Conference Chairperson & Opening Remarks

Ross McCarthy, MD, Keystone Procurement

Data And Reporting That Improves Tendering and Delivery Decisions

• What information matters from tender stage through award, delivery, variations and final account
• Practical ways to pull usable data from procurement, project, finance and site records
• Early indicators that flag trouble such as lead time creep, cost drift and repeat change patterns
• Using what the data shows to tighten templates, pricing assumptions and risk checks next time

Supplier Performance Measurement That Reflects Real Delivery

Speaker: Monika Bis, Senior Procurement Consultant, ARVO Procurement

• Performance measures that reflect delivery on site rather than paperwork completion
• KPIs that work in practice for quality, programme, safety, defects, responsiveness and cost control
• Early intervention approaches for underperformance using clear triggers and escalation routes
• Using performance evidence to support future award decisions in a fair and defensible way

Contract Negotiation and Change Control That Prevents Disputes

Speaker: Younes Guessous, Associate Director, KPMG in Ireland

• Clarifications before award and the line between cleaning up risk and changing the deal
• The contract terms that most often decide outcomes such as payments, retention, damages, caps and insurance
• Risk allocation that stays workable when issues arise on design, access, utilities and ground conditions
• Negotiating clear change control rules on instructions, pricing, evidence requirements and timelines

Materials Planning and Control Across Project Delivery

• Planning long lead items with realistic lead times, approvals, supplier capacity, logistics and storage requirements
• Managing substitutions and alternative products without losing control over quality, compliance or project requirements
• Setting clear expectations around certification, inspection, testing and the handling of non-conformance issues
• Reducing programme delays and cost impacts caused by shortages, damaged materials or late decisions on product selection

Technical Specifications – Contractual Considerations

Speaker: Paul Tohill, Legal Director, Browne Jacobson LLP

• Technical specifications are contractually binding, treat them with caution
• Understanding the type of specification and its allocation of risk
• Coordinating technical documents carefully to avoid conflicts and disputes
• Fitness for purpose is a high bar, be explicit about whether and to what extent it applies
• Variations must be properly instructed, changes to specifications have time and cost consequences
• Defects liability and dependence on what the specification requires
• Record keeping and specification compliance

Safety Requirements That Can Be Measured and Enforced

Speaker: Eoghan Kenny, Founder and CEO of The Compliance Team

• Safety requirements written into tenders and contracts in a measurable and auditable way
• Contractor competence evidence that reflects real capability on site
• Monitoring safety performance during delivery and responding when standards begin to slip
• Aligning procurement decisions with the project safety plan and day to day site controls

Cost Optimisation That Protects Quality and Programme

• Value engineering that improves value without stripping out performance or safety
• Choosing pricing approaches that fit the work and the risk profile across lump sum, remeasurement and target cost
• Managing inflation and volatility risk with terms that are clear and proportionate
• Keeping variations under control using evidence requirements, agreed rates where possible and disciplined approvals

Supplier Engagement That Improves Competition and Outcomes

Speaker: Donnacha Phelan, Director, Keystone Procurement

• Market engagement that improves competition and tender quality while staying fair and transparent
• Mobilisation expectations that set suppliers up for delivery including reporting, communication routes and approvals
• Relationship management with clear boundaries, governance and consistent documentation
• Spotting dispute signals early and dealing with them before they become formal claims