Gestão & Produção
https://www.gestaoeproducao.com/article/doi/10.1590/1806-9649-2024v31e6424
Gestão & Produção
Original Article

Sustainability requirements in public tenders - an embedded case study at the Dutch Department of Public Works

Requisitos de sustentabilidade em licitações públicas - um estudo de caso incorporado no Departamento de Obras Públicas da Holanda

Cees Johannes Gelderman; Janjaap Semeijn; Mart-Jan Roos

Downloads: 1
Views: 292

Abstract

Abstract: The construction industry is under pressure to work much more sustainably. The government is the largest client and has a lot of potential to contribute to sustainability. However, little is known about the effectiveness of sustainability requirements in public procurement for construction projects. This study examines three Rijkswaterstaat road construction projects to understand the role of sustainability requirements. One striking finding is that contractors often adopt additional sustainability measures during construction. This research shows that agreements can evolve flexibly, which highlights the importance of contractual flexibility. This flexibility is essential for effective collaboration and achieving sustainability performance. Contractual adjustments can lead to improved environmental performance by allowing contractors to incorporate innovative and sustainable solutions as the project progresses. It is therefore important that public contracts allow for such adjustments to promote sustainability in the construction sector. Contractual flexibility appears to play a key role in the successful implementation of sustainable practices in construction projects.

Keywords

Public works, Sustainability requirements, Construction industry, Contractual flexibility, Incomplete contracts

Resumo

Resumo: O setor de construção está sob pressão para trabalhar de forma muito mais sustentável. O governo é o maior cliente e tem muito potencial para contribuir com a sustentabilidade. No entanto, pouco se sabe sobre a eficácia dos requisitos de sustentabilidade nos contratos públicos para projetos de construção. Este estudo examina três projetos de construção de estradas da Rijkswaterstaat para entender o papel dos requisitos de sustentabilidade. Uma descoberta surpreendente é que as empreiteiras geralmente adotam medidas adicionais de sustentabilidade durante a construção. Esta pesquisa mostra que os acordos podem evoluir de forma flexível, o que destaca a importância da flexibilidade contratual. Essa flexibilidade é essencial para uma colaboração eficaz e para a obtenção de um desempenho sustentável. Os ajustes contratuais podem levar a um melhor desempenho ambiental, permitindo que as empreiteiras incorporem soluções inovadoras e sustentáveis à medida que o projeto avança. Portanto, é importante que os contratos públicos permitam tais ajustes para promover a sustentabilidade no setor de construção. A flexibilidade contratual parece desempenhar um papel fundamental na implementação bem-sucedida de práticas sustentáveis em projetos de construção.

Palavras-chave

Obras públicas, Requisitos de sustentabilidade, Setor de construção, Flexibilidade contratual, Contratos incompletos

Referências

AlNuaimi, B. K., Singh, S. K., & Harney, B. (2021). Unpacking the role of innovation capability: exploring the impact of leadership style on green procurement via a natural resource-based perspective. Journal of Business Research, 134, 78-88. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.05.026.

Bolton, P., & Dewatripont, M. (2004). Contract theory. Cambridge: MIT Press.

Cataldo, I., Banaitis, A., Samadhiya, A., Banaitienė, N., Kumar, A., & Luthra, S. (2022). Sustainable supply chain management in construction: an exploratory review for future research. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 28(7), 536-553. http://doi.org/10.3846/jcem.2022.17202.

Chataway, J., Hanlin, R., & Kaplinsky, R. (2014). Inclusive innovations: an architecture for policy development. Innovation and Development, 4(1), 33-54. http://doi.org/10.1080/2157930X.2013.876800.

Cheng, W., Appolloni, A., D’Amato, A., & Zhu, Q. (2018). Green Public Procurement, missing concepts and future trends–A critical review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 176, 770-784. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.12.027.

Chiappinelli, O., Gruner, F., & Weber, G. (2019). Green public procurement: climate provisions in public tenders can help reduce German carbon emission. DIW Weekly Report, 9, 433-441.

Coleman, E., Nooni, I. K., Fianko, S. K., Dadzie, L., Neequaye, E. N., Owusu-Agyemang, J., & Ansa-Asare, E. O. (2020). Assessing contract management as a strategic tool for achieving quality of work in Ghanaian construction industry: a case study of FPMU and MMDAs. Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, 25(1), 41-60. http://doi.org/10.1108/JFMPC-08-2018-0046.

De Neufville, R., & Scholtes, S. (2011). Flexibility in engineering design. Cambridge: MIT Press. http://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/8292.001.0001.

Demirel, H. Ç., Leendertse, W., Volker, L., & Hertogh, M. (2017). Flexibility in PPP contracts–Dealing with potential change in the pre-contract phase of a construction project. Construction Management and Economics, 35(4), 196-206. http://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2016.1241414.

Domingues, S., Zlatkovic, D., & Roumboutsos, A. (2014). Contractual flexibility in transport infrastructure PPP. In Proceedings of the European Transport Conference (Vol. 29). Frankfurt.

Eriksson, P. E. (2008). Procurement effects on coopetition in client-contractor relationships. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 134(2), 103-111. http://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2008)134:2(103).

Ershadi, M., Jefferies, M., Davis, P., & Mojtahedi, M. (2021). Barriers to achieving sustainable construction project procurement in the private sector. Cleaner Engineering and Technology, 3, 100125. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.clet.2021.100125.

European Commission. (2022). Construction sector. Retrieved in 2024, April 24, from https://commission.europa.eu/index_en.

Fitriani, H., & Ajayi, S. (2023). Barriers to sustainable practices in the Indonesian construction industry. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 66(10), 2028-2050. http://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2022.2057281.

Garrett, G. A., & Rendon, R. G. (2005). Managing contracts in turbulent times: the contract management maturity model. Contract Management, 9, 48-57.

Gelderman, C. J., Semeijn, J., & De Vries, S. (2019). Contracting for road maintenance in the Netherlands: the downside of performance-based contracting. Infrastructures, 4(3), 41. http://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures4030041.

Giorgi, S., Lavagna, M., Wang, K., Osmani, M., Liu, G., & Campioli, A. (2022). Drivers and barriers towards circular economy in the building sector: stakeholder interviews and analysis of five European countries policies and practices. Journal of Cleaner Production, 336, 130395. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.130395.

Goh, C. S., Chong, H. Y., Jack, L., & Faris, A. F. M. (2020). Revisiting triple bottom line within the context of sustainable construction: a systematic review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 252, 119884. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119884.

Grandia, J. (2016). Finding the missing link: examining the mediating role of sustainable public procurement behaviour. Journal of Cleaner Production, 124, 183-190. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.02.102.

Gu, J., Guo, F., Peng, X., & Wang, B. (2023). Green and sustainable construction industry: a systematic literature review of the contractor’s green construction capability. Buildings, 13(2), 470. http://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13020470.

Halonen, K.-M. (2021). Public procurement fit for reaching sustainability goals? A law and economics approach to green public procurement. Maastricht Journal of European and Comparative Law, 28(4), 4. http://doi.org/10.1177/1023263X211016756.

Hart, O., & Moore, J. (1988). Incomplete contracts and renegotiation. Econometrica, 56(4), 755-7785. http://doi.org/10.2307/1912698.

Koppenjan, J., Klijn, E. H., Verweij, S., Duijn, M., van Meerkerk, I., Metselaar, S., & Warsen, R. (2022). The performance of public–private partnerships: an evaluation of 15 years DBFM in Dutch infrastructure governance. Public Performance & Management Review, 45(5), 998-1028. http://doi.org/10.1080/15309576.2022.2062399.

Lenderink, B., Halman, J. I., Boes, J., Voordijk, H., & Dorée, A. G. (2022). Procurement and innovation risk management: how a public client managed to realize a radical green innovation in a civil engineering project. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, 28(1), 100747. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.pursup.2022.100747.

Lenferink, S., Tillema, T., & Arts, J. (2013). Towards sustainable infrastructure development through integrated contracts: experiences with inclusiveness in Dutch infrastructure projects. International Journal of Project Management, 31(4), 615-627. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2012.09.014.

Lingegård, S., Havenvid, M. I., & Eriksson, P. E. (2021). Circular public procurement through integrated contracts in the infrastructure sector. Sustainability, 13(21), 11983. http://doi.org/10.3390/su132111983.

Mchopa, A. (2015). Integrating contract management practices into the achievement of value for money in Tanzania public procurement: evidence from selected procuring entities in moshi municipality. Journal of Public Procurement, 15(2), 129-149. http://doi.org/10.1108/JOPP-15-02-2015-B001.

Meredith, J., & Mantel, S. (2002). Project management. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Miller, G., Furneaux, C. W., Davis, P., Love, P., & O’Donnell, A. (2009). Built environment procurement practice: impediments to innovation and opportunities for changes. Australia: Curtin University of Technology.

Montalbán-Domingo, L., Torres-Machi, C., Sanz-Benlloch, A., Pellicer, E., & Molenaar, K. R. (2023). Green Public Procurement in civil infrastructure construction: current performance and main project characteristics. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 149(9), 04023089. http://doi.org/10.1061/JCEMD4.COENG-13502.

Ntsonde, J., & Aggeri, F. (2021). Stimulating innovation and creating new markets–The potential of circular public procurement. Journal of Cleaner Production, 308, 127303. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127303.

Nullmeier, F. M., Wynstra, F., & van Raaij, E. M. (2016). Outcome attributability in performance-based contracting: roles and activities of the buying organization. Industrial Marketing Management, 59, 25-36. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2016.05.031.

Nuottila, J., Kujala, J., & Nysten-Haarala, S. (2015). Flexible contracting in software project business: what can we learn from agile methods in the software industry. Lapland Law Review, 2, 29-54.

Nwajei, U. O. K. (2021). How relational contract theory influence management strategies and project outcomes: a systematic literature review. Construction Management and Economics, 39(5), 432-457. http://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2021.1913285.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development – OECD. (2020). Public procurement and responsible business conduct. Retrieved in 2024, April 24, from https://www.oecd.org/governance/public-procurement/procurement-and-rbc/

Palmujoki, A., Parikka‐Alhola, K., & Ekroos, A. (2010). Green public procurement: analysis on the use of environmental criteria in contracts. Review of European Community & International Environmental Law, 19(2), 250-262. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9388.2010.00681.x.

Perlingeiro, R. M., Perlingeiro, M. S. P. L., & Soares, C. A. P. (2021). Criteria for the assessment of sustainability of public constructions. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 23(10), 15450-15493. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-021-01306-2.

Pero, M., Moretto, A., Bottani, E., & Bigliardi, B. (2017). Environmental collaboration for sustainability in the construction industry: an exploratory study in Italy. Sustainability, 9(1), 125. http://doi.org/10.3390/su9010125.

Professioneel en Innovatief Aanbesteden, Netwerk voor Overheidsopdrachtgevers – PIANOo. (2020). Ambitieniveau bepalen MVI-criteriatool. Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. Retrieved in 2024, April 24, from https://www.pianoo.nl/nl/themas/maatschappelijk-verantwoord-inkopen/mvi-criteria/ambitieniveau-bepalen-mvi-criteriatool

Rahman, M. M., & Kumaraswamy, M. M. (2002). Joint risk management through transactionally efficient relational contracting. Construction Management and Economics, 20(1), 45-54. http://doi.org/10.1080/01446190110089682.

Robinson, J. (1977). What are the questions? Journal of Economic Literature, 1318-1339.

Schepker, D., Oh, W., Martynov, A., & Poppo, L. (2014). The many futures of contracts moving beyond structure and safeguarding to coordination and adaptation. Journal of Management, 40(1), 193-225. http://doi.org/10.1177/0149206313491289.

Simons, L., & Nijhof, A. (2021). Changing the game sustainable market transformation strategies to understand and tackle the big complex sustainability challenges of our generation. London: Routledge.

Sloots, A., Keulen, H., de Koning-van Rutte, M., Stuijts, M., & Hebly, J. (2022). Gids proportionaliteit. Den Haag, the Netherlands: Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Song, H., Hou, J., & Tang, S. (2021). From contractual flexibility to contractor’s cooperative behavior in construction projects: the multiple mediation effects of ongoing trust and justice perception. Sustainability, 13(24), 13654. http://doi.org/10.3390/su132413654.

Tian, B., Fu, J., Xu, Y., & Sun, L. (2022). How does contract flexibility affect the sustainability performance of public–private partnership projects? A serial multiple mediator model. Engineering, Construction, and Architectural Management, 31(1), 28-47. http://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-03-2022-0222.

Uil, T. (2022). Using procurement to leverage sustainability transition dynamics in construction: the dutch circular public procurement case (Master's thesis). University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands.

United Nations General Assembly. (1987). Report of the world commission on environment and development: our common future. Oslo: United Nations General Assembly, Development and International Co-operation: Environment.

Verweij, S. (2015). Achieving satisfaction when implementing PPP transportation infrastructure projects: a qualitative comparative analysis of the A15 highway DBFM project. International Journal of Project Management, 33(1), 189-200. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2014.05.004.

Vluggen, R., Gelderman, C. J., Semeijn, J., & van Pelt, M. (2019). Sustainable public procurement: external forces and accountability. Sustainability, 11(20), 5696. http://doi.org/10.3390/su11205696.

Yin, R. K. (2013). Case study research design and methods (5th ed.). London: Sage Publications Thousand Oaks.

Yu, C., Morotomi, T., & Yu, H. (2020). What influences adoption of green award criteria in a public contract? An empirical analysis of 2018 European public procurement contract award notices. Sustainability, 12(3), 1261. http://doi.org/10.3390/su12031261.

Zhang, L., & Xi, G. (2023). How does contractual flexibility affect a contractor’s opportunistic behavior? Roles of justice perception and communication quality. Buildings, 13(3), 615. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13030615.
 

6745cc30a953955a967ea8d3 gp Articles

Gest. Prod.

Share this page
Page Sections