Guidelines for Assessing Construction Services Suppliers

The Construction Supplier Register assesses all applications for pre-qualification in construction services categories against consistent pre-qualification criteria.  The following guidance is provided to help construction services suppliers applicants to understand why the criteria listed are used, and to indicate some of the processes used to conduct assessments.

Construction services

The construction services pre-qualification categories are based on recognised areas of specialist practice in the Australian building industry. For most categories applicants must hold suitable university degree qualifications or the equivalent. In addition to formal qualifications pre-qualification assessments may consider industry experience and involvement such as:

  • membership of relevant industry associations or institutes;
  • pre-qualification in other Australian States or with VicRoads.

While the Construction Supplier Register has no mutual recognition arrangement in place with other pre-qualification schemes consideration may be given to existing pre-qualification:

  • relevant industry awards and citations;
  • leadership roles in the industry.

Eligible businesses

The Construction Supplier Register (CSR) pre-qualifies entities that can legally enter into a contract with the Victorian Government for construction works or services.

Legal entities for the Construction Supplier Register pre-qualification purposes are:

  • sole traders
  • partnerships; or
  • companies registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

Overseas companies must meet the same requirements as local suppliers and all suppliers must clearly demonstrate that the core business of the entity is in construction-related professional services that fit the pre-qualification categories to be eligible.

All construction services categories

Construction services pre-qualification criteria

The criteria used to assess construction services suppliers for pre-qualification focus on building and construction industry experience, expertise, qualifications and in many cases practitioner registration including:

  • formal qualifications, technical capability and expertise
  • management ability and organisational structure
  • a history of successfully completed commissions over several years
  • approach to client and supplier relationships
  • suitable insurance

Qualifications

For businesses operating as sole traders or partnerships

The individual or partner must hold relevant educational qualifications and any required registrations (for example Registered Building Practitioner certification).

For businesses operating under a company structure

A company director must hold relevant educational qualifications and any required registrations (for example Registered Building Practitioner certification).

Business management

The applicant’s business management experience will be considered. This can include experience as a company director / proprietor with the applicant company or with another legal entity whose core business was providing the relevant construction-related professional services.

Professional experience, including as an employee

The applicant’s experience and professional competence as a principal consultant in their professional field, including relevant experience as a senior employee of others, for example as the head of a department or discipline, or as a senior practitioner, taking account of the role and responsibilities may be considered.

Years in business

The entity applying for pre-qualification should have been in business providing relevant construction-related professional services in its own right for at least two years as:

  • a sole trader
  • in partnership; or
  • as a company director.

Work history

Evidence of successfully completed recent projects/commissions relevant to the pre-qualification categories being applied for. The evidence submitted should include examples of commissions that you have won in open competition, such as a public tender or expression of interest process, as well as work-in-hand and other commissions / projects of significance you wish to highlight, including any supporting documentation. The names of independent project referees must also be provided for each example of previous work.

Performance - referee feedback

Referees nominated r in the application will be contacted . Referees complete a Pre-qualification Questionnaire, covering a wide range of project performance criteria. The Construction Supplier Register assess the consultant’s ability to meet the stated and implied needs of Victorian Government department clients by discussing the consultant’s past project performance with nominated referees. The Construction Supplier Register consultant referee questionnaire covers a wide range of performance criteria including:

  • timeliness
  • quality
  • management of the project budget
  • resource management
  • documentation
  • administration
  • health and safety management
  • environmental management

Insurance

Evidence of current insurance/s that meet the requirements of public construction, these may include professional indemnity, public liability and WorkCover insurance for the entity applying for pre-qualification.

Specific construction services categories

Architecture

Architects, architectural companies and architectural partnerships must hold up to date registration with the Architects Registration Board of Victoria to be eligible for pre-qualification with Construction Supplier Register.

Engineer – Civil/Structural

Must be Registered Building Practitioner as an Engineer Civil / Engineer -Structural. May also seek pre-qualification in Geotechnical Engineering.

Engineer – Electrical

Must be Registered Building Practitioner as an Engineer – Electrical. May also seek pre-qualification in Communications Engineering.

Engineer – Mechanical

Must be Registered Building Practitioner as an Engineer – Mechanical.

Engineer – Fire Safety

Must be Registered Building Practitioner as an Engineer – Fire Safety.

Quantity Surveying

Must be Registered Building Practitioner as an Quantity Surveyor.

Architectural Drafting

Must be Registered Building Practitioner as an Draftsperson - Building Design – (Architectural).

Project Management

Suitable tertiary qualifications or equivalent experience in the building and construction industry. Eligibility for full membership of the Australian Institute of Project Management.

Interior Design

A suitable tertiary degree or equivalent qualification in Interior Design awarded by a recognisedtertiary education institution. Must be Registered Building Practitioner as an Draftsperson - Building Design (Interior)

Landscape Architecture

A degree or equivalent qualification in a recognised Landscape Architecture course awarded by a recognised Australian tertiary education institution and/or Eligibility for full membership of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.

Building Surveyor

Must be Registered Building Practitioner as Building Surveyor.

Additional pre-qualification categories

The Construction Supplier Register also manages the following pre-qualification categories:

  • Acoustics
  • Energy Management
  • Fire Protection
  • Contamination Testing
  • Construction Management
  • Contract Management

The above categories require evidence of one or more of:

  • suitable tertiary qualifications;
  • registered building practitioner certification; or
  • relevant experience in the building and construction industry in various fields including Professional Engineering, Architecture, Building & Construction or Science.
Reviewed 06/12/2019
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