Price is not decisive factor - Serbian engineers point to importance of quality criteria in public procurements

Shortly before the European Commission Conference taking place on June 30th, the European Federation of Engineering Consultancy Associations (EFCA) and the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE) joined forces to issue a statement to draw the attention of the European legislators drafting a new European policy and regulation on public procurement to the fact that quality criteria are a fundamental requirement in public procurement, and should thus be given full consideration in the awarding procedure.

Among the awarding criteria in the EU at the moment the lowest price still plays a detrimental role. In the awarding of architectural and engineering services, the awarding criteria are often, in fact, restricted to the price, while life-cycle costs and sustainability and environmental issues still do not play a predominant role.

Nikola Matic, president of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Serbia (ACES), told eKapija that the Serbian organization ACES had also taken part in the creation of aforementioned document.

- We particularly advocate for the inclusion of two criteria, which are Life Cycle of the Project and Maintenance during the use. We can take the automotive industry as an example. The best buy is not the cheapest car, but the one that has both good price and quality, the one that does not break often and whose maintenance costs are not high. All that should be taken in consideration, and not only the purchase price - Matic explained.

Delegacija Evropske unije u Republici Srbiji Beograd

FIDIC Geneve

Udruženje inženjera konsultanata Srbije - ACES