EDA doubts

The European Demolition Association has expressed serious doubts over the planned introduction of electronic tendering (ET) across Europe. According to the association, “pilot studies carried out over recent years do not stress the main issues of electronic procurements for the demolition industry.”

The association adds that although there are technical issues concerned with the new electronic procurement system, it is the overall consequences of the system that are not getting the attention they need.

“Experience of electronic tenders in the demolition sector already show that the general trend among clients is to select on the basis of the lowest price as the only criterion. This short-sighted approach results in a highly competitive atmosphere which causes the demolition contractors to present very tight bids, often to the detriment of the necessary safety measures, quality measures, working conditions and, perhaps in the long term, education and training of the employees”, said the EDA. “These are all measures of high importance on the safety in the demolition industry, key-elements which should not be lowered at any cost. The consequences of electronic tenders in the demolition industry can therefore be summarised as suppressive of qualitative developments and professionalisation”, it added.