Skip to main content

Polish project procurement practice problems publicised

Concerns have been expressed regarding procurement practices in Poland for large infrastructure projects. Ulrich Paetzold, director general of FIEC, the European Construction Industry said, "Polish engineers and contractors continue to be concerned about the procurement rules and practices in the country despite recent changes in the procurement regulations and contract conditions." This comment followed a recent meeting between the FIEC and leading Polish consulting engineers and construction companies o
December 13, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Concerns have been expressed regarding procurement practices in Poland for large infrastructure projects. Ulrich Paetzold, director general of FIEC, the European Construction Industry said, "Polish engineers and contractors continue to be concerned about the procurement rules and practices in the country despite recent changes in the procurement regulations and contract conditions."

This comment followed a recent meeting between the FIEC and leading Polish consulting engineers and construction companies organised in Warsaw. Frank Kehlenbach, director of 1503 EIC, European International Contractors, added, "Whilst the recent PwC report on the state of the road construction industry depicts a rather bright picture of the way infrastructure development is handled by the Polish government and in particular by 1361 GDDKiA, consulting engineers and construction companies feel that further substantial improvement of the project and contract management is necessary."

The combination of poorly prepared tenders and unfairly modified FIDIC contract conditions, which do not comply with generally accepted international standards, has resulted in low efficiency of the national construction investment programmes and low socio-economic value. This in turn has led to massive litigation, bankruptcies and a loss of jobs in the construction sector. These developments also raise the risk of a negative impact on the image of Poland in the eyes of foreign investors, making the country less attractive for foreign direct investment.

FIEC and EIC are pressing the Polish government and contracting authorities to award public contracts on the criterion of the most economically advantageous tender, as foreseen in the new EU Procurement Directives, and to stop the current policy of shifting construction risk solely on to the industry.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Australia responds to infrastructure funding challenge
    July 13, 2012
    The Global Financial Crisis (GFC) has drastically changed the way governments and the private sector is prepared to procure vital infrastructure projects, says Philip Davies Governments have responded to the GFC by focusing on long term investment in transport infrastructure and shorter term stimulus packages to kick-start economies. As these projects proceed, the focus will shift to maintaining and achieving maximum benefits from assets and future infrastructure funding. The Public Private Partnership (PP
  • Poland tenders for more A2 work between Lodz and Warsaw
    January 8, 2019
    A tender has been announced to build a third lane for the A2 motorway between Lodz and Warsaw in Poland. According to the Polish General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA), the cost will be around €139 million with completion set for 2021. The A2 is part of the country’s road infrastructure connecting Poland with the European motorway network. The A2 Motorway is part of the TransEuropean Road Network (E30) from Cork in Ireland to Omsk in Russia and is located in Pan-European transport
  • Europe’s construction activity shows some optimistic signs
    July 10, 2012
    A cautiously optimistic report has been published by the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC), which shows activity levels continue to fall. The FIEC’s recently released annual statistical report provides a comprehensive review of construction activity in Europe and shows business levels have improved slightly in some sectors. “The EU total construction output amounted to €1,208 billion in 2011, which represents a growth of 1.4% compared to 2010”, stated FIEC vice-president Jacques Huillard, in
  • Central Ring Road to become one of most important projects in modern history of road-building in Russia
    December 16, 2014
    Moscow’s new ring road will provide a major economic boost and tackle congestion - Eugene Gerdner writes The Russian Government has officially started building of the Central Ring Road (CRR), one of the largest infrastructural projects in the modern history of the country. Total volume of investments in the project is estimated at more than US$7.2 billion (300 billion RUB). Building of the road should be completed by the World Cup 2018 and will be carried out as part of the existing state program ‘The de