Gold Standard launched to improve construction procurement

The following press release was shared by Constructing Excellence to announce the official launch. All images used on this page are with their consent, and we have included links to find out more about our involvement with the Gold Standard, and our frameworks.

On 1^st November 2023 Constructing Excellence, in collaboration with Kings College London, launched an independent verification scheme called ‘Constructing the Gold Standard’, to ensure that Government and the wider public sector adopt urgent recommendations for improved value, reduced risks and achievement of net zero on all their construction projects.

‘Constructing the Gold Standard’ or 'the Gold Standard' outlines an integrated and collaborative approach to framework procurement, contracting and management. The Government has already started implementing all its recommendations and the Gold Standard was endorsed in the September 2022 update of the ‘Construction Playbook’.

The scheme will be vital to ensuring the Government and the wider public sector adopt urgent recommendations for improved value, reduced risks and achievement of net zero on all their construction projects.

In 2021, Professor David Mosey CBE was asked by the Cabinet Office to carry out an Independent Review of Public Sector Construction Frameworks. He consulted 120 organisations and ‘Constructing the Gold Standard’ is the result of his work.

Professor Mosey CBE found that over 2,000 public sector construction frameworks are currently active, some of which deliver improved value and enable excellent project outcomes, while many others are less ambitious and less successful.

‘Constructing the Gold Standard’ sets out 24 recommendations to help clients identify what questions they should ask when creating and implementing construction frameworks and alliances, what answers they should expect, and guidance on how they can make informed decisions.

This Constructing Excellence verification scheme is an objective system for recognising and supporting framework providers and clients who offer Gold Standard frameworks, framework contracts and action plans.

He continues by saying: "Integrated framework alliance contracts, the application of digital information management and the implementation of urgent action plans under existing long term contracts are among the recommendations that the construction sector and its clients should implement to achieve the Gold Standard."

The scheme verifies claims made by framework providers and clients who procure their own frameworks and alliances. It also provides a measure of quality for clients who use frameworks and for suppliers who bid for frameworks.

Seven clients and framework providers are currently piloting the scheme:

• The Ministry of Justice
• Environment Agency
• SCAPE
• Communities and Housing Investment Consortium (CHIC)
• LHC
• Places for People and
• Crown Commercial Service (CCS)

We believe this new standard will be of considerable benefit to public sector clients, providing an enhanced level of clarity, consistency and compliance around the processes of framework operation.

Noting that no public sector framework provider can achieve the Gold Standard until Spring 2024 at the earliest, we are working closely with Constructing Excellence and Professor David Mosey CBE's team following our application for verification. Further information on this will be released in due course.