Le 24 September in Rome, le Consiglio Nazionale Architetti Pianificatori Paesaggisti e Conservatori (CNAPPC) presented the results of a research project commissioned to CRESME S.p.A., analysing the efficiency of three public procurement models in Italian school projects:

•  Design competition
• Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT)
• Integrated contract

The study assessed the duration of design, tendering, construction and testing, cost variations between budgets and final expenditure, and the overall quality of outcomes.

Institutional opening

In the institutional opening, Carl Bäckstrand, President of the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE), joined Paolo Trancassini, Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, et Massimo Crusi, President of CNAPPC, in underlining the importance of procurement reform in delivering quality public works across Europe.

“There is a positive momentum in favour of high-quality architecture – we have to come together and tell the story of the benefits of quality and how the drivers of quality work together. Quality in the built environment, including the public realm, will not only bring beauty and more resilience in the cities, it will also enhance democracysocial cohesion, cultural vibrancy, and safety. But to achieve this, we architects need fair and quality based criterias in public procurement.” stated ACE President.

“The timing of the report is perfect in regard to the upcoming revision of the EU public procurement directive. In the spring ACE took the initiative of bringing together local and European organisations to develop and adopt the Luxembourg declaration, which highlights four priorities for improving the EU regulatory framework for public procurement:

• Strengthen the internal market with overarching public procurement rules beyond lowest price
• Better recognition of the specific nature of intellectual services
• Ensure quality- and innovation-oriented procurement procedures including ADCs
• Improve access to procurement for SMEs and new entrants”

Presentation of research

The findings of the “After the Project” study were presented by Lorenzo Bellicini, Director of CRESME, with commentary from Giuseppe Busia, President of ANAC (Italian National Anti-Corruption Authority).

The results of the “After the Project” research commissioned by CNAPPC to Cresme Spa, a survey of 300 schools built throughout the country with various types of contracts.

For those created with the design competition, the timeframe is reduced by one year.

Design competitions are advantageous in terms of time and final quality compared to other types of procurement and, although considered more expensive, are equivalent in terms of economic factors.

This is  what emerges from the research ” After the project ” that the National Council of Architects, Planners, Landscapers and Conservationists (CNAPPC) commissioned from Cresme Spa to analyze one of the endemic problems of Public Works in our country, and beyond, namely the time required for the construction process of a public work, the rising costs and the resulting conflicts between the parties.

“The results of the ‘After the Project’ research,” emphasized Massimo Crusi, President of the CNAPPC , “further strengthen our commitment to promoting design competitions. These competitions represent a fundamental process for selecting quality architectural projects that meet the social, economic, and formal needs of each public work, while respecting the local area, the environment, and the landscape. While they guarantee every citizen’s right to enjoy beautiful and functional works, they also offer young professionals the opportunity to participate in a merit-based selection process for projects and award the contract to the winning project.”

According to Diego Zoppi, Head of the Department for Relations with Foreign Institutions at CNAPPC and a Member of the CAE Bureau , “the debate on public procurement is highly topical, especially given the Commission’s ongoing review of the European Directive on Public Procurement. Under the strong influence of the significant and rapid geopolitical changes Europe is experiencing, the review aims to create a more cohesive and stronger European market. Above all, it intends to use the public procurement system (which accounts for 14% of European GDP) to innovate the production of goods covered by public procurement, primarily in the construction industry.”

Read the CNAPPC press release here: https://www.awn.it/press/comunicati-stampa/9959-appalti-architetti-concorsi-di-progettazione-vantaggiosi-per-tempi-e-qualita-finale?fbclid=IwY2xjawNCKjZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFoZkJ2VUZZak12UzJhTjlTAR6RD70fzD6N_Ov72G2sjQZBGxFT9sH_Sq34QRyiZkKFGNeE-MpJm5rTphi5-w_aem_YR2Cmh2W44CLj2kGohAWmQ

Missed the event?

The event was livestreamed on CNAPPC’s digital channels and YouTube.

Pics/ video by Consiglio Nazionale Architetti Pianificatori Paesaggisti e Conservatori (CNAPPC)