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LAPN SMARTER PROCUREMENT

LAPN - SMARTER PROCUREMENT

Building a better future for residents

Open book Target Cost Managers (circa 40k 55k)

We are looking for skilled cost managers who may have a quantity surveying background to work with our existing team developing and managing our members open-book interests. See the jobs page for more information.

Cost Managers Job Advert

Added 27^th May

LAPN Issues advice on spotting Bid Rigging

Following the OFTs investigation into bid rigging all contractors on the LAPN frameworks have been contacted to confirm that their bids to obtain a place on the framework contracts were genuine and non-collusive and LAPN have received assurances to this effect. LAPN members are also taking action regarding contractors appointed outside the LAPN frameworks. LAPNs Managing Director, Peter Woolliscroft, is confident that both the procurement and the contractual provisions fro LAPN framework contractors will protect LAPN members from unfair practices.

However, as a further measure, LAPN has written to its advisors to draw their attention to this issue and the OFTs guidance on this matter and to ask that they ensure that they do everything possible to prevent and report any suspicious behaviour on the part of the contractors working for LAPN members.

Full details of this can be found in Latest News or click on the link below

Advice on spotting Bid Rigging

Added 19 May

LAPN Receive Reassurance from Framework Contractors

LAPN Chief Executive Peter Woolliscroft has sought and received reassurance from the contractors on LAPNs main frameworks that they will not engage in Cover pricing.

Peter Woolliscroft, Managing Director of LAPN said I am saddened at the need to request such a commitment however the industry as a whole has been the cause of concern for many public sector clients and for my part as MD of LAPN I need to reassure my members that the firms we have on our frameworks are dedicated to the client integration programme and would not find it necessary to stoop to such practices.

Full details of this can be found in Latest News or click on the link below

:image=bulletpanel.gif: Press Release no collusion - promise

Added 9 May

Smarter Procurement team

LAPN today issues updated contact details for its Smarter Procurement team. The newest member, Sharai Manyande

(front second from left) is a qualified QS. The new contact details can be found by clicking on the Our Staff link on the left.

Construction Bid Rigging Allegations

LAPN condemns the alleged price-rigging by builders revealed by the OFT report.

The allegations concern Cover pricing which involves contractors colluding together to ensure one contractor wins the contract. The others submit tenders to keep in with the client but put in over-inflated prices to ensure their bids are rejected.

The winning contractor is then able to submit a higher than usual bid, thereby artificially pushing up the price of the contract for the client. The OFT report says that in some cases the winning contractor uses the extra money to pay a sweetener to the other contractors.

The report will naturally worry public sector clients, but LAPN believes it can reassure members that they are much better protected from exposure to price-rigging by contractors thanks to the collaborative framework agreement it uses to procure contracts.

Responding to calls for a full public enquiry (see press article) Peter Woolliscroft, managing director of the London Area Procurement Network said "I fully subscribe to any initiative that restores confidence in the industry."

Full details can be found under Latest News or click on the link below

Construction Bid Rigging Allegations

Added 23 April

Smarter Procurement

The London Area Procurement Network (LAPN) is a limited liability company owned by ten founder members. Click on the links below to go to our members' websites.

Our mission is to ensure members get the best possible value for money from their construction projects. These range from building new properties to regular painting and decorating of residents' homes. But value for money does not mean cheap & nasty; LAPN work with contractors, using inspection and performance indicators, to ensure residents get a quality home.

The LAPN Frameworks

As part of the initiation phase LAPN created a series of frameworks. Each framework covers a particular aspect of construction works and includes one or more firms.

Our members can select which firm they want to do the work, avoiding an expensive and drawn out contracting process. Even though they avoid the need to tender the original exhaustive selection process (carried out in accordance with European Union legislation) ensures that they will get best value from the contractor and satisfy the complex requirements of the European Union public procurement process.

More and more landlords use our contracting framework they are finding that the savings increase the more work they put through. One ALMO has reduced the cost of new kitchens and bathrooms by almost half by using LAPN to buy the work. That translates into real money - on a 9M contract they will save 2.5M pounds this year. That means more money to spend on better homes, and the lowest possible he rent for residents. Another ALMO has saved over 4M pounds as a result of converting contracts to the LAPN approach.

Our Frameworks
Adaptations	Asbestos
Asbestos Consultants	Cyclical Decorations
Electrical & Mech.	Gas Replacement
Gas Servicing	General Contracting
Lift Maintenance	Lifts Installation
Roofing

Business Plan

The LAPN business plan was approved in 2006, both by LAPN Board and the CLG.

Overall it targets efficiency gains of some 6-12 for every 1 invested in LAPN by its members during the first five years. However, the first years of the business plan (2006/07 and 2007/08) showed the need for concerted investment to develop the LAPN infrastructure, with a progressive increase in efficiencies in subsequent years.

LAPN 5 Year Business Plan

Added 08.08.07

LAPN appoints first Managing Director