Water & Wastewater Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/762480
6 | JANUARY 2017 | WWT | www.wwtonline.co.uk Comment A happy new year to all WWT readers. The British and European flags adorning this issue can only mean one thing – on pages 18 and 19 we look at the vexed issue of Brexit, and in particular, how the possible removal of EU procurement rules could affect the utilities arena. Any analysis of the post-Brexit landscape feels necessarily speculative before the invocation of Article 50, expected in March, and the subsequent negotiation, have yielded some solid outcome. Nevertheless, it is at least possible to discuss what could be improved in the current procurement set-up and how, in an ideal world, one would want to see a UK-centric system do things better. Of course, open and transparent procurement, as exemplified by the Official Journal of the European Union Rip up the rules (OJEU) rules, is a good principle to start from, and much as incumbent contractors might prefer to be able to secure repeat business without it, reforming the system would not mean deviating from that principle. However, what is needed is a more streamlined system that eliminates the barriers to entry for SMEs in particular. This means reducing the cost and time involved in the bidding process and in such activities as pre-qualification. It also should involve a rethink of whether framework contracts are fit for purpose: are they always the best way of arriving at the best supplier, or in some cases do they favour the larger supply chain company at the expense of the smaller, insurgent innovator? I've lost count of the times I've come across people from smaller, innovative companies trying to break into the water sector, who fear that they will never catch a break with water utilities – a bureaucratic procurement process that bogs them down in paperwork is one of their key gripes. Having said that, it's too easy to blame Europe and the rulebook for all ills that one might see in procurement. A glance through the recent research James brockett eDItor JamesBrockett@fav-house.com Twitter: @wwtmag from the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) reveals that many of contractors' top frustrations with the procurement process hinge on a lack of information, consideration or communication from clients. Tender documents that are poorly dra—ed, or a qualification process that asks for a disproportionate level of work from bidders, are just as likely to be the client company's fault as that of the set of regulations the company believes it is following. No reform will solve this in the short term. Furthermore, it's by no means obvious that the water sector has it any worse than companies operating within the other utilities or infrastructure- focused fields generally. Water suppliers might have some unique complaints but they are scarcely alone in complaining about these challenges, and unfortunately, are unlikely to be able to make their voice heard above the throng when it comes to lobbying government for a desired outcome. Many important political decisions lie ahead, but it is by no means a bad time for the sector to think about the results it would like from the arguments and negotiations to come. t. 0800 8046 062 www.atiuk.com Modular, multi- parameter water quality monitors for networks