Contractor Selection Research Articles

A systematic approach of correct laboratory commissioning: special procedural features for medical laboratories using the example of specialised forms of care

Abstract Since the complexities of commissioning medical laboratory tests have grown continuously as a result of the increase in specialised forms of care, this article aims to create a practice-oriented structure of the legal and procedural requirements and to illustrate these using case studies – specifically using the example of so-called ambulatory medical specialist care (ASV) in accordance with Par. 116b SGB V and selected selective contracts in accordance with Par. 140a SGB V. Even if the system of correct laboratory billing described in our previous articles has remained largely valid, we believe that structuring specialised forms of care in the outpatient sector would be particularly helpful. In addition to our previous articles on the system of correct laboratory billing, it is shown that laboratory commissioning must also be systematically correct and that all parties involved in the process (doctor’s surgeries, clinics, medical laboratories and insured persons) will benefit from this. In doing so, we are developing a system for correct laboratory ordering that leads to an improvement in process quality and process simplification when functionalised via so-called “order/entry”- or automated registration systems.

Navigating Uncertainty: Optimizing Contractor Selection for Megaprojects in Group Decision-Making with Multiple Criteria

Navigating Uncertainty: Optimizing Contractor Selection for Megaprojects in Group Decision-Making with Multiple Criteria

Assessment of competitive advantages of IT system integrator companies taking industry factors into account

Purpose. To evaluate competitive advantages of IT system integrators in Ukraine. To investigate the influence of industry factors on the formation of competitive advantages using cases of the mining and fuel & energy industries. Methodology. The empirical basis of the study was presented by performance indicators of the leading system integrator companies of Ukraine. The methodological basis of the research was the scoring method using weight coefficients and the graphic method of creating a radial diagram of competitive advantages. During the research, the following methods were used: analysis and synthesis (to study the components of competitive advantages and to form integral indicators), induction and deduction (to form market trends and to identify enterprise strategies), classification (to form indicators that determine competitive advantages). Findings. In the process of research, a model of competitive advantages for system integrator companies was formed. A methodology was developed and an assessment of competitive advantages of the leading system integrators of IT industry of Ukraine was carried out. A radial diagram of competitive advantages was created. It allows performing a comparative analysis of the factors of company competitive advantages with the aim to form a development strategy to improve the competitive position of the company in the market. Features of influence of the industry factors on the formation of competitive advantages of system integrators were considered and this influence was evaluated using cases of the mining and fuel & energy industries. Originality. A model and methodology for assessing competitive advantages for system integrator companies in IT industry were proposed; the main factors of competitive advantages for system integrators have been identified. The necessity of taking industry factors into account when assessing the competitive advantages of these enterprises has been proposed and confirmed by the research results. Practical value. The applied value of the research lies in the possibility of applying the developed model and methodology to assess the competitive advantages of system integrators. The results of such an assessment can be used by system integrators to develop a competitive strategy and improve their competitive positions in the market. Customers (including enterprises in the mining and fuel & energy industries) can use evaluation elements when conducting procurement (tender) procedures for selection of contractors for the implementation of system integration projects. Also, the results of the study can be used for the analysis of the system integration market.

Digitalization and tender evaluation in construction projects: a BIM-integrated MCDA approach supported by Macbeth

The tender evaluation process in the procurement for construction works, aligned with regulations such as the European Directive 2014/24/EU, faces various constraints, increasingly acknowledging the impact of digitalization, particularly through Building Information Modeling (BIM). Therefore, a thorough BIM-integrated multi-criteria decision analysis approach is vital to fairly select the best contractor for the job and ensure project success. Despite its significance, the literature remains scarce, particularly in addressing BIM-related and value-focused constraints for construction tender evaluation. This research introduces a comprehensive and value-focused method integrating BIM criteria through Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) supported by the Measuring Attractiveness by a Categorical Based Evaluation Technique (MACBETH), which is applicable to both the public and private sectors, serving as a reference guide for contracting authorities to assess and select the best tender for BIM-based construction works contracts. For this purpose, the following methodology was adopted: 1) conducting an extensive literature review; 2) carrying out interviews with construction experts to identify BIM-integrated evaluation criteria and performance descriptors; 3) creating an adapted MCDA construction tender evaluation framework supported by MACBETH; 4) performing a real-world case study to demonstrate the proposed evaluation framework; 5) discussing its application and limitations, along with considerations for future research. The study demonstrated the practicality of the proposed framework through a case study, showing that a value-based approach can significantly improve project outcomes compared to traditional methods. While acknowledging the potential of the BIM methodology, the impact of BIM-specific criteria on contractor selection was found to be less significant than expected. In conclusion, this work addresses current limitations, such as the absence of BIM-integrated assessment guidelines in the European Directive 2014/24/EU and ISO 19650. It outlines a value-focused MCDA approach for evaluating tenders for construction works contracts, supported by MACBETH for structuring the decision problem and building the evaluation model. The contribution to the body of knowledge lies in providing a robust framework that enhances the evaluation process in BIM-based construction works contracts and offers practical insights for contracting authorities.

Novel A + Q Method for Improving Conventional Lowest Bid Contractor Selection Based on Post-performance Records

Novel A + Q Method for Improving Conventional Lowest Bid Contractor Selection Based on Post-performance Records

The Influence of Contractors’ Selection Attributes. A Study of Public Construction Projects Performance in Kenya

This paper evaluated the influence of contractors’ selection attributes on public construction project performance in Kenya. This research contends that an investigation into contractors’ selection attributes at the tender evaluation stage is important to enhance the likelihood of public construction project success performance. The study used a survey method and administered questionnaires to 263 respondents selected through stratified sampling. One hundred and eighty-nine (189) practitioners and professionals in state agencies returned filed questionnaires representing a 71.86% return rate. The literature review and interview reveal thirteen contractor selection variables and six project performance criteria. SPSS was used to analyse the data set obtained for reliability, normality, correlation, and logit regression test. Logit regression analysis reveals the omnibus test of model coefficients converged (Chi-square=26.116, df=13, p=0.016). The model summary reveals Nagelkerke R^2 of 0.246 indicating a relationship of 24.6% between the thirteen predictor variables and project performance indicators. It was found that contractors quoted tender price (Exp (B) = 1.866), innovation (Exp (B) = 2.808), and occupation health and safety (Exp (B) = 0.358) significantly influence the performance of public construction projects when all other contractor's selection variables are controlled. This indicates that the contractor’s quoted tender price, innovation, and occupation health and safety explain well the success of the public construction project from thea six (performance by budget, time, procuring entity satisfaction, environmental sustainability, quality specifications, and fulfilling public need) project performance indicators

Risk Analysis of Contractor Selection in Construction Work Procurement

This research is about the risk analysis of the selection of contractors in the procurement of construction works. The method used to carry out the existing risk analysis is the Failure Mode and Effect Analysis method. The research was conducted on five Work Units for Procurement of Goods and Services (UKPBJ) with the highest number of failed tenders from 2021 to 2022. Risk identification was carried out by means of literature studies and pilot surveys in the form of interviews with several selection working groups. It was found that there were 26 risks to be analyzed. Data collection was carried out by distributing questionnaires to the selection working group, where the selection working group was asked to fill in the levels of severity, occurrence, and detection for the 26 existing risks. Then analyzed using the RPN method for each risk. The results obtained show that of the 26 existing risks, there are 10 that have an RPN value above the critical value. These risks are delays in procurement preparation documents from PPK SKPD, failed auctions, qualification results that are not the actual ability of participants, shortage of uploading tender documents, goods and services providers not interested in participating in the auction, objections or complaints from bidders, misunderstanding of information in the auction, Details of HPS known by bidders, Intimidation from Providers, NGOs, and law enforcement officials, and Mistakes in choosing a provider Then the level of importance of the risk is also determined by multiplying the frequency with the impact so that there is one risk that is at a moderate level, namely the risk of delay in procurement preparation documents from PPK SKPD. For the ten risks that are above the critical value, mitigation measures are carried out in order to minimize the impact that occurs.

Enhancing Contractor Selection through Fuzzy TOPSIS and Fuzzy SAW Techniques

Contractors play an integral role in construction projects, and their qualifications directly impact various aspects of a project’s success. The unbiased selection of contractors is a challenge in the construction industry worldwide, particularly in public projects where impartiality in the final selection is essential. Numerous factors must be considered when evaluating contractors, making the selection process challenging for the human brain. This paper introduces and compares two methods for assessing contractor prequalification by applying the fuzzy theory. The idea is to facilitate using human judgments in a mathematical system for decision-making with regard to selecting contractors. The method is based on identifying a fuzzy weight for the selection criteria using the Buckley method. Fuzzy TOPSIS and Fuzzy SAW methods are then used for the qualification ranking of the contractors. The proposed models are assessed using a case study. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted to compare the two models. The introduced method is expected to improve the quality of the qualification-based selection of contractors and prevent possible losses from hiring unsuitable contractors.

Treason and revenge: the emergence and continuation of ILSA contracting

ABSTRACT OECD and IEA International Large-Scale Assessments (ILSAs) contractors have remained largely invisible despite playing a key role in the making of education assessment data. With the help of Bourdieu’s thinking, this paper analyses data generated through document analysis of ILSA Reports and in-depth interviews with staff working on ILSAs at the IEA, the OECD and ILSA contractors. The paper traces education assessment developments in the USA and at the IEA and the OECD since the 1980s, and points to the critical role of Education Testing Services (ETS). Although the selection of ILSA contractors ostensibly occurs through a globally competitive tendering process, this paper reveals the pressures and struggles that emerged when economic capital became available at the IEA and the OECD. The struggles reveal PISA was created as a competing project to TIMSS. The paper demonstrates how the social and cultural capitals that individuals acquired, and in particular trust, shaped who can and who cannot produce ILSA data today. Overall, the paper makes visible the ILSA data chefs and their recipes: ILSAs are not raw, they are cooked under pressure with personal and organizational tensions, struggles, conflicts, and emotional bonds.

Identification of challenges and shortcomings in the selection of bidders on road projects in India: a study

The selection of bidders for road projects in India poses significant challenges and shortcomings, impacting project efficiency and outcomes. Enhancing project efficacy and efficiency requires recognizing and resolving these problems. The paper aims to explore the issues of contractor selection and the significance of project specific pre-qualification criteria. A mixed research approach was used in this study, consisting of a literature review and a questionnaire survey with a purposive sampling method. Key findings show that the lowest bidder, determined by the quoted price, is used as the basis for contractor selection. In contrast, political meddling, difficulties with selecting the best bidder among numerous alternatives, and complex manual selection processes were prominent. Payment, quality adherence requirements and progress tracking were the significant areas where conflict occurred with contractors. The study proposes a ranking structure for a total of 46 macro-level pre-qualification criteria. A weighted final decision system that uses a simple additive linear quantitative model is also suggested; this provides a general solution irrespective of the varying demographic and socio-economic legal framework of construction contracts. The study’s findings mandate that client organizations amend the current pre-qualification criteria and implement an appropriate decision support system for choosing the most reliable contractor.

An integrated Delphi and Fuzzy AHP model for contractor selection: a case of Addis Ababa Design and Construction Works Bureau

An integrated Delphi and Fuzzy AHP model for contractor selection: a case of Addis Ababa Design and Construction Works Bureau

Success of the tender stage of Ghanaian public labor-based construction projects

PurposeThe procurement reforms carried out by the Government of Ghana have led to the creation of the Public Procurement Authority and the passage of the Public Procurement (Amended) Act 2016. Nevertheless, many obstacles could prevent an open and fair competition during the procurement of works. This significantly affects the success of Ghanaian construction projects. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the factors to enhance the success of the contractor selection phase of the Ghanaian public labor-based construction project.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research approach was adopted by this study. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire to 377 respondents across Ghana. The data was then analyzed using structural equation modeling.FindingsThis study revealed that external, project procedures and project management factors impact the Ghanaian labor-based contractor selection phase success.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited to the contractor selection phase of Ghanaian public labor-based projects and developing nations with similar socioeconomic characteristics.Social implicationsStrict adherence to this study’s findings will enable the government to undertake more infrastructure projects to raise the standard of living for its populace.Originality/valueAlthough several studies have been conducted to improve the success of construction projects in developing nations, very little focus has been placed on the success factors of the contractor selection phase of public construction projects. These findings are vital in discovering for the first-time factors influencing the success of the tender stage of public labor-based projects in Ghana and developing nations with similar socioeconomic characteristics.

A DEA Game Cross-Efficiency Model with Loss Aversion for Contractor Selection

Evaluating and selecting appropriate contractors is critical to the success of specific construction projects in the building industry. Existing approaches for addressing this problem are unsatisfactory due to the ignorance of the multi-dimensional nature of the evaluation process and inappropriate consideration of existent risks. This study presents a DEA game cross-efficiency model with loss aversion for evaluating and selecting specific contractors. The competitiveness of the evaluation process is modeled using game theory with respect to the adoption of the cross-efficiency model. The attitude of the decision maker toward risks is tackled with the use of loss aversion, which is a phenomenon formalized in prospect theory. As a result, the proposed approach can adequately screen available contractors through prequalification and adequately consider the attitude of the decision maker toward risks, leading to effective decisions being made. An example is presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model in evaluating and selecting appropriate contractors for specific construction projects. The results show that the proposed model is effective and efficient in producing a unique solution for contractor selection through appropriate modeling of the multi-dimensional contractor selection process and adequate consideration of the competition between the contractors and the attitude of the decision maker toward risks in practical situations.

Law on Bidding in Capital Construction: Current Status of Regulations, Limitations and Proposed Solutions

Bidding is part of procurement activities between businesses, between businesses and state agencies. This is a form of civilized competition in the market economy, a special transaction method for large-scale transactions that require efficiency and transparency. The nature of bidding is a form of civilized competition in a market economy. Bidding activities are carried out in many fields such as construction, equipment procurement, project implementation, etc. Therefore, all professional businesses, whether Vietnam or foreign, no matter what field, any model, if it has enough capacity, cannot be ignored in bidding. Laws on bidding in the field of capital construction play an important role in managing and regulating bidding activities in the construction industry. Currently, Vietnam law has documents regulating public procurement such as Bidding Law 2013 effective from July 1, 2014, Decree No. 63/2014/ND-CP stipulates detailed implementation of several articles of the Bidding Law on contractor selection, etc. Some issues related to the current status of provisions of Vietnam law on public bidding and procurement activities are the selection of bidding form, bidding process, healthy competition, openness, and transparency in public bidding activities. This study analyzes the regulations and limitations of the law on bidding in the field of capital construction, thereby proposing solutions to improve the law on this issue.

Does the Innovation Fund Improve Healthcare Provision? A Critical Assessment of the Status of Implementing Successful Innovation Fund Projects into Healthcare Practice

Since 2015, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA)'s Innovation Fund has been supporting projects in health services research and new health service models ("Neue Versorgungsformen", NVF). By the end of 2022, 211 projects in the NVF category had been funded. A key objective is the transfer of successful projects into standard care. This article analyzes previous projects regarding their incorporation into routine care based on transfer recommendations of the Innovation Fund Committee ("Innovationsausschuss" IA). Descriptive analysis of all projects completed by August 1, 2023 with transfer recommendations in the "NVF" funding stream. Presentation by topic, project duration, time until IA transfer decision, categorization, and number of institutions and organizations (recipients) addressed per project, their feedback published on the G-BA website, response rates per recipient group, and a content classification and interpretation of exemplary feedback. Recommendations based on the results and their discussion in an expert workshop. Out of 57 NVF projects, 17 had a transfer recommendation. A total of 57 feedback responses were received from a total of 431 recipients addressed by the IA across these projects. Response rates varied significantly. One-third of inquiries to the G-BA and its member organizations received a response (31%), while only every fifth inquiry to federal states (18%) and professional societies (18%) got a response. Less than one in ten inquiries to the Federal Ministry of Health (8%), administrative bodies (6%), and the German Medical Association (0%) received a response. Project-specific feedback within a recipient group was often contradictory or limited to regional scope. The transfer process reveals significant structural and procedural obstacles regarding the incorporation of projects evaluated as successful into routine health care. To ensure that funding from the innovation fund is most effectively used, there needs to be a realistic chance of successful transfer of positive project outcomes into routine care. The DNVF recommends stronger involvement of rule-competent institutions, mandatory publication of responses, structured moderation of the transfer process, expanding types of selective contracts, financing of implementation phases and of studies drawing on results across successful NVF projects.

A new multi-criteria decision making method for the selection of construction contractors using interval valued fuzzy set

ObjectiveThis article introduces a novel approach called Digital Weighted Multi Criteria Decision Making (DWMCDM) that employs interval valued fuzzy sets to select the best contractor for building projects. The contractor is chosen based on the pre-qualification and bid evaluation phases. In the first phase, the distance between the actual and required skills of the significant criteria is determined, and it is then converted into digital weighted distances to identify the maximum number of criteria related to the specific project of each contractor. The second step ranks the best contractor based on the bid price and digital weighted distances.ResultsThe suggested technique integrates the pre-qualification and bid review phases to address project award delays and other restrictions. Finally, a real-world application is addressed to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach to any type of interval valued fuzzy inputs.

Selection of a Green Contractor for the Implementation of a Solar Power Plant Project

This study is focused on the problem of contractor selection for the implementation of a solar power plant project to produce electricity from sustainable sources for the needs of the company Voćar. The goal of this research is to select a construction contractor to install a solar power plant using sustainability criteria. With this power plant, the company Voćar can reduce its electricity costs and contribute to the production of sustainable energy. A total of three main sustainability criteria were used, in which six auxiliary criteria were symmetrically distributed. With these criteria, six suppliers were analyzed, and expert decision making was carried out with the application of the fuzzy–rough approach. To define the weights of the criteria, the SWARA method was utilized in this study. Based on the findings of this method, the most important criteria are the ecological criteria. Using the CRADIS method, the contractors were ranked, and the results show that contractor C6 has the best results and is the first choice for implementing this project. Choosing the best supplier increases the sustainability of project implementation and the realization of the expected effects.

You Get What You Pay for: An Analysis of Public Contracts for Engineering Services

To understand the effects of bidder’s strategies on contractual modifications, this study utilized econometric methods and a database containing 5,434 engineering service contracts from Brazilian federal government. The results demonstrate the effects arising from the trade-off between the low prices presented in the contractor selection phase and the contractual performance measured by contract modifications. Competition among bidders in a reverse auction with multiple rounds of bid submissions can exacerbate this trade-off, potentially incentivizing risk-taking strategies by bidders. Subsequently, this may lead to the need for contract modifications to facilitate the ongoing execution of the contract.

Substance Evaluation Study of Construction Safety Plan Implementation and It's Implementation

Padang State University has experienced rapid student enrollment growth, driving the need for new infrastructure. Most of the buildings have more than 3 floors, and one of the ongoing projects reaches a height of 32.05 meters with 6 floors, contributing to higher construction risks. This research was conducted to evaluate the implementation of Construction Safety Plans (CSP) on projects over the past two years in accordance with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing Regulation No. 10 of 2021 and the Circular Letter of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing No. 10 of 2022. Data collection methods for this study involved two approaches: compliance audits and performance audits. Compliance audits involved document-based inspections of CSP, while performance audits included on-site observations and project work evaluations. The research results revealed that the construction of the central information and library building achieved the highest CSP implementation rate, with compliance rates of 93.33% in compliance audits and 91.42% in performance audits. In contrast, the rehabilitation project for the Faculty of Sports Sciences and the Dean's office showed lower compliance rates, scoring 37.14% in compliance audits and 35.34% in performance audits. The study also found that project contract values correlated with CSP compliance levels. Higher contract values were associated with higher CSP compliance. Contractor qualifications also played a crucial role in ensuring compliance with safety regulations. Based on these findings, it is recommended that UNP exercise greater selectivity in contractor selection processes. This study highlights the importance of construction safety in construction projects.

Combinative distance-based assessment method using linguistic T-spherical fuzzy aggregation operators and its application to multi-attribute group decision-making

Clean energy has become a hot topic worldwide because of the continuous rise in the climate's temperature. Reduced air pollution is only one of the many economic and environmental advantages of clean energy. An effective contractor with experience and knowledge in clean energy projects is always required to handle the complicated process of planning, implementing, and maintaining the new clean energy infrastructure. Contractor selection for renewable energy projects (REPs) is a multi-attribute group decision-making (MAGDM) problem. Linguistic T-spherical fuzzy set (LT-SFS) can be compatible with fuzzier information, and the contractor selection problem also has a lot of fuzzy information, which makes LT-SFS very suitable for contractor selection for REPs. Hence, the present work proposes a MAGDM methodology utilizing a combinative distance-based assessment (CODAS) method within the LT-SF context. For that, the Einstein and Frank t-norm and t-conorm has been used to define new and generalized operational laws for linguistic T-spherical fuzzy numbers. Then, the linguistic T-spherical fuzzy Einstein and linguistic T-spherical fuzzy Frank aggregation operators are proposed to integrate the information data provided by experts. Moreover, the proposed aggregation operators based-CODAS approach is designed to evaluate and rank the available alternatives. A real-life decision problem of selecting the best suitable contractor for a renewable energy project is solved to verify our suggested technique. Moreover, the sensitivity analysis is also carried out by changing the parameter's value to check the consistency of the rank order. Finally, the new model is compared with existing approaches to demonstrate its strength. The comparative analysis shows that the results of the suggested technique are more feasible and beneficial than those of existing approaches.