Procurement Arrangements Research Articles

INDUSTRY 4.0: DIGITAL TWINS AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Digital twins are characterized as NextGen smart cities, part of cyber-manufacturing processes and as industry 4.0 systems. They are digital replicas of ‘real’ world physical assets, with real-time information interchanges via sensors between digital replicas and their material assets. They can be immersive 3D environments of cities rendered in game engines and engaged with via VR headsets. Uncritical, enthusiastic and technologically solutionist rationales are generally offered for their creation in IT, engineering and vendor literature. Digital twins are often touted as a system to predict, preempt, prevent and plan for the impact of climate change and for emergency preparedness scenario planning. This paper discusses preliminary observations from a transdisciplinary archival and AI research project of an urban digital twin in the architecture, engineering, construction and owner operated (AECOO) sector, theoretically framed by critical data studies, archival digital diplomatics, digital records forensics and social and technological assemblage theory. A hybrid methodological approach combines a technological walkthrough with twin developers mapping data flows and technological processes, guided by a semi-structured interview instrument to identify what constitutes a record of automated and AI/ML actions that affect social and material outcomes. Preliminary observations identified a complex set of technopolitics, myriad procurement and contractual arrangements where data and technology ownership remains with vendors. It has become clear that digital twins are very messy and poorly governed infrastructures of infrastructure, which are mostly proprietary, lack interoperability and standards. The aim is to understand urban digital twins so that they may be governed in the public interest.

Effects of transparent online open procurement on prices, volumes, and costs of medicines: an interrupted time series study in Ningxia, China.

To assess the effects of the transparent online open procurement arrangement on the prices, volumes, and costs of medicines in Ningxia, China. Data were extracted from the Ningxia pharmaceutical procurement platform, covering 16months of purchase orders (December 2019 to March 2021) prior to the implementation of the transparent online open procurement policy and 20months of purchase orders after the implementation of the policy (April 2021 to November 2022). Interrupted time series (ITS) analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of the transparent online open procurement policy on the prices, volumes, and total costs of the purchase orders. After implementation of the transparent online open procurement policy, the average price of purchased medicines showed a declining trend by 0.012 Yuan per month, while the total volume of purchase orders declined at a rate by 1.741 million per month measured by the smallest formulation units and the total costs of the purchase orders decreased at a rate by 5.525 million Yuan per month. The transparent online open procurement policy resulted in reduced prices, lowered volumes, and lowered total costs of purchased orders of medicines.

Lessons learned from European and Japanese production of ITER toroidal field coils

In 2023, the manufacturing of all the ITER TF coils has been completed 15 years after the sign of procurement arrangements in 2008. This paper has been jointly submitted by F4E and QST to recollect the lessons learnt in the production of the two parties along the last 15 years.

Key technologies of manufacturing and testing for the ITER blanket shield block

The SB is one of the main in-vessel components manufactured with SS316L(N)-IG to play a major role in neutron shielding, to support the FW panels and to supply the FW panel with cooling water. Cooling channels are located inside of the SB to remove the neutron heat deposition while keeping the structure temperature to acceptable levels. The water coolant is routed first through the plasma-facing first wall panel which is attached to the SB and then through the SB. A number of deep slits are introduced into the SB to disrupt eddy current loops and reduce the Electro-Magnetic (EM) loads on the support system and VV. Water headers are machined on the side of the module with 7–10 mm welded cover plates. A Procurement Arrangements (PAs) for the manufacturing and testing of the SBs have been signed with Korea (50 %) and China (50 %).As part of the PA in Korean Domestic Agency (KODA), Process Qualification (PQ) to ensure the manufacturing and testing ability of the SB was completed successfully through manufacture of a Full Scale Prototype (FSP) as an essential step before starting series production. This paper reports key technologies, such as machining, welding, NDE and hot helium leak testing, of manufacturing and testing for the ITER SB series production in Korea toward successful completion of the missions.

Toward Coherence: A Space Sector Public-Private Partnership Typology

Since the rise of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the late 20th century, academia has engaged in critical discussions around the phenomenon and industrial organizations have developed numerous guidelines and best practices. An analytical tool that has enriched the depth of the discussions is typology. Typologies help to deconstruct complex phenomena, develop analytical frameworks, and conduct empirical investigations. With the New Space evolution and the success of National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services, PPPs have become a frequent procurement arrangement in the space sector. Because of their theoretical benefits, PPPs are politically popular and are supported by major government space policies. However, the space policy literature uncritically praises and promotes such procurement arrangements without examining their merits. As the sector begins employing more PPPs, it is necessary to engage in critical discussions built on empirical evidence. This study presents a typology specific for space PPPs to provide a standardized language for investigations and bring coherence to the term “PPP” in the sector. The typology development involved mini-case studies of 20 space programs, and the framework embodies a well-established typology approach.

Contributions and limitations of relational governance towards the reliability of publicly procured air ambulance services

The interconnectivity of critical services, resulting partly from the megatrends of globalization, liberalization, and deregulation, comes in many shapes and forms, one of them being the procurement arrangement. For publicly procured critical services, the transition between two contract periods can create organizational stresses that affect reliability. This paper, drawing on empirical materials from a case study of the two most recent air ambulance service procurements in Norway, assesses how governance solutions can counter such stresses and contribute to maintaining organizational reliability. Specifically, we analyse the contributions and limitations of relational governance, using relational exchange theory as a starting point.Although contractual governance is fundamental for procured services, contracts cannot account for all future contingencies in long-term, complex procurements. In addition, contractual governance can shift the actors’ focus to procedural and contractual matters rather than total outcomes. Relational governance counters this effect by encouraging a holistic approach in which both flexibility and joint problem solving are important. We find that, in air ambulance procurements, the procurer has applied relational governance, with positive effect on organizational reliability. However, we also find that relational governance implies a difficult balancing act between flexibility-enhancing and stability-preserving approaches. Furthermore, when conflicts between a procurer and supplier are profound, neither contractual nor relational governance can necessarily provide adequate solutions. We argue that an implication of imperfect governance solutions is that procurer organizations and public policy makers need to take into account that the procurement of critical services can involve periods of reduced reliability in service output.

Procurement Procedures and Implementation of Kenya Ports Authority Projects, Mombasa County

The Kenya Port Authority aims at aligning its policies and projects to the government’s Big Four development agenda: Food Security, Manufacturing, Universal Healthcare and Affordable Housing. However, most projects have faced key challenges on time and costs management which have led to lack of project completion within the specified time and thus increases the costs involved. The intended benefits are partly or never realized due to many unsuccessful project implementations. The main objective of the research study was to investigate the influence of procurement procedures on the implementation of Kenya Ports Authority Projects, Mombasa County. The specific objectives of the study were to examine the influence of procurement planning, supplier selection, contract monitoring and control and inventory management. The study was guided by grey system theory and lean inventory theory. This study utilized descriptive research design. The unit of observation was the project managers and project team who are directly involved in the implementation of projects undertaken by KPA. Therefore, the targeted respondents were 100 comprising of 15 project managers and 85 project team members. A census of 100 respondents was carried out. Primary data was collected using questionnaires. Piloting of research instruments was carried out within the organization involving 10 respondents who were not involved in the final study. Content validity was employed in this study to determine how well the research instruments will measure what they were designed to measure. Cronbach’s alpha method was used to check for the internal consistency of the items in the questionnaire. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation. In order to test the relationship between variables and the extent to which they are influence each other multiple regression analysis was applied. The study concluded that procurement planning increases efficiency and reduces procurement time which enables procurement arrangements to be more appropriate to the contracts being procured, delivering faster processing of activities and more efficient contract implementation. Supplier selection based on quality factors improves quality project implementation in Kenya Ports Authority. contract monitoring and control ensures that products are delivered as and when they are ordered. Procurement activities are assessed continuously to ensure that contracts are honored, and all purchasing processes have been followed. Effective inventory management allows the organization to fulfill orders on time and accurately. The study recommended that during the procurement process the organization should consider procurement objectives, the savings and benefits opportunities and the measures and targets and the approach to risk management. When selecting suppliers the organization should consider their reliability and quality of suppliers which needs to be consistent. The organization should standardize contract creation using a set of terms, conditions, and legal language that applies to a large subset of contracts. The organization should set minimum stock levels for each item that allows it to order new stock in before it runs out, understand its supply chain and minimize shrinkage.

Collaborative Project Procurement in the Construction Industry: Investigating the Drivers and Barriers in Malaysia

The traditional construction procurement approach engenders adversarial attitudes and the pursuit of individual organisation’s gain has led to inefficiencies and poor project management. Previous studies suggest collaborative working in the construction supply chain may produce better outcomes. This article examines the drivers and barriers to embracing collaborative procurement practices pertinent to the construction industry in the developing world; using Malaysia as a base of the study. Drawing on an empirical survey involving construction professionals (contractors, consultants and clients), the significance of the drivers and barriers are prioritised based on mean scores. The most significant drivers are better quality outcome, better cost control, better time control, effective problem solving and increased client satisfaction. As for the barriers, resistance to change current way of working, communication problem, incompatible personalities and organisational cultures, lack of top management support, and inadequate training and guidance rank the highest. Next, Kruskal- Wallis tests were selected to compare the results given by the three groups of respondents. All the drivers are homogeneously perceived except for “long-term relationship”. Homogeneous perceptions are observed for all drivers. Results from this study are expected to benefit both construction practitioners and researchers in the exploration, planning and implementation of collaboration-based project procurement arrangements.

Enhancing productivity in construction with co-existence of different definitions

Productivity has long been considered highly important in Singapore. In 2015, a national strategy considering skills, innovation and productivity as the basis for sustaining economic growth involving all sectors, was replaced with one seeking to move the economy from a “value-adding” to a “value-creating” one. In Singapore, construction productivity is mainly measured by: value added per person employed; and m2 of floor area completed per manday. By the economic measure, construction usually has the lowest annual growth rate among sectors, but the physical measure shows consistent improvement. This discrepancy has led to debate on the appropriate measure. The construction productivity programme in Singapore has included: promoting mechanisation, standardisation and prefabrication; training; procurement arrangements; regulatory requirements; and application of information and communication technology. Part of the findings of a study commissioned by two trade associations is presented. The aim was to derive findings which would help construction companies to improve productivity, and government to devise better policies and programmes. The study is based on interviews and focus group discussions with senior practitioners in Singapore. The questions included: level of construction productivity; how it is measured; firms’ policies on productivity; obstacles to, and enablers of, productivity measurement and improvement; the productivity development programme; and how productivity could be improved. The study found that construction firms could systematically develop their productivity-enhancing capabilities. It proposed measures for government and industry to improve construction productivity performance.

Optimal Buyer Credit Arrangements for Chinese Procured Dam-building Projects: An Iranian Perspective

Dam-building projects in Iran procured under buyer credit arrangements from foreign providers experience high rates of construction stoppages. An understanding of the financial and technical issues that give rise to problems is needed. This study provides an analysis of internal and external factors impacting Iran's bank-to-bank buyer credit-based dams procurement process. By way of TOWS matrix, optimal strategies in such procurement arrangements are identified. Data supporting the matrix are extracted through focus groups comprised of industry experts. Findings facilitating a better dams procurement process include: 1) formulation of an execution structure comprising comprehensive control, management, and implementation; 2) utilization of an omnibus buyer credit dispute review board involving financial, legal and technical representation; and 3) comprehensive stakeholder participation. Strategies identified are applicable at addressing ongoing challenges regarding off-shore dam project procurement, both from the viewpoint of host country and international provider.

Problems Faced by the Dairy Farmers in Palakkad District of Kerala, India

Aims: The dairy industry in India is instrumental in providing cheap and nutritional food to the vast population of India and also generates huge employment opportunities for people in rural areas. Milk is the largest product from the agriculture and allied sector in India in terms of value at Rs.6.5 lakh crore. It contributes around 26 per cent of total agriculture’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Kerala currently represents the twelfth largest dairy market in India. The livestock population in Kerala was 38.36 lakh in the year of 2019 [1]. Dairying is a major subsidiary occupation for the farmers of Kerala. But present-day dairying is faced with a number of challenges. The study was conducted to explore various constraints associated with dairy farming as perceived by the farmers.
 Objective: To identify the problems faced by dairy farmers in Palakkad district of Kerala.
 Methodology: The primary data for this study were collected using a structured interview schedule from 200 active dairy farmer respondents from four selected dairy co-operatives in the Palakkad district.
 Results: The temperature variation was the major factor behind the milk production problems. Because Kerala's highest temperature was always recorded in the Palakkad district. But none of the dairy farmers were facing difficulties with milk procurement. All of them were satisfied with the procurement facilities and arrangements. Low accessibility to veterinary services and a lack of sufficient labour were the main problems faced by the selected dairy farmers. Out of 200 dairy farmers, none of them were affected by the floods of 2018 and 2019. The quantity of milk procured by the dairy co-operative society, transportation, profit from the sale of milk, and labour services were mainly affected due to the COVID 19 pandemic. The lack of availability of schemes and support is one of the main problems faced by the respondents. Lack of knowledge about banking services and functions related to subsidies was also one of the problems that existed among them.
 Conclusion: From the study, it became evident that dairy farming activities in Kerala, though growing are crippled by a range of problems. The appointment of a trained Artificial insemination, Veterinary First Aid worker, creation of labour groups and continuous monitoring of the progress of schemes and services can solve the problems faced by dairy farmers up to a limit. Finally, this will result in the widening of our country's dairy sector.

In the name of motivation: the procurement of social work and its technologies of self and power

ABSTRACT In recent decades, market reforms have paved the way for new forms to govern social work practice by means of procurement, cost efficiency, measurement, and freedom of choice. In this article, we draw attention to how clients are constructed in terms of motivation, in a context where social work is shaped by a procurement arrangement. Empirically, the article is based on interviews with social workers providing social services in a procurement setting, with a focus on how they describe their work in relation to presumptive clients, and specifically their work upon the motivation of clients. The analysis is informed by a constructionist approach to governing and the construction of clients. The results illustrate how the ideal client is constructed as motivated to choose a provider of social services matching their specific needs and interests as well as displaying a will to change and take part in the services offered. The social work appearing as desirable is based on a therapeutic rationality, with dialogue as the primary means of working upon the motivation of clients. The results further illustrate how different technologies (of the self and power) operate and intertwine in the work upon motivation of clients.

Everyday experiences of digital financial inclusion in India's ‘micro-entrepreneur’ paratransit services

Self-employed labour in transportation is a notoriously precarious form of employment that occurs throughout many developing countries. In order to offset high-cost and insecure vehicle procurement arrangements, paratransit fare structures are formulated on the basis of a set of logics designed to maximise revenues. Although entrepreneurial, when these logics occur in conflict with public fare legislation, they are undertaken illegally, or informally, and are perceived as undesirable by policy makers and transport users. However, the underlying structures that necessitate these practices are seldom examined despite their significant effect on mobilities and the livelihood experiences of male entrepreneurs. This paper engages with critical literatures on the financialisation of poverty reduction to present financialisation as a class-based mechanism that, with the rapid increase of digital payment and ‘alternative’ credit scoring, structures micro-entrepreneurship and precarity in the neoliberal context of India. The paper argues that digitally enhanced financial inclusion techniques may steer low-income workers toward mainstream finance institutions modelled on the global economy. They enable profit to be generated by investors and private microfinance companies. However, new financial technologies do not do little to reduce the risk and expense of microfinance, nor do they increase micro-entrepreneurs' profit margins. Moreover, they threaten the informal practices entrepreneurs use to self-manage their financial precarity.

A comparison of structural features and vulnerability between government and nongovernment alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment providers

ObjectiveBoth public (government-run), and not-for-profit (nongovernment) service providers provide alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services. Research has rarely studied the structural features of these providers, such as workforce characteristics, procurement arrangements, and funding security. The study reported here sought to document and analyze the differences between these two AOD treatment provider types in Australia. MethodsThe study administered an online survey instrument targeted at managers of AOD treatment sites. The survey comprised three sections: (1) the service (e.g., treatment types); (2) workforce (e.g., total number of staff); and (3) funding and procurement arrangements (e.g., contract length). The study completed a total of 207 site surveys. The studied compared government and nongovernment services on structural features that may create a more or less sustainable or vulnerable service (funding arrangements, payment mechanisms, and contract length). ResultsGovernment providers were more likely to provide medically oriented treatment types such as withdrawal management and pharmacotherapy, whereas nongovernment organization (NGO) providers were more likely to offer rehabilitation. Consistent with this, government services were more likely to employ medical professionals and nurses, indicative of a more medically oriented workforce, while NGO services were more likely to employ AOD workers, youth workers, peer workers, and counselors. Our data illustrate that NGO services were more likely to be subject to competitive tendering and to have shorter contract lengths, compared with government services, and overall to be more structurally vulnerable. ConclusionDespite the reliance on NGOs to provide the majority of specialist care (71% of all treatment episodes in Australia), these services are more vulnerable than their government counterparts. To ensure that a comprehensive suite of treatment services is available, procurement arrangements that support stability and security in nongovernment service providers and government service providers are essential.

Localwasbest: sourcing tree seed for future climates

As climate change accelerates, foresters are looking to ever warmer climates to secure sources of climatically adapted tree seed with which to establish healthy and productive plantations. However, as seed procurement areas approach jurisdictional boundaries (states, provinces, nations), across which seed and seed transfer systems are not typically shared, innovative approaches are required to identify those plantation areas for which suitable domestic provenances will be lacking, as well as areas in neighbouring jurisdictions with matching warmer, future climates that could fill domestic seed supply gaps. We describe a straightforward, climate envelope approach to locate these areas, using British Columbia (BC), Canada, and the Pacific Northwest (PNW), USA, to illustrate the analysis. We find that 21% of BC’s ecosystems (seed zones) will be at moderate or high risk of lacking adapted domestic provenances for plantation establishment by 2040. Importantly, however, we find large areas in the PNW that should be able to fill most of BC’s domestic seed supply gaps. Spatial analyses of this type will inform seed suppliers, managers, and policymakers where alternative seed procurement arrangements are needed and underscore the operational and policy barriers to acquiring seed from warmer jurisdictions. More broadly, they also highlight the need for interjurisdictional cooperation in matters pertaining to resource management.

Procurement during a Public Health Crisis: the Role of the European Union

In Europe, the Public Procurement Directives allow for the deactivation of EU public procurement rules to enable member states to buy emergency supplies as quickly as possible. To improve member states' purchasing power for scarce medical resources, the EU facilitates a collaborative approach utilising procurement arrangements such as the Joint Procurement Agreement for the Procurement of Medical Countermeasures. This article reflects on the outcomes of crisis procurement in the EU compared with the UK, and examines the opportunities that may follow in its wake. The vulnerability of the public procurement market in the field of public health has been exposed during the Covid-19 crisis. The EU's role in facilitating a collaborative approach to the procurement and distribution of medical resources looks to be a success, suggesting a legitimate rationale for the EU to take a more significant role on behalf of member states in procurement during a health crisis.

Analysis of Enhanced Heat Flux First Wall behavior under ITER Pulsed Loads

Abstract The First Wall (FW) is a component of the Blanket System facing the plasma. Two types of FW panel design have been developed based on the design heat flux: the Enhanced Heat Flux First Wall (EHF FW) panels designed for a 4.7 MW/m2 heat flux, and the Normal Heat Flux First Wall (NHF FW) panels designed for a 2.0 MW/m2 heat flux. The EHF FW panels are sheared by the RF and China. The EHF FW panels as part of the RF Procurement Arrangement 1.6.P1A.RF.01 are manufactured by two institutes: JCS NIIEFA and JSC NIKIET. As part of the technological process qualification, the design of the EHF FW Full Scale Prototype (FSP) was developed and approved. The so-called “pipe option” was taken as a basis for the FW configuration because during the final assembly the fingers are connected to the beam by orbital welding, allowing for acceptably small welding distortions and while providing for the required NDT examinations. At the same time, the previously considered welded attachment of the fingers to the beam was replaced by a mechanical option. This approach allowed for the removal of the Central Slot Insert (CSI) from the FW beam central zone, thereby simplifying the cooling configuration. This design was integrated in representative EHF FW panels located on the top and outboard zones of the vacuum vessel and the cooling configuration in the FW beams was developed to accommodate the additional plasma radiation on the front FW beam surface in the absence of the CSI. This paper summarizes the results of design activity for top and outboard EHF FW panels and presents the results of the thermo-hydraulic and transient thermal analyses which confirm the acceptable performance of the EHF FW panels without the CSI.

Dynamics of Organisational Capability of Japanese Construction Firm towards Open and Service Innovation through PPP/PFI arrangement

<p>This study examined the influence of Public–Private Partnership (PPP) — or, more specifically, Private Finance Initiative (PFI) — arrangements in relation to open and service innovation in construction firms in Japan. The expectation of the PPP/PFI procurement arrangement is that Japanese construction firms will provide a broader range of services (service innovation) through expanded cooperation with various other firms (open innovation) compared to the conventional procurement scheme.</p><p>Our in-depth case study of a Japanese construction company shows the dynamics of project-based firms' capability accumulation through a PPP/PFI arrangement. The study identified a model of capability development for construction firms towards service and open innovation. It consists of three organisational capabilities: technological capabilities, project capabilities and collaborative capabilities. The model can be seen as an ideal approach for understanding and comparing cases of long-term capability accumulation of project-based firms, especially regarding providing services that meet the public's needs.</p><p> </p><p>Keywords: Public–Private Partnership (PPP); Private Finance Initiative (PFI); Project Capability, Open innovation; Service innovation; Construction firm</p>

Resource Use Efficiency and Constraint Analysis of Summer Mungbean Cultivation in Rice-Wheat Cropping System

The study was conducted in eastern and western zones of Haryana in 2017-18. From eastern zone Kurukshetra and Panipat and from western zone Hisar district were selected on basis of acreage under summer mungbean. The outcomes of production function analysis reveal that there is scope for reorganization of resources used in cultivation of summer mungbean to optimize their use to enhance returns in the study area. In all the districts, the usage of resources which are showing negative production elasticity should be decreased to achieve the resource optimality and the use of resources viewing more than unity production elasticity should be encouraged to enhance the profitability condition. The analysis of constraints in cultivation of summer mungbean as opined by the sampled farmers recite that non-availability of suitable machine for harvesting, non-procurement of produce by Govt. agencies, harvest price less than MSP were recorded as the major constraints in the study area. Keeping in view the findings of the study, it is suggested that there is need to re-orient the usage of resources for attaining higher returns from summer mungbean cultivation, multiplication of short duration varieties seed, need to develop suitable and low cost harvesting machinery and procurement arrangement of produce at MSP.

Design, procurement and coordination of the Ordsall Chord rail project, Manchester, UK

The Ordsall Chord in Manchester, UK is a new railway viaduct and associated track alteration, renewal and re-signalling scheme to provide a direct connection between the city’s Piccadilly and Victoria stations. Completed and opened to traffic in December 2017, it was designed and delivered to achieve the aspirations for a landmark structure within a constrained and complex setting. This paper highlights the benefits of the alliance procurement arrangement, which enabled genuine collaboration between the parties and early engagement of specialist sub-contractors. The benefits of installing adequate monitoring instrumentation are also discussed.