational phases.

Conclusion: What if the project sponsor and facility owner raises the flag, asking for help? Would project and facilities management consulting companies in the country respond to the call and achieve added value?
By Osama I. Alduaij
Government Procurement & Public Tenders Expert
email: osama. [email protected]