Title: E-readiness of construction contract forms and e-tendering software

Authors: Robert Eadie; Phillip Millar; Srinath Perera; George Heaney; Gerald Barton

Addresses: School of the Built Environment, University of Ulster, Jordanstown Campus, Shore Road, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland BT37 0QB, UK. ' School of the Built Environment, University of Ulster, Jordanstown Campus, Shore Road, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland BT37 0QB, UK. ' School of the Built and Natural Environment, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK. ' School of the Built Environment, University of Ulster, Jordanstown Campus, Shore Road, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland BT37 0QB, UK. ' Geda Construction, 36 Moor Road, Coalisland, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland BT71 4QB, UK

Abstract: Eadie et al. (2010a, 2010b) reported on a set of drivers and barriers to construction e-procurement which encompasses e-tendering. The study identified 20 drivers and 30 barriers to e-procurement. Legal issues were identified collectively as one of the most important barriers. Although Martin (2003, 2008) identified that the impact of e-procurement and e-tendering had not been as expected, he nevertheless indicated that e-tendering could improve the tender process. This paper reports on an investigation into the e-readiness of the four most popular forms of contract. It also considers the attempt of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to promote e-procurement software as a standard for the private sector of the construction industry. The paper concludes that the NEC Form of Contract is the most e-ready followed by the JCT 2005 Form of Contract. It also establishes that there is still a considerable gap in achieving industry standard e-procurement software solutions.

Keywords: construction contract forms; electronic procurement; e-procurement use; e-readiness; e-tendering; electronic tendering; tender process; forms of contract.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2012.044151

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2012 Vol.5 No.1, pp.1 - 26

Published online: 16 Aug 2014 *

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