Frameworks Scotland 3: Objectives
Main Objectives
The primary objective for Frameworks Scotland 3 is for a ‘one-stop-shop’ for Principal Supply Chain Partners (PSCPs) to cover all Scotland and to be responsible for delivering both best practice design and best value construction projects via an integrated supply chain. Unlike a simple design and build relationship under traditional contracting, the PSCP has developed long term working relationships with its supply chain and will continue these relationships during the period of the PSCP Framework for the benefit of the NHSScotland. Projects under Frameworks Scotland 3 will be designed and developed in a collaborative working environment with the NHS Board or permitted organisation, the professional advisors and the PSCP’s supply chain.
Each PSCP’s supply chain consists not only of specialist suppliers and sub-contractors which account for the greatest elements of cost during construction, but also designers (including Architects, Structural & Civil Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical and Water Services Engineers) and consultants (including Healthcare Planners, Fire Engineers, Acousticians etc.).
Other key objectives are the achievement of improvements in design quality, design management, construction quality, demonstration of value for money (VfM), customer satisfaction, health and safety and sustainability of NHSScotland publicly funded schemes and to retain and recruit a skilled workforce at all levels.
Frameworks Scotland 3 embraces the principles of collaborative working to ensure that the public and private sector teams work together effectively. This approach is designed to deliver ongoing tangible performance improvements due to repeat work being undertaken by the supply chains, thus ensuring lessons are learned, productivity is increased, knowledge and understanding of the customer drivers are fully understood, and unnecessary cost is removed.
Other key objectives are:
Time:
Time savings offered by Frameworks Scotland 3 include the opportunity to select a Principal Supply Chain Partner (PSCP) within as little as four weeks of the initial issue of the High Level Information Pack (HLIP) through to appointment. Further savings, including savings in tendering and on-site time, offers NHS Board or permitted organisation the chance to open facilities and receive patients six months faster than traditional tendering timescales.
Cost:
An increased cost certainty compared with previous NHSScotland projects. Using tools such as the Target Price and Open Book Accounting, NHS Board or permitted organisation will be able to deliver their projects on budget.
Quality:
Projects are setting world-class standards in building design, materials, finishes, clinical planning and equipment. Early involvement of the supply-chain and key stakeholders enhances quality of design and construction. This resulted in a number of Frameworks Scotland projects receiving Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Excellent ratings, together with numerous Design Awards and commendations, accolades which Frameworks Scotland 3 will build upon.
One of the key drivers for Frameworks Scotland 3 is to improve outputs in quality of the design and construction process. This will be achieved through improved design team engagement and input, and design team inspections during the construction phase. The level of engagement and additional duties placed upon the designers will be stipulated by the Board within the High Level Information Pack (HLIP).
Principal Supply Chain Member (PSCM) designers will be required to provide monthly update reports to the NHSScotland organisation facilitating direct engagement between the NHSScotland organisation and the Design Team. The reports will include but not limited to:
- Design Development and Stakeholder Engagement Update;
- Progress vs. Programme;
- Risks and Issues;
PSCM designers will continue to be engaged through the construction stage undertaking quality monitoring and final certification to the NHSScotland organisation of completion of the building in accordance with the design intent and specification.
Promotion of smarter working practices, including use of partnering and collaboration, performance management, information sharing and project management tools and the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) for better co-ordination of information in the design and construction stages of projects; and delivery of best value. Responding to emerging issues in construction and best practice guidance for the benefit of the NHS Boards.
Contract:
Uses the NEC4 form of contract with a partnering ethos which reflects best practice in the construction industry, joint incentives for both parties and encourages long-term relationships.
Training:
To discuss training around any aspects of Frameworks Scotland 3 and the consultancy frameworks please contact one of the Capital Projects Advisors.
Performance Review:
A standard set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is used to review and measure performance on an ongoing basis. sanctionable
The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be applied in three areas:
- Project Delivery / PSCP Performance;
- NHSScotland Organisation Performance;
- PSCP Sanctions related KPIs.
The KPI data will be collected at pre-determined dates and no less often than on a 6 monthly basis. HFS will be responsible for collating the KPI data with the PSCP’s KPI information shared with the particular NHS Board or other permitted organisations.
Project Bank Accounts (PBAs)
The PSCPs will use Project Bank Accounts (PBAs) as per Scottish Government guidelines to maximise the impact of ongoing investment in the national infrastructure.
A PBA is a bank account governed by a Trust Agreement between the employer and the contractor, with PSCMs joining as named beneficiaries of the PBA Trust Agreement. For those PSCMs above 1% of the Target Price, the PBA will be mandatory and PSCMs below this amount can opt to participate.
PBAs will be in operation in line with the Scottish Government guidelines to maximise the impact of ongoing investment in the national infrastructure.
RICS Conflict Avoidance process
The NEC4 Call-Off contract incorporates conflict avoidance requirements and the use of the RICS Conflict Avoidance Panel (CAP). An escalation process will be adopted where issues or disagreements arise that become difficult or challenging to resolve between the PSCP and the project manager. This escalation process will be mandated and will involve the following:
- the PSCP and Project Board review the issue;
- Senior NHS Board or permitted organisation Management / Framework Customer Management and Health Facilities Scotland (HFS) review the issue;
- RICS Conflict Avoidance Panel reviews the issue;
- Adjudication process.
This process must be followed for any dispute and neither party may skip a step in the process. A jointly agree list of CAP specialists has been agreed between HFS and the PSCPs. If called upon, a CAP specialist will be appointed from the list to undertake the Conflict Avoidance Process. They will consist of a panel of one and will contain the relevant skills, expertise, experience and knowledge in relation to the dispute. All associated costs will be split 50/50 between the NHS Board or permitted organisation and the PSCP.
BIM (Building Information Modelling)
PSCPs will deliver any project under Frameworks Scotland 3 to a BIM Level 2 maturity through the delivery of a complete and validated “as-built” Project Information Model (PIM). The PIM shall be progressively developed and delivered to the NHSScotland organisation through a series of defined information exchanges aligned with and to support decision making of the Scottish Capital Investment Manual (SCIM) process. Where appropriate, for example refurbishment projects, the PSCP will also be responsible for any data capture of existing facilities though laser scanning or other appropriate methodology to inform any early technical decision making and support the modelling process
HFS have defined BIM Level 2 maturity as the generation and management of structured information models comprising all named data-sets used throughout the life cycle of a health-care built asset.
The information models created by the PSCP and their supply chain will include a series of domain and collaborative federated models. The models will consist of both object-oriented 3D geometrical and non-graphical data prepared and managed within the context of a Common Data Environment (CDE). Using agreed information exchanges, project participants will have the means necessary to provide defined and validated outputs via digital transactions in a structured and reusable form. Appropriate and proportionate measures will be applied to manage the security risks that affect the built asset, asset data and information.
Construction Health and Safety Management
PSCPs operate, and ensure that sub-contractors, if applicable, operate, a health, safety and welfare management system.
SSiP (Safety Schemes in Procurement)
As a general requirement Health Facilities Scotland (HFS) require that PSCPs to operate, and ensure that sub-contractors, if applicable, operate, a health, safety and welfare management system and each of the PSCPs and any sub-contractors must obtain and maintain an appropriate registration with an SSiP Forum accreditation organisation. PSCPs with OHSAS 18001 accreditation as an alternative to SSiP are deemed to have fulfilled the requirement subject to maintenance of relevant registration. PSCPs also ensure that all their sub-contractors maintain such registration / certification for the duration of the Framework Agreement.
PSCPs successfully appointed to schemes following Call-Off will be required to act as Principal Contractor and Principal Designer.
SCIM (Scottish Capital Investment Manual
PSCPs are required to be and remain conversant with the requirements of SCIM and have the capability, where relevant to their role, to be able to support NHS Boards and other permitted organisations with their relevant obligations under SCIM, including submission of Strategic Assessments (SA) as part of Property and Asset Management Strategy (PAMS) reporting, the development of business cases at Initial Agreement (IA), Outline Business Case (OBC) and Full Business Case (FBC) Stages.
SCIM and related policy also requires that sustainability factors are measurable within construction projects, and therefore New Build and Refurbishment projects to be instructed under the Framework Agreement over £2m in value will be required to achieve “Excellent” and “Very Good” BREEAM ratings respectively. If the anticipated values of projects which are undertaken pursuant to Scheme Contracts are less than £2m, PSCPs in liaison with the relevant NHS Board or other permitted organisations, should undertake a BREEAM pre-assessment to establish whether BREEAM is a viable option.
HAI SCRIBE (Healthcare Associated Infection System for Controlling Risk in the Built Environment)
HAI-SCRIBE was developed to fully ascertain and manage the risks associated with infection. It is necessary to have a procedure that allows for the assessment and review of potential infection control risks throughout all operations within the built environment. HAI-SCRIBE aims to reduce infection hazards through the use of a prevention and control of infection questionnaire using a number of scenarios within the built healthcare environment.
Contract Administration (NEC4)
The established Health Facilities Scotland (HFS) NEC4 contract administration pro-formas must be utilised on all scheme contracts in order for PSCPs and their PSCMs, together with appointed consultants to communicate effectively.
Collaborative Working
HFS requires all PSCPs and their PSCMs to enter into the spirit of collaborative working. The following key areas highlight where PSCPs and their PSCMs work together and with the NHS in Scotland ultimately demonstrating VfM and continuous improvement:
- Standardisation of briefing and design information
- Sharing of project information in particular innovation and best practice
- Continuous Improvement and achieving quality outcomes
- Development of design information to BIM Level 2 on projects
- The use of PBAs
Data sheets, drawings, details and specifications required to be shared at framework level are available, where relevant, via the HFS Frameworks Scotland 3 website Members’ Area of the web site.
Sustainability
The Scottish Government has a single purpose to ‘focus Government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth.’ The Scottish Government has outlined five (5) strategic objectives that underpin its purpose to achieve a Scotland that is a Wealthier, Fairer, Smarter, Healthier, Safer and Stronger and Greener place to live in.
Community Benefits
Community benefits are a key component in maximising social, economic, and environmental benefits within construction. The Review of Public Sector Procurement in Construction, recommended the need to improve how community benefits were included within construction contracts.