URA launches “Smart Tender” Building Rehabilitation Facilitating Services (Pilot Scheme)
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Tuesday) launched the "Smart Tender" Building Rehabilitation Facilitating Services (Pilot Scheme) which aimed to provide technical service to Owners' Corporations of private buildings and reduce the risk of tender rigging at works procurement stage.
The launching ceremony is officiated by Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, and Chairman of the URA, Mr Victor So.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms So said: "Building rehabilitation is an important segment of urban renewal and one of the URA's core businesses. This facilitating service intends to provide a fair, impartial and competitive tendering process for building rehabilitation works to be undertaken by the building owners, with a view to encourage more owners to carry out proper maintenance and repair of their buildings to improve their living environment."
The Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, welcomed the pilot scheme launched by the URA. He said: "Tender rigging is a complex issue which requires the Government and the various stakeholders in the community working together in order to tackle it more effectively. Through enhancing the technical support to the owners who lack related knowledge and experience in building repair works, we believe it can help minimising their potential exposure of tender rigging during the process."
"Smart Tender" Building Rehabilitation Facilitating Services (Pilot Scheme) is an initiative introduced in response to the Policy Address of the Chief Executive this year. It aims to help building owners procure contractors independently to carry out rehabilitation works through the following three services:
- A DIY tool-kit, which includes the guidelines, standard contracts and helpful tips, will be provided to guide participating Owners' Corporations (OCs) in the procurement of consultants and contractors to undertake the building rehabilitation works.
- An independent advisor will be arranged to offer professional and technical advice at different stages of the maintenance and repair works and to give an assessment on the market price of the tender.
- An electronic tendering platform for participating OCs to issue tender documents to contractors registered in the platform. Tender documents will be received with the identity of bidders being kept anonymous until the tenders are opened by Certified Public Accountants to reduce the risks of manipulation and interference in the tender procedures.
Starting today, the "Smart Tender" Building Rehabilitation Facilitating Services (Pilot Scheme) is open for application and the requirements for joining the scheme are as follows:
- Multiple owned private residential buildings aged 30 years or above;
- With an average Rateable Value of residential unit not exceeding $300,000 per annum and $160,000 per annum for properties in the urban areas (including Shatin, Kwai Ching and Tsuen Wan) and the New Territories respectively;
- An owners' association has been formed; and
- Application must be submitted before the appointment of the maintenance works consultant.
A fee will be charged to cover the expenses of the "Smart Tender" Building Rehabilitation Facilitating Services (Pilot Scheme) incurred by the URA for the services. The fees will range from $25,000 to $160,000 per application, or an average of $70 to $250 for each household, depending on the number of units and Rateable Value per annum of the buildings.
The URA will provide facilitating services to about 50 applicants in the first year of the Pilot Scheme. Priority will be given to those with lower average rateable value per domestic unit and higher building age.
Application form and guidelines can be downloaded from the website of Building Rehab Info Net (http://www.buildingrehab.org.hk). For enquiries, please call the Building Maintenance Assistance Scheme Hotline at 3188 1188.
(ENDS)