Singapore Institute of Architects flags ‘unfair clauses’ in SUSS tender for new Rochor campus
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An SUSS spokesperson said the invitation to tender was developed in line with current industry standards.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Follow topic:
- The Singapore Institute of Architects criticises SUSS tender clauses for its new Rochor campus, citing "unlimited design changes" and "unlimited liability" as unfair.
- These clauses contradict the Taskforce for Architectural and Engineering Consultants' recommendations for fairer procurement standards.
- SUSS is reviewing the concerns raised by the institute, affirming its commitment to fair and transparent procurement practices.
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SINGAPORE – Clauses listed by the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) in tender documents for its new campus in Rochor
These clauses include “unlimited design changes post-award with no additional fees and unlimited liability”, said the institute’s president Tiah Nan Chyuan in a LinkedIn post on Sept 25.
“Unfair clauses undermine the sustainability of architecture practice, the built environment industry, and ultimately the quality of outcomes that benefit clients and the wider public,” said Mr Tiah.
On Sept 9, SUSS published a tender seeking multidisciplinary consultancy services for its forthcoming Rochor campus, as well as the Singapore College of Islamic Studies, which will be located next to the university
The services sought included architecture, civil and structural engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, and quantity surveying.
Without giving details, Mr Tiah said that the institute wrote to SUSS on Sept 18 to state its position on compensation for two design concept proposals and to seek clarification.
Some queries, he said, were addressed on Sept 23 at a tender briefing. The next day, full tender documents were released.
“However, after the full (tender) documents were released, additional unfair clauses were identified,” he noted.
“These clauses – such as unlimited design changes post-award with no additional fees and unlimited liability – run counter to the recommendations of the Taskforce for Architectural and Engineering Consultants, which called for fairer procurement standards across the industry.”
The task force was set up in September 2024
It was co-led by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for National Development, and Surbana Jurong chairman Chaly Mah.
On Sept 5 this year, the task force released a 21-page report
One recommendation was for public- and private-sector service buyers to improve contractual clauses “to enable a more equitable distribution of risks between service buyers and consultants”.
The task force also urged consultants and service buyers to understand the costs of various services offered, such as by using frameworks that offer detailed breakdowns of the necessary tasks at each project milestone.
This, said the report, will help clients “understand the costs tied to project requirements and be able to make better procurement decisions”.
Mr Tiah told The Straits Times on Sept 27 that discussions on the matter between the institute and SUSS are ongoing.
“We hope we can arrive at an amicable solution that can meet the needs of SUSS and all future consultants involved in the project,” he said.
Calling the new campus – which will be at the site of the now demolished Rochor Centre – an important urban redevelopment project, Mr Tiah said SUSS “can be part of something truly transformative and we hope the first step can begin with a progressive procurement process to find the right partners that will journey with them”.
He added: “The current documents in our view do not match up to the potential of this unique opportunity.”
The site of the former Rochor Centre, where SUSS and the Singapore College of Islamic Studies will be located.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Responding to ST queries, an SUSS spokesperson said that in addition to addressing the institute’s Sept 18 queries at the Sept 23 tender briefing, the university also responded to it in writing.
Following the briefing, SUSS did not receive any further queries from the institute, and became aware of its “additional claims” only when they were raised in the Sept 25 LinkedIn post, said the spokesperson.
“The invitation to tender was developed in line with current industry standards and with the spirit of the Taskforce for Architectural and Engineering Consultants’ recommendations in mind,” the spokesperson said.
“Nevertheless, SUSS is taking the Singapore Institute of Architects’ concerns seriously and is reviewing the matter carefully, together with the relevant authorities.”
The spokesperson added that the university is “committed to fair, transparent and responsible procurement practices, and remains open to constructive engagement on the matter”.
The university’s new campus is slated for completion by the mid-2030s.
