Scenario

A university intends to refurbish six student halls of residence. Each hall presently contains 30 study bedrooms, with communal shower, toilet, kitchen and lounge facilities The university wishes to remodel each of the buildings to provide 25 en-suite study bedrooms, together with improved communal kitchen and recreation facilities. The university’s estates management department has prepared preliminary sketch plans for the proposed new internal layouts.

Each of the existing buildings are three storeys, constructed with a reinforced concrete frame, flat roof, brickwork external cladding and blockwork non-loadbearing internal partitions.

The university is considering entering into a contract for the whole of the works with a single contractor to overcome any problems and disputes that may arise.

The university operates an academic year from September to June, but the halls are heavily used to provide accommodation for conference and short-course delegates during the summer vacation. The university is prepared to take up to two halls out of use at any one time, but the closures need to be carefully planned at the commencement of the contract and the university needs to be sure that the planned programme will be achieved. It is also important that the work is defect free on handover, as the university is not prepared to accept the potential disruption caused by workers making good defects after the works have been handed over.

A consultant has already provided initial cost estimates, and the university has used these to set a project budget, which must not be exceeded.

Task

As the consultant working for the client, you have been asked to prepare a report critically analysing the most appropriate procurement route for the project and suitable form of contract.

Your report should include a critical analysis of the following:

• The most appropriate procurement route for the project.
• The most suitable form of contract.