Economics and business solutions

Contracts and procurement

Halcrow Group Ltd has a specialist Contracts and Procurement Unit (C&P) based at the head office in Swindon with members in offices, UK and worldwide.

C&P provides contractual and procurement related services by staff with worldwide experience in the procurement of services, infrastructure and its maintenance. The experience embraces projects of all sizes, from small works to large multi-disciplinary projects, such as the High Speed 1, Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

These projects have a wide variety of funding arrangements including clients’ own funds, loans and grants from single or multiple agencies, such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the European Commission.Experience also includes privately financed private sector and public sector projects.

C&P has hands-on experience of all the commonly used published conditions of contract, such as the NEC, ICE, FIDIC, IChemE and JCT families, water industry contracts, MF/1 and GC/ Works. It can advise on the appropriate form of contract to be used and prepare any amendments that may be necessary to suit the particular needs of the project and the objectives of the client. Staff are also experienced in working in conjunction with clients’ lawyers to prepare bespoke contracts.

Experience covers all sectors of civil engineering, such as water (waste and drinking), all types/modes of transportation projects (including ports, roads, airports, rail, trams, buses) and property projects.

C&P provides contracts and procurement training for Halcrow staff and client staff both in the UK and overseas. In recent years, there has been an unprecedented demand for training on the New Engineering Contract suite.

Many staff have extensive experience of working with contractors. This provides C&P with a broad understanding of both sides of the industry, which is invaluable when dealing with disputes. C&P staff are experienced in all aspects of disputes resolution including conciliation, facilitation, adjudication, arbitration and litigation. In addition to offering advice directly, C&P can provide experienced Expert Witnesses for litigation and arbitration proceedings and qualified conciliators and adjudicators.

Halcrow has been at the forefront of the development of PFI/PPP projects. C&P staff has extensive knowledge and experience in procuring major public transport projects with private sector involvement and in the procurement of privately financed maintenance.