FIS has been working on a number of fronts looking at how we support the “Responsible No”. As part of this work we have been breaking down the design development process and looking at irreconcilable details.  We are looking for member feedback on an outline paper that we have prepared “A Defined Design Development Process”.

This paper looks at the design development process and allocation of responsibility to trade contractors within the context of Contractors Design Portion (CDP).

The transfer of liability in complex amendments to standard form contracts and expectations associated with design development is commonplace.  Concern centres on procurement processes (see Figure 1) that give trade contractors little or no time to address design at tender stage and don’t allow for early supply chain engagement and encourage or foster collaboration between specialist contractors.

Increasingly specialist contractors are finding themselves responsible for the compliance of details that they did not design but are presented in contract as their liability.  This paper starts to explore how this should be co-ordinated more effectively through a more consistent and consultative design development centred on a standardise approach to creating a Design Responsibility Matrix (DRM).

We would appreciate feedback on this document using this form. Please email to info@thefis.org by 22 April 2024.