The Playbook recognises the importance of 'longer term contracting' to the success of MMC and requires that public sector clients should 'actively consider how we can maximise the use of MMC' (p.18). Gold Standard frameworks provide the long-term commitments that enable balanced and thorough assessment of potential MMC solutions. They also provide the systems for longer term, larger scale appointments of tier 2 and 3 specialists who have MMC production facilities and expertise.
Gold Standard framework contracts can provide for the award of long-term MMC call- off contracts, for example under the JCT2016 Measured Term Contract, the NEC4 Term Service Contract and the TAC-1 Term Alliance Contract. These long-term call-off contracts enable the issue of multiple orders which is a more efficient way to sustain an MMC production line than by the creation of multiple, separate construction contracts. Long-term call- off contracts are used, for example, by clients of Crown Commercial Service under their FAC-1 Modular Building Solutions framework alliance.
The Playbook recommends that 'Contracting authorities should collaborate to find opportunities not only for their own platform solutions but also for ways in which cross-sector platform solutions can be applied'. It states that 'Future procurements and frameworks should support this with the development of a market that can develop and deliver designs based on these platform approaches, manufacture and supply components, and innovate to improve and develop these over time' (p.20).
The Playbook also notes the potential for 'Greener solutions as a result of an increase in manufacturing approaches' (p.19), and it requires that 'solutions put forward by potential suppliers are accompanied by a whole life carbon assessment' (p.23).
Many of the frameworks reviewed are structured to enable call-off by multiple clients. Where a framework provider and manager work with multiple clients to plan their projects and programmes of work together, they can collaborate at an early stage to consider the ways in which platform approaches, standard products and components can be applied consistently across multiple projects. They can explore the extent to which consistent workflow across successive framework projects can help to sustain MMC production lines. This active framework management and collaboration among framework clients can create an environment in which to improve value by harmonising, digitising and rationalising MMC solutions that deliver the required and desired project outcomes.