Track: Sustainability and Green Systems

Abstract

Sustainability is one of the major aspects to enhance the economy and standard of living of a country. Moreover, the essential services and infrastructure facilities of a country procured through a Public Procurement Process (PP Process) directly affect the economy and standards of living of the country. Further, the improvement of services and infrastructure facilities direct links with the construction industry of a country. However, development partners and funding agencies pointed out that sustainability is a lagging area in the construction industry when compared with other industries in developing countries. Consequently, integration of sustainability factors into the PP Process was proposed as one of the effective solutions to upgrade the existing PP Process. Hence, this paper aims to identify and verify the sustainability factors to be integrated into the PP Process in the construction industry. Accordingly, 72 sustainability factors identified through a comprehensive literature review were further summarised into 15 key sustainability factors through a desk study. Subsequently, 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted with subject matter experts to verify the applicability of the identified sustainability factors into the PP Process. The paper outcomes will be beneficial to the relevant authorities, funding agencies and policymakers to upgrade the existing PP Process in construction in developing countries. Sustainability is one of the major aspects to enhance the economy and standard of living of a country. Moreover, the essential services and infrastructure facilities of a country procured through a Public Procurement Process (PP Process) directly affect the economy and standards of living of the country. Further, the improvement of services and infrastructure facilities direct links with the construction industry of a country. However, development partners and funding agencies pointed out that sustainability is a lagging area in the construction industry when compared with other industries in developing countries. Consequently, integration of sustainability factors into the PP Process was proposed as one of the effective solutions to upgrade the existing PP Process. Hence, this paper aims to identify and verify the sustainability factors to be integrated into the PP Process in the construction industry. Accordingly, 72 sustainability factors identified through a comprehensive literature review were further summarised into 15 key sustainability factors through a desk study. Subsequently, 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted with subject matter experts to verify the applicability of the identified sustainability factors into the PP Process. The paper outcomes will be beneficial to the relevant authorities, funding agencies and policymakers to upgrade the existing PP Process in construction in developing countries.