Kier – Utilities and Highway in partnership with Constructionline

Kier Utilities and Highways are updating their Subcontractor Procurement Standards.

Kier Utilities and Highways have updated their Subcontractor Procurement Standards to match those of the Constructionline accreditation. Please note that this change will take effect from 28^th Feb 2022, with a 6 month period for all subcontractors to gain Constructionline accreditation.

Kier will be adding live links between Constructionline and their onboarding and subcontractor management portal, Tradex. These links will allow Kier to view live information regarding the accreditation and insurance status of their supply chain.

The onboarding process for subcontractors will be more streamlined with the addition of the Kier pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ). Information that is held by Constructionline will be used to populate the questionnaire before then supplementing the information with a reduced Kier PQQ.

Levels of approval:

Within the Kier Utilities and Highways Subcontractor Procurement Standards there are 3 levels of approval, which are stated below in descending order:

• Minimum Standard Plus
• Minimum Standard
• Derogation (i.e. separate approval is required from Kier Operations and Health and Safety Directors to work for Kier as the accreditations held by the subcontractor do not meet Minimum Standards).

We request that all subcontractors working for Kier Utilities and / or Highways must meet these approval standards.

Subcontractors that hold the level of accreditation required to meet either the Minimum Standard Plus or the Minimum Standard approval levels will be preferred by Kier – derogated subcontractors are an exception to this.

Kier will work with their supply chain to support the upskilling of their subcontractors. Kier will actively utilise subcontractors within their supply chain who hold a higher accreditation and competency status. Over the long-term, Kier will be supporting their supply chain to advance their status to Constructionline in order to meet their objectives.

Required accreditation:

The table below shows the Constructionline accreditation required to meet the new Kier Utilities and Rail approval levels and the features and benefits of each:

(1) Insurance documents must be uploaded directly to Tradex and updated accordingly for Associate level. For all other levels of accreditation, the insurance documents must be uploaded and updated in Constructionline only.

(2) Additional Kier PQQ questions will be asked where the subcontractor is to carry out design.

(3) Consultants will be subject to a separate approval process. Kier are currently working with Constructionline and other leading construction companies to produce a new accreditation and pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) for consultants.

The changes mean that all subcontractors must hold a level of Constructionline accreditation by 28^th Aug 2022. Where it is not possible or practicable to hold a higher level of accreditation, Constructionline have provided a free of charge Associate level.

If you already subscribe to another accreditor, if possible, on renewal of the accreditation, Keir would be grateful if you could subscribe to an equivalent Constructionline level of accreditation. In the meantime, Constructionline Associate level should be obtained as a minimum.

Benefits of Constructionline

• Suppliers, Subcontractors and Consultants will be able to demonstrate that they meet an industry-agreed standard rather than having to complete client-specific questionnaires often asking the same or very similar questions in a slightly different way.
• Simplifies a complex system by reducing duplication of time, effort, resources, and cost, together estimated at impacting the sector up to £1bn per year.
• Recognised by an increasing number of major contractors and clients including Balfour Beatty, Mace, Multiplex, Vinci, Wates, BAM, Tilbury Douglas, Volker, Bouygues, Highways England, Crown Commercial Service, and many other public and private sector businesses.
• Constructionline was originally part National Government Department and subsequently has transitioned and transformed into a supply chain risk management partner for the organisations and to specifically support SME’s, Constructionline have the largest industry network of over 48,000 suppliers, subcontractors, facilities management organisations and consultants.
• Fully searchable profile on the above platform, increasing visibility of your business to Kier and other potential clients.
• Invitations to regular Meet The Buyer events again increasing visibility of your business and facilitating face to face discussions (restrictions permitting).
• Future developments include access to a noticeboard of work winning opportunities posted by the wider Constructionline user community.