Written Answer by Ministry of National Development on evaluation of civil engineering project tenders

Jul 10, 2018

Miss Cheng Li Hui: To ask the Minister for National Development in light of the collapse of the viaduct near the PIE exit to TPE in 2017 

a) how are civil engineering project tenders evaluated; 

b) what is the weightage given to price, design quality and safety standards in the evaluation; 

c) whether enhancing spot checks and inspections will deter and prevent works that are carried out without the approval of the Commissioner of Building Control; and 

d) how does the Ministry conduct its independent design checks to safeguard public safety for all Government projects.

Answer: 

The public sector procurement framework ensures that construction tenders, including civil engineering projects, are evaluated in a fair, transparent and competitive manner, while taking into account considerations such as quality and safety.  

Government agencies adopt the Price Quality Method framework to evaluate construction tenders, including civil engineering projects, with estimated procurement value of $3 million and above.  These tenders are evaluated based on both price and non-price criteria.  For civil engineering tenders, the weightage allocated to non-price attributes such as design quality and safety varies from 30% to 50%.  

Agencies have the flexibility to determine the weightage allocated to non-price attributes, and the allocation to each attribute, depending on project complexity and specific project requirements.

For any development involving structural works, there are several layers of checks and controls.  At the design stage, the developer must appoint a Qualified Person, or QP, to design the structure in accordance with the relevant codes and requirements to ensure safety.  Further, the developer must also appoint an Accredited Checker to review the QP’s design and check on all key structural elements, before the structural design plan is submitted to BCA.  In addition, for every submission, BCA will conduct a sampling check of the plans and design calculations of selected key structural elements, to ascertain that the QP and the AC have carried out the design and checks in accordance to the building control legislative requirements. 

At the construction stage, the builder has to carry out structural works under the supervision of a QP and a team of site supervisors.  This is to ensure that the structural works are carried out according to the approved plans.  BCA also conducts targeted inspections on structural works.  Upon completion of the works, the QP and the builder have to certify that the structural works have been built in accordance with approved plans and building regulations.  BCA will take enforcement action against any party who contravenes the regulations.