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Tender review system aims to eliminate overspecification
Justin Stanton Editor, CM Digital
Image courtesy of Re-Structured
A tender package review system that can identify overspecification has been launched.
The system, known as Fortify, has been developed by Re-Structured, a business run by the founders of London-based structural engineering firm, Blue Engineering.
“Unlike traditional value engineering exercises, which can compromise quality, Fortify combines automation, data analysis, and professional expertise to streamline building structures without undermining design intent, compliance or safety,” Re-Structured claims. “Steelwork and foundations are the most common areas of waste, with material use often cut by as much as 50%.”
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The system is a result of Blue Engineering’s experience of seeing quality designs undercut by cheaper, but often “poorly conceived alternatives”. To demonstrate the commercial value of precision engineering, the Blue Engineering team began reviewing competitors’ designs on a no-win, no-fee basis. The process proved so effective that it has now been developed into a standalone business.
Fortify is most effective between RIBA Stages 4 and 5, up to the point of ordering materials.
Cost and carbon savings
It is already being applied to live projects, with savings identified in the majority of cases, Re-Structured said. On one London scheme, the review uncovered significant overspecification, recommending targeted investigative work and a leaner redesign. The revised scheme removed 4,200kg of steel and 10,000kg of concrete, delivering estimated savings of £20,000 and cutting 8,700kg of CO2 emissions.
Re-Structured’s own analysis of 50 recent tender-package reviews found that significant savings were possible in 85% of cases. Steelwork consistently offered the greatest opportunity for reduction, with average weight savings of 20%, while reinforced concrete was frequently found to be outside optimal ranges.
James Nevin, co-founder of Re-Structured, said: “By embedding Fortify into workflows, contractors and consultants can protect architectural intent while improving commercial margins and environmental performance. Our latest report shows not only the scale of the problem, but also the scale of the opportunity. It is a way of unlocking savings that are already there, simplifying structures, removing unnecessary complexity, and cutting cost and carbon in the process.”
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