Skip to main content

Ukraine adopts international pricing standards

Despite the ongoing war, the country is moving ahead with contractual reforms for road works in line with western European norms, according to UNITE, the Ukrainian Infrastructure Association, a non-government agency.
By David Arminas December 14, 2022 Read time: 2 mins
The changes will help the recovery of road infrastructure in the Ukraine, according to UNITE, the Ukrainian Infrastructure Association (image © Larysa Shcherbyna/Dreamstime)

Ukraine’s ministry of infrastructure has approved methodology for determining the cost of road works that should lead to more transparency and less risk for participants.

The reforms, which came into force on October 17, include the use of exclusively fixed prices, international measurement methods (primarily CESMM), prices of materials from transparent databases, bills of quantities (BOQ) and prices from databases of analogous objects.

CESMM, the Civil Engineering Standard Method of Measurement - commonly known as CESMM3 - sets out a procedure for the preparation of a bill of quantities for civil engineering works, for pricing and for expression and measurement of quantities of work.

In November 2021, a law was adopted that gave the ministry the authority to reform the pricing system in road construction. UNITE, the Ukrainian Infrastructure Association, has welcomed the government’s efforts over the past year. “The ministry of infrastructure of Ukraine has implemented a comprehensive reform whose time has come,” said Ihor Samokhodskyi, executive director of UNITE.

“The changes will benefit the effective recovery of road infrastructure in Ukraine. Pricing for road reconstruction will meet international standards, which is reasonable for donors and international players. Society will benefit from greater transparency and reduced corruption risks. This reform can become an example for other areas of construction for public funds,” he said.

According to the new Methodology, Ukrainian clients will use international methods of work measurement, primarily CESMM. The tender will be submitted with the bill of quantities (BOQ) prepared according to CESMM or the Ukrainian analogue of CESMM.

This should lead to easy comparison of prices between facilities, increased competition, as well as reduction of corruption risks in the bidding process and acceptance of completed works.

The methodology provides for the exclusive use of fixed prices. When signing the contract, the price is fixed with a clearly defined cost of works measured according to the international or Ukrainian method. Each work is evaluated by an aggregate cost indicator. This reduces the risk of manipulation with prices after signing the contract.

UNITE is a non-governmental organisation established in 2021 that creates and implements the best solutions for the development of Ukraine’s infrastructure. For more information, visit the website of UNITE.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Increase in US pedestrian deaths in 2022
    March 8, 2023
    New data shows an increase in US pedestrian deaths in 2022.
  • National Road Assessment Programme launched to eliminate high-risk roads in Tanzania
    November 29, 2022
    A key milestone of the Ten Step Project Tanzania, TanRAP – launched on 14 September 2022 – is an initiative headed by the Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT), which aims to build capacity and improve the safety of road infrastructure in the country in partnership with other leading stakeholders such as Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS), Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA), Tanzania Road Association (TARA), National Institute of Transport (NIT), Road Safety Ambassadors (RSA), Roads Fund Board (RFB), development banks, mobility clubs, road safety NGOs and industry.
  • What happens when you run out of land for roads?
    November 1, 2021
    Mumbai, the financial capital of India has a population of 12.4 million located in a small area of 437sq.km, surrounded by the sea with nowhere to expand. An increase in congestion on Mumbai’s roads has put a strain on the city’s infrastructure. The result has been long commute times with idling cars contributing to an alarming rise in poor air quality, impacting the quality of life for residents
  • East Africa’s dream of a ‘Silk Road’ in sight
    October 22, 2021
    East Africa’s dream of a ‘Silk Road’ route to boost trade and transport is now in sight