Pillar 4 of the CWMF consists of a comprehensive suite of guidance notes aimed at facilitating the implementation of the Government’s reforms in construction procurement.
These guidance notes are intended primarily for the guidance of Sponsoring Agencies embarking on capital works projects. However, the roles of the Sanctioning Authorities and any external consultants appointed in relation to the capital works projects are also considered.
Click on ‘(more ….)’ to the right of a document name in the table below to download an individual guidance note. All the links below are PDF.
GN 1.0 – Introduction to the Capital Works Management Framework
This guidance note presents an overview of the Capital Works Management Framework and the four pillars that are the key components of it.
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GN 1.1 – Project Management This guidance note gives an overview of the project management structures that are required, the processes and procedures that need to be followed, and the contracts and templates to be used in the delivery process of a works project. The main areas covered by Project Management (GN 1.1) include the following:
■ The content of the Project Execution Plan, including a sample plan; |
GN 1.1.1 – Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 |
GN 1.1.2 – Professional Indemnity Insurance Application in the Capital Works Management Framework
As a result of a tightening market for Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII), some firms are unable to meet the long-established PII requirements in the procurement templates published under the Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF), and thus are unable to participate in public procurement competitions.
In response to these changed market conditions, a range of amendments to the The note also provides guidance on the steps to take in the event that a It is important that contracting authorities comply with the provisions set down This guidance will be kept under review and may be amended subject to further |
GN 1.2 – Project Definition and the Definitive Project Brief
This guidance note explains the process that should be used to define precisely the output requirements of a project in the Definitive Project Brief. The project definition is the first exercise undertaken in the Planning Initial stage . The project definition covers a range of activities that have as their end goal the comprehensive description of all project requirements. These activities are carried out in a systematic, rigorous and formal manner, and lead to definition of the ultimate outcomes in the form of the Definitive Project Brief:
■ Step 1: Preliminary Project Brief |
GN 1.3 – Budget Development
This guidance note explains the structure and format of budget estimates for public works projects. It covers such issues as
■ The development of a budget for the capital cost of a project and budget costs for other issues associated with the provision of a facility. |
GN 1.4 – Procurement and Contract Strategy for Public Works Contracts
This guidance note provides guidance on procurement strategy and on the selection of the most appropriate Public Works Contract to use to deliver a particular project.
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GN 1.5 – Public Works Contract This guidance note provides practical advice to Employers to help them administer the construction phase of a project in accordance with the provisions in the public works contracts including details of the key elements of Public Works Contracts and the characteristics of the different types of contract.
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GN 1.5.1 – Public Works Contracts: Managing the Pre-Contract Phase This guidance note outlines the procurement and related issues to be considered by the Employer in preparing the tender documents. The issues will vary depending on the procurement strategy and contract type adopted by the Employer.
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GN 1.5.2 – Public Works Contracts: Price Variation Clauses This guidance note provides practical advice on the use of the Price Variation Clauses PV1 and PV2 in use in the Public Works Contract forms PW-CF1 – PW-CF5.
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GN 1.5.3 – Public Works Contracts: The Pricing Document The Purpose of this guidance note is to give guidance on the use of a pricing document when using the Public Works Contract. The term Pricing Document in the context of the Public Works Suite of Contracts is a collective term for documentation that:
■ enables the Employer to prescribe to prospective tenderers the format into which the tenderer’s lump-sum price is to be broken down and what other detailed tender cost information is required; |
GN 1.5.4 – Covid19 and the Public Works Contracts The purpose of this guidance note is to provide Contracting Authorities and Contractors with guidance on the Covid-19 Mandatory Closure clause (‘Covid-19 clause’) in the Public Works Contracts. This guidance note should be read alongside both the Covid-19 clause and the Site Closure Costs Supplement.
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GN 1.6 – Procurement Process for Consultancy Services (Technical) This guidance note provides guidance in relation to the appointment of technical consultants for all stages of the project delivery process including those for the planning, design and supervision stages of construction projects. It covers the following:
■ The procurement procedures available and which one to choose; |
GN 1.6.1 – Suitability Assessment of Construction Service Providers, Restricted Procedure This guidance note deals with suitability assessment under the restricted procedure for pre-qualification of Service Providers. Topics include:
■ Key concepts of suitability assessment; |
GN 1.6.2 – Suitability Assessment of Construction Service Providers, Open Procedure
This guidance note deals with suitability assessment under the open procedure to establish eligibility of Service Providers to have their tenders evaluated. Topics include:
■ Key concepts of suitability assessment; |
GN 1.6.3 – Prequalification of Consultants using Minimum Standards for Suitability Criteria |
GN 1.6.4 – Liability Caps Application in the Standard Conditions of Engagement COE1 and COE2 |
GN 1.7 – Standard Conditions of Engagement, Guidance Note and Sample Schedules
This guidance note provides practical advice on how to complete the Schedule to the Conditions of Engagement for Consultancy Services (Technical).
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GN 2.1 – Design Development Process
This guidance note deals with all events that take place during the design process for both building and civil engineering projects. It deals with the role of design in both traditional (Employer-designed) projects and in design-and-build (Contractor-designed) projects. In the case of the latter, it highlights that much or all of the design is carried out by the Contractor; as a result, the guidance note is less specific about design where the design risk is transferred to the Contractor. The guidance note covers the following topics:
■ Concepts and considerations during the design process; |
GN 2.2 – Planning and Control of Capital Costs
This guidance note sets out best practice on how to plan and control capital budgets for public works projects, both building and civil engineering, through all stages in the design process. It covers:
■ The principles of cost planning and cost control of capital budgets; |
GN 2.3 – Procurement Process for Works Contractors
This guidance note provides advice on the procurement process used for Works Contractors for both building and civil engineering projects. It covers the following:
■ Preparing tender documentation; GN 2.3 – v1.4 28/03/23 |
GN 2.3.1 – Suitability Assessment of Works Contractors, Restricted Procedure
This guidance note deals with the restricted procedure to establish suitability of Works Contractors to be included on a tender list. Topics include:
■ Key concepts of suitability assessment; |
GN 2.3.1.1 – Random Selection Guidance Notes This guidance note deals with the use of Random Selection as a means of short listing Works Contractors who may subsequently be invited to participate in a tender competition. This method of short listing is an alternative to the marking arrangement for short listing Contractors as set out in Guidance Note 2.3.1 under the Capital Works Management Framework. It does not replace the marking method , it is an alternative and is been added to the Capital Works Management Framework so as to increase the number of options available to Contracting Authorities involved in short listing Contractors under a restricted procedure. This guidance note will be fully integrated as a separate document into the Capital Works Management Framework in due course.
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GN 2.3.1.2 – Suitability Criteria for Contractors, Submission of Evidence & Procurement Thresholds (Open, Restricted Procedure) This guidance note aims to assist contracting authorities structure and run their competitive processes for public contracts in a manner that facilitates increased participation by SMEs, while they continue to ensure that all public sector purchasing is carried out in a manner that is legal, transparent, and secures optimal value for money for the taxpayer.
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GN 2.3.1.2.1 – Reconciliation of appendices in GN 2.3.1.2 and QW1, QW2 and QW3 (Open, Restricted Procedure) Reconciliation of appendices in GN 2.3.1.2 and QW1, QW2 and QW3 (Open, Restricted Procedure)
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GN 2.3.1.3 – Minimum Standards for Suitability Works Contractor Criteria (Open, Restricted Procedure) This guidance note sets out the task of establishing Minimum Standards for Suitability Criteria for Works Contractors. The template is based on the selection criteria as set out in EU Directives. Its objective is to ensure that thresholds for Suitability Assessments are set proportionate to the size, nature and complexity of a project.
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GN 2.3.2 – Suitability Assessment of Works Contractors, Open Procedure This guidance note deals with the open procedure to establish the suitability of Works Contractors to determine which tenders are eligible to be evaluated. Topics include:
■ Key concepts of suitability assessment; |
GN 2.3.3 – Specialists and the Public Works Contracts This guidance note deals with the manner in which specialist works contractors are to be engaged under the suite public works contracts.
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GN 2.3.4 – Tender Price Indexation – Calculation, Notification and Application This guidance note provides detailed information to contracting authorities on the calculation, notification and application of the tender price indexation which has been introduced into the template forms for use with the public works contract forms PW-CF1 – PW-CF6 inclusive and which were published on 7 January 2022.
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GN 3.1 – Implementation Process This guidance note provides guidance on the Implementation stage of building and civil engineering projects. It covers:
■ The main roles and responsibilities of the Employer and the Employer’s Representative and the Contractor; |
GN 3.1.1 – Dispute Resolution The purpose of this guidance note is to provide guidance on dispute resolution when using the Public Works suite of Contracts. This document sets out the various dispute resolution mechanisms available for use under the Public Works Contracts and how a dispute can flow through different processes to its ultimate resolution.
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GN 4.1 – Project Review This guidance note gives an overview of the review that is carried out on a project after the facility has been completed and handed over. This is the final stage of the management of a capital works project and it covers a range of activities that have as their end goal the comprehensive collection of project data recorded in an appropriate format so that it can be of benefit on future projects. The following types of material that might be found in a review:
■ Records of lessons learned from experience during the planning and implementation stages that would be of benefit. |
GL 1.0 – Glossary
The glossary is intended as a resource for use with all documents (other than the Conditions of Engagement for Consultancy Services [Technical] and the Public Works Contracts) across the entire Capital Works Management Framework. It includes definitions of terms that are used throughout the suite of guidance notes.
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