Stormont Finance Minister Nigel Dodds has met with the Construction Industry Forum for Northern Ireland (CIFNI) to discuss its proposals for public sector construction procurement, emerging from the work of the Procurement Task Group.

In response to the economic downturn, the Minister announced the formation of the Procurement Task Group last December. This group has now met on a number of occasions and has developed seven key principles to be applied to future public sector procurement.

The group is finalising an interim report which should be published next month.

Mr Dodds said the report will lead to "significant improvements in the way public sector construction contracts will be procured".

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He said this would be to the benefit of both industry and the various government construction clients.

"The production of the report, including the development of the seven key principles and the 25 supporting actions, is a model of partnership in action," said the Minister.

"It clearly demonstrates how industry and government can work together to achieve common goals and develop innovative solutions to what are complex issues."

He said the report will back the view by the Procurement Board that contracts should be awarded on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender.

"The practice of awarding contracts based on lowest price alone does not deliver value for money," said Mr Dodds.

Over £3bn has been set aside for the next two years for capital investment.

The Minister said: "This unprecedented level of public sector investment is supporting jobs in the construction industry during the current economic downturn."

Colin McCarthy, Chair of the Construction Industry Group for Northern Ireland, said: "At a time when thousands of people are losing their jobs in the construction industry, the flow of public sector construction projects is more important than ever.

"The work of the Procurement Task Group has prepared the way for significant improvements in the delivery of these projects."

(PR/KMcA)