Framework agreements in a post-recession economy

Framework Agreements in a Post Recession EconomyFramework Agreements (FAs) in the UK Construction industry emerged following influential reports into construction by Sir Michael Latham and Sir John Egan respectively. Throughout the 1990's and into the new millennium FAs were increasingly used as a procurement strategy in the construction industry due to their so-called "win-win" ethos for construction clients and contractors. This culminated in the Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) publishing  binding and non-binding forms of FAs in 2005.Following a recent global worldwide economic recession it is pertinent to ask the question whether  FAs represent an idea whose time has come and gone or if FAs have survived as a procurement strategy and if so, in what way.This research reports on the effect of a major economic recession on the use of FAs and explores whether or not FAs remain a viable sustainable procurement option.A quantitative survey of clients, professional consultants and contractors was carried out to establish opinions of interested stakeholders.The research findings indicate that whilst FAs are still used b significant stakeholders, many have abandoned FAs in favour of traditional price based competition. Reasons are postulated for this apparent shift and suggestions made for the potential revival of FAs.