National Prequalification System – Proposed New Categories

Overview Proposed New Categories Precast Concrete Products Steel Fabrication Making a Submission Frequently Asked Questions Contacts About Austroads

Seeking feedback Austroads is seeking feedback on a proposal to add two new specialist categories to Australia’s National Prequalification System: • •

Precast Concrete Products Steel Fabrication.

This document provides an overview of the proposal, detailed information about the new categories, information about making a submission and responds to frequently asked questions. Submissions are due 19 December 2014.

National Prequalification System – Proposed New Categories

Overview

Overview

Proposed New Categories Precast Concrete Products Steel Fabrication Making a Submission Frequently Asked Questions Contacts About Austroads

Currently, various state and territory road agencies locally administer the Austroads National Prequalification System for Civil (Road and Bridge) Construction Contracts. This is known as the National Prequalification System.

The National Prequalification System Management Committee has identified two specialist areas where the development of new national categories could be beneficial:

Under the National Prequalification System, contracting entities wishing to prequalify in road and bridge construction categories are assessed and managed using identical criteria and in line with national rules and procedures. Once prequalified by one road agency participating in the administration of the National Prequalification System, an entity can seek recognition of its prequalification status from other such agencies.

• Steel Fabrication.

Some state and territory road agencies also prequalify entities in specialist areas related to road and bridge construction. Specialist categories are currently excluded from the National Prequalification System and are managed by those agencies either as local ‘addons’ to the system, or under separate jurisdictional schemes. As a consequence, the specialist categories used across the jurisdictions are not consistent, including with respect to requirements that must be met by applicants and prequalified contractors. Also, specialist contracting entities are not able to access the mutual recognition framework under the National Prequalification System, which means those wishing to work across jurisdictional boundaries must currently lodge separate prequalification applications with each relevant road agency. This is administratively cumbersome and results in additional, unnecessary cost to both contracting entities and assessing agencies.

• Precast Concrete Products Full details of the proposed specialist categories are presented in two separate draft reports, each of which addresses the nominated specialist areas in detail. The reports include a thorough description of the proposed new categories, background to their development, the minimum requirements that are proposed to be met for prequalification, the mutual recognition framework, and how the categories (and contractors prequalified in them) will be managed at the national level.

National Prequalification System – Proposed New Categories

Overview

Proposed New Categories

Proposed New Categories Precast Concrete Products

The National Prequalification System Management Committee has identified two specialist areas where the development of new national categories could be beneficial:

Steel Fabrication

• Precast Concrete Products

Making a Submission Frequently Asked Questions Contacts About Austroads

• Steel Fabrication. The inclusion of the new categories within the National Prequalification System aims to: • promote safe, consistent and high-quality manufacturing of precast concrete and complex steel products that meet the participating authorities’ specifications and requirements • ensure that all precast concrete and complex steel products used in the participating authorities’ projects are obtained from facilities that are appropriately prequalified.

National Prequalification System – Proposed New Categories

Overview

Precast Concrete Products

Proposed New Categories Precast Concrete Products

This report focuses specifically on the area of precast concrete products and presents four separate categories for potential inclusion into the National Prequalification System:

Steel Fabrication

•

Pretensioned (routine)

•

Pretensioned reinforced components (complex)

•

Precast products

Frequently Asked Questions

•

Pipes and poles

Contacts

The report includes draft system documentation including prequalification guidelines, application form, registration form for mutual recognition and performance reporting.

Making a Submission

About Austroads

The report will be updated to take into account outcomes of the industry consultation process and finalised following formal endorsement from Austroads. Double click on the paper clip to open the report >>

National Prequalification System – Proposed New Categories

Overview

Steel Fabrication

Proposed New Categories Precast Concrete Products Steel Fabrication Making a Submission Frequently Asked Questions Contacts About Austroads

This report focuses specifically on the area of steel fabrication, and presents a proposed new category for the fabrication of complex steel products for potential inclusion into the National Prequalification System. The category applies to organisations with demonstrated capacity and capability to produce major steel items, including bridge trough, box, welded steel plate, truss and composite steel girders, bridge cross girders, cross frames, lateral bracing and diaphragms, launching noses and trusses, bridge columns and trestle piers, bridge lift spans and supports, gantries and other complex fabricated structures. The report includes draft system documentation including prequalification guidelines, application form, registration form for mutual recognition and performance reporting. The report will be updated to take into account outcomes of the industry consultation process and finalised following formal endorsement from Austroads. Double click on the paper clip to open the report >>

National Prequalification System – Proposed New Categories

Overview

Making a Submission

Proposed New Categories Precast Concrete Products Steel Fabrication Making a Submission Frequently Asked Questions Contacts About Austroads

Austroads is seeking feedback from interested stakeholders on the proposed new categories. All comments are welcome, and will be taken into consideration prior to finalisation of the categories and implementation by individual road agencies. Submissions should be lodged by 19 December 2014 with: Mr Michael Swainston State Program Office Department of Transport and Main Roads, QLD Email: [email protected] Mail:

GPO Box 1549, Brisbane City QLD 4000

What will happen to my submission? All submissions will be reviewed and considered by the project Working Group, comprising representatives from Austroads state and territory member agencies. The Austroads Project Manager will then submit a list of final recommendations to Austroads regarding the proposed new categories, including any recommended updates to the draft system documentation. The Austroads Board will consider the recommendations and decide whether to endorse the new categories in the proposed final form. If endorsement is provided, individual road agencies will commence the process of implementation of the new categories from 2 March 2015. Consolidated responses to issues raised in the submissions will be prepared by the Austroads Project Manager and forwarded to local road agencies representatives to provide feedback to contractors and industry representatives in their respective jurisdictions.

National Prequalification System – Proposed New Categories

Overview Proposed New Categories Precast Concrete Products Steel Fabrication Making a Submission

Frequently Asked Questions What is the Austroads National Prequalification System for Civil (Road and Bridge) Construction Contracts? Why is Austroads proposing to introduce new categories into the National Prequalification System? Who was involved in developing the proposed new categories? What are the benefits of the proposed new categories? Which agencies will be adopting the new categories? My organisation operates fabrication and/or casting facilities in WA or the NT. Can we prequalify in the new categories?

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the new categories be introduced?

Contacts

Some road agencies already have prequalification or registration categories in Precast Concrete and Steel. What will happen to those categories?

About Austroads

My organisation is already prequalified/registered in a local Steel Fabrication or Precast Concrete Products category (in QLD or NSW). How do the category requirements differ? My organisation operates multiple fabrication and/or casting facilities. Can all of the facilities be covered by the same prequalification? What happens if the facilities are located in different jurisdictions? If a contractor wants to have its prequalification status recognised in another jurisdiction, does it need to have a local office/ presence in that jurisdiction? How much does it cost to apply for prequalification? How will assessments of the new categories will undertaken? I understand a new Steel Certification Scheme is being introduced for steel fabricators. Is this the same as prequalification? Who will manage the new categories? Are New Zealand contractors covered by the proposed National Prequalification System? Will local councils be adopting the new categories? I have some comments to make on the proposed new categories. How can I lodge a submission? What will happen to the submissions lodged during the consultation process? Who can I contact for more information? What must I do next?

National Prequalification System – Proposed New Categories

Overview Proposed New Categories Precast Concrete Products Steel Fabrication Making a Submission Frequently Asked Questions Contacts About Austroads

What is the Austroads National Prequalification System for Civil (Road and Bridge) Construction Contracts?

Why is Austroads proposing to introduce new categories into the National Prequalification System?

The National Prequalification System for Civil (Road and Bridge) Construction Contracts (‘National Prequalification System’) was developed by Austroads to consolidate all the jurisdiction-specific systems previously in place for prequalification in road and bridge construction into a seamless, harmonised framework of applications, assessments and reviews. Under the National Prequalification System, contracting entities wishing to prequalify in road and bridge construction categories are assessed and managed using identical criteria and in line with national rules and procedures. Once prequalified by one road agency participating in the administration of the National Prequalification System, an entity can seek recognition of its prequalification status from other such agencies.

Some state and territory road agencies prequalify entities in specialist areas related to road and bridge construction. These specialist categories are currently excluded from the National Prequalification System and are managed by those agencies either as local ‘addons’ to the system, or under separate jurisdictional schemes. As a consequence, the specialist categories used across the jurisdictions are not consistent, including with respect to requirements that must be met by applicants and prequalified contractors. Also, specialist contracting entities are not able to access the mutual recognition framework under the National Prequalification System, which means those wishing to work across jurisdictional boundaries must currently lodge separate prequalification applications with each relevant road agency. This is administratively cumbersome and results in additional, unnecessary cost to both contracting entities and assessing agencies.

The National Prequalification System was implemented on 1 January 2011 by Australian state and territory road agencies in all jurisdictions except the NT (which has implemented the system only for contracts at the $50 M+ level).

The National Prequalification System Management Committee identified two specialist areas where the development of new national categories could be beneficial, which are: • Precast Concrete Products • Steel Fabrication. Austroads initiated a formal project in late 2012 to define proposed new categories in the two identified areas, with a view to formally introducing these categories into the National Prequalification System following consideration of any matters raised through formal industry consultation.

National Prequalification System – Proposed New Categories

Overview Proposed New Categories Precast Concrete Products Steel Fabrication Making a Submission Frequently Asked Questions Contacts About Austroads

Who was involved in developing the proposed new categories?

What are the benefits of the proposed new categories?

The proposed new ‘Precast Concrete Products’ and ‘Steel Fabrication’ categories have been developed by a project Working Group, convened by Austroads, with support provided by ARRB Group Ltd.

For contractors:

The project Working Group members are: Name

Organisation

Project Manager Michael Swainston

Department of Transport and Main Roads, Qld

Working Group members Wayne Roberts

Department of Transport and Main Roads, Qld

Paul Adams

Department of Transport and Main Roads, Qld

Linda Ziebell

Department of Transport and Main Roads, Qld

Brian Bestwick

Roads and Maritime Services, NSW

Houman Hatamian

Roads and Maritime Services, NSW

Hamid Fatemi

Roads and Maritime Services, NSW

Kumar Ponnampalam

Roads and Maritime Services, NSW

Narendra Tripathi

Roads and Maritime Services, NSW

Richard Edwards

Department of Transport, Planning and Infrastructure, SA

John Houghton

Main Roads, WA

Neville Schmidt

VicRoads, Victoria

Andrew Walker

VicRoads, Victoria

Lee-Anne Aldwell

Commerce and Works Directorate, ACT

Cindy-Lee McDonald

Department of Construction, NT

Annette Williams

Department of Business, NT

Genevieve Rider

Department of State Growth, Tas

Stephen Ward

Contractor Accreditation Ltd.

• reducing barriers to entry for contractors wishing to tender for or supply precast concrete or fabricated steel products across jurisdictions (through a mutual recognition process) • reducing the administrative burden on individual contractors arising from applying for and maintaining prequalification with different road agencies, each of which have slightly different requirements • improved certainty, resulting from consistent, transparent and objective processes to be used by all agencies that adopt the new categories. For road agencies: • reducing the burden on individual agencies arising from administration of unique localised systems • improving information-sharing on contractor performance across jurisdictions • improved mechanisms for managing contractor performance • retention of the risk management benefits of prequalification • robust, consistent, transparent and objective processes across all agencies that adopt the new categories.

National Prequalification System – Proposed New Categories

Overview Which agencies will be adopting the new categories?

When will the new categories be introduced?

Precast Concrete Products

State and territory road agencies in all jurisdictions except the NT and WA have advised they will adopt the new ‘Precast Concrete Products’ and ‘Steel Fabrication’ categories.

The new categories will be finalised following consideration of the feedback received through the industry consultation process, and will be ready for implementation from 2 March 2015.

Steel Fabrication

A listing of the jurisdictions and agencies that have agreed to adopt the new categories is below.

Proposed New Categories

Making a Submission

Jurisdiction

Road agency

New South Wales

Roads and Maritime Services, New South Wales (RMS)

Frequently Asked Questions

Victoria

Roads Corporation, Victoria (VicRoads)

Queensland

Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland (TMR)

South Australia

Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, South Australia (DPTI)

Australian Capital Territory

Commerce and Works Directorate, Australian Capital Territory

Tasmania

Department of State Growth (DSG)

Contacts About Austroads

My organisation operates fabrication and/or casting facilities in WA or the NT. Can we prequalify in the new categories? Yes. While the WA and NT road agencies will not be adopting the new categories, you can apply with one of the agencies that have adopted the new categories. However, you will be responsible for covering the assessing agency’s costs for undertaking the site inspection of your facility(s). It is recommended that you contact the road agency in one of the nearby jurisdictions for advice as to the likely cost of the site assessment before completing your application.

Some road agencies already have prequalification or registration categories in Precast Concrete and Steel. What will happen to those categories? Currently, both the Department of Transport and Main Roads QLD and Roads and Maritime Services NSW administer local prequalification/ registration categories in the areas of Precast Concrete Products and Steel Fabrication. Once the new categories are agreed, existing specialist categories in QLD and NSW which cover the same subject-matter as the new national categories will be closed to new entrants and renewals. New entrants will be assessed under the National Prequalification System from 2 March 2015, and if successful would receive prequalification in the national category(s) and be eligible for recognition of prequalification status in other jurisdictions. Depending on the QLD and NSW road agencies’ preferred process, entities currently prequalified in jurisdiction specific specialist categories in the same subject area as the new categories may be transitioned across to the National Prequalification System in the first instance, and would not be eligible for mutual recognition until such time as a full assessment under the new National Prequalification System category has been undertaken.

National Prequalification System – Proposed New Categories

Overview

Precast Concrete Products Steel Fabrication Making a Submission Frequently Asked Questions Contacts About Austroads

The proposed new national categories were developed to be as consistent as possible with the pre-existing local categories in QLD and NSW. However, some of the requirements that must be met to become prequalified under the National Prequalification System may be different to the requirements in the current QLD and NSW systems/ schemes. These differences are outlined in the two draft Austroads reports which outline the components of the proposed new national categories and the requirements for applicants and prequalified contractors. The reports can be accessed as part of this kit. Alternatively, your local QLD or NSW Working Group representative will be able to advise you of any new requirements.

Prequalification assessment (Site B only)

START

Proposed New Categories

My organisation is already prequalified/registered in a local Steel Fabrication or Precast Concrete Products category (in QLD or NSW). How do the category requirements differ?

Award of prequalification status

Advise of prequalification award

Submission of prequalification application (Multi-jurisdiction) Prequalification assessment (desktop and Site A)

Seek recognition from other participating authorities

My organisation operates multiple fabrication and/or casting facilities. Can all of the facilities be covered by the same prequalification? What happens if the facilities are located in different jurisdictions? Applicants seeking to prequalify multiple facilities in different jurisdictions at the same time must lodge separate applications for each facility with the road agency in the jurisdiction where at least one of the facilities is located. That agency will undertake the assessment process for the facility(s) located within its jurisdiction and, provided the applicant satisfies the desktop assessment and site assessment of the facility(s) located in that jurisdiction, and will pass on the application(s) relating to interstate facilities to the relevant other agency(s). Each agency will generally have full responsibility for undertaking the site assessment and providing any subsequent prequalification (see Figure 1). If one or more of your facilities are located in jurisdictions that have not adopted the new national category(s), you will need to discuss and agree arrangements with the assessing road agency for covering the cost of the on-site aspects of the assessment process prior to the commencement of the prequalification assessment.

Grant recognition and notify of local requirements

Award of prequalification status

LEGEND

Contractor

Contractor responsibility

Assessing (home) authority

Assessing (home) authority responsibility

Assessing (other) authority

Assessing (other) authority responsibility

Recognising authority

Recognising authority responsibility

Figure 1: Assessment process (multi-jurisdiction applications)

National Prequalification System – Proposed New Categories

Overview Proposed New Categories Precast Concrete Products Steel Fabrication Making a Submission Frequently Asked Questions Contacts About Austroads

If a contractor wants to have its prequalification status recognised in another jurisdiction, does it need to have a local office/presence in that jurisdiction? No, a local office/presence is not required for the purpose of obtaining mutual recognition. How much does it cost to apply for prequalification? For applicants whose facilities are based in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, ACT and TAS, there is no cost for applying for prequalification. However, for applicants whose facilities are based in WA or the NT (where the local road agencies have not adopted the new categories), there will be a cost associated with undertaking the site inspection of your facility(s).

Who will manage the new categories? The National Prequalification System will be managed in a decentralised, but coordinated fashion. In other words, it is a ‘national’ system that will be managed at the local level. Integrity and consistency will be maintained through oversight by a National Prequalification System Management Committee, which will include representatives from each of the participating road agencies. Are New Zealand contractors covered by the proposed National Prequalification System? No. The New Zealand Transport Agency has not adopted the Austroads National Prequalification System.

How will assessments of the new categories will be undertaken?

Will local councils be adopting the new categories?

Assessments will comprise both a desktop aspect, and a site assessment. Road agencies that have adopted the new categories will follow a standard assessment process, as documented in Appendix B the two draft reports, to ensure consistency in approach.

The National Prequalification System (including the proposed new categories) has been designed for use by Australian State and Territory road agencies. However, some local councils may elect to require that contractors tendering for work or supplying products be prequalified under the Austroads National Prequalification System.

I understand a new Steel Certification Scheme is being introduced for steel fabricators. Is this the same as prequalification? Industry is looking to set up a steelwork compliance certification scheme involving audits of fabricators’ capability to produce product to a range of construction categories. The scheme will be managed by the SCA (Steelwork Certification Authority of Australia). This is different to the new Steel Fabrication category proposed to be included in the National Prequalification System.

I have some comments to make on the proposed new categories. How can I lodge a submission? Submissions should be lodged by no later than 19 December 2014 with: Mr Michael Swainston, State Program Office Department of Transport and Main Roads, QLD Email: [email protected] Mail:

GPO Box 1549, Brisbane City QLD 4000

National Prequalification System – Proposed New Categories

Overview Proposed New Categories Precast Concrete Products Steel Fabrication Making a Submission Frequently Asked Questions Contacts About Austroads

What will happen to the submissions lodged during the consultation process? All submissions will be reviewed and considered by the project Working Group, comprising representatives from Austroads state and territory member agencies. The Austroads Project Manager will then submit a list of final recommendations to Austroads regarding the proposed new categories, including any recommended updates to the draft system documentation. The Austroads Board will consider the recommendations and decide whether to endorse the new categories in the proposed final form. If endorsement is provided, individual road agencies will commence the process of implementation of the new categories from 2 March 2015. Consolidated responses to issues raised in the submissions will be prepared by the Austroads Project Manager and forwarded to local road agencies representatives to provide feedback to contractors and industry representatives in their respective jurisdictions. Who can I contact for more information? If you have any specific questions about the proposed new categories or the consultation process, please contact the Austroads Project Manager, Mr Michael Swainston, on Tel: 07 3066 8385 or email: [email protected]

What must I do next? If you are already prequalified/registered in one or more of the following local categories, with Roads and Maritime Services NSW or the Department of Transport and Main Roads QLD, you will be contacted by a representative from that agency to advise of what steps you need to take to transition across to the new national categories. If you are not already prequalified/registered in the above categories, and would like to prequalify in one or more of the new national categories, you should contact the road agency in your jurisdiction (listed below) for advice on how to apply to become prequalified. Jurisdiction

Road agency

New South Wales

Roads and Maritime Services, New South Wales (RMS)

Victoria

Roads Corporation, Victoria (VicRoads)

Queensland

Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland (TMR)

South Australia

Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, South Australia (DPTI)

Australian Capital Territory

Commerce and Works Directorate, Australian Capital Territory

Tasmania

Department of State Growth (DSG)

If you are located in WA or the NT, and would like to prequalify, please contact one of the road agencies listed above for advice on how to prequalify.

National Prequalification System – Proposed New Categories

Overview

Contacts

Proposed New Categories Precast Concrete Products Steel Fabrication Making a Submission Frequently Asked Questions Contacts About Austroads

If you have any specific questions about the proposed new categories or the consultation process, please contact the Austroads Project Manager. Mr Michael Swainston State Program Office Department of Transport and Main Roads, QLD Email: [email protected] Tel:

07 3066 8385

Mail:

GPO Box 1549, Brisbane City QLD 4000

National Prequalification System – Proposed New Categories

Overview

About Austroads

Proposed New Categories Precast Concrete Products Steel Fabrication Making a Submission Frequently Asked Questions

Austroads is the association of Australasian road transport and traffic agencies. We aim to be the Australasian leader in providing high quality information, advice and fostering research in the road transport sector. Our purpose is to: • promote improved Australian and New Zealand transport outcomes • provide expert technical input to national policy development on road and road transport issues • promote improved practice and capability by road agencies

Contacts

• promote consistency in road and road agency operations.

About Austroads

• Roads and Maritime Services New South Wales

Our members are: • Roads Corporation Victoria • Department of Transport and Main Roads Queensland • Main Roads Western Australia • Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure South Australia • Department of State Growth Tasmania • Department of Transport Northern Territory • Territory and Municipal Services Directorate, Australian Capital Territory • Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development • Australian Local Government Association • New Zealand Transport Agency. Our success is derived from the collaboration of member organisations and others in the road industry.

www.austroads.com.au