Expert: Prequalification process for contractor selection a must

Expert: Prequalification process for contractor selection a must

by Rajiv Ravindran Pillai on Nov 28, 2017 

r. Shetha Alzubaidi, CEO, Alfahim Avenue Group Companies - Brookson Project Management.

The successful execution of construction projects depend on the right prequalification process that requires sound contractor selection, said Dr. Shetha Alzubaidi, CEO, Alfahim Avenue Group Companies - Brookson Project Management.

Dr. Alzubaidi was talking at a seminar at The Big 5 tradeshow. She said that many construction projects experience time and cost overruns dues to the wrong choice of contractors as contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder.

She said that through a prequalification process, there will be “an elimination stage where contractors invited are screened for the purpose of shortlisting qualifiers who would then move on to tendering stage.”

Talking to MEP Middle East on the sidelines of the event about the issue of too many small MEP contractors in the market, Dr. Alzubaidi said: “I believe that the main responsibility should be of the main contractor.

“The main contractor is more capable than the client to select the right MEP contractor. If there is any delay from the MEP contractor, it is the main contractor’s responsibility to overcome this problem. Currently, it is the client’s responsibility. And currently, all the main contractor is doing is sending letters reserving his rights for claims. The main contractor keeps passing the ball to the client who appointed this MEP contractor.”

Commenting on the MEP sector, Dr. Alzubaidi said that the MEP outlook was quite positive. She said: “The MEP sector is doing very well and you can see in this exhibition as well; the busiest place is the MEP section.”

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