Published in 2005

Over the last three or four years online auctions have become part of the e-procurement methodology and have gained prominence through such major client organisations as British Airports Authority (BAA) with reported success. Further impetus for the use of online auctions has been provided by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) which has been tasked with implementing the Consolidated Public Procurement Directive (Directive 2004/18/EC), due to become law in the UK later this year. Finally, perhaps in anticipation of the new directive and in response to the increased use of online auctions, the Construction Industry Council (CIC) published a briefing note early in 2004, reviewing the use of online auctions within the construction industry. It is within this context that the Association of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Specialists (AGS) decided to review the impact on the Geotechnical Industry and to prepare this position paper.