The following is offered as a guideline only and may not apply to all projects.  It is hoped it will provide a clearer understanding of the design process to potential clients. 

TENDER
The type of building procurement will be discussed at the beginning of the project as this will have an influence on how the project is managed.  The method of tendering should reflect the scope and scale of the building works and accurately describe the client’s requirements.  In some cases, such as small or simple projects, it may be more appropriate to negotiate a price with a preferred builder, rather than calling tenders, saving on time and cost.  While it is important for the architect to ascertain the requirements of the client and act on their instructions, it is the architect’s role to inform the client of appropriate tendering procedures.