Modern Methods of Construction Standardisation Research

Tender description

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) are looking to undertake a procurement exercise to award a Contract to a Supplier to carry out research and develop a digital, open source "kit of parts" to standardise key components and specifications of closed-panel Category 2 and Category 5 modern methods of construction (MMC). The project will work with industry to understand which components could benefit from standardisation, taking into account work to date. Standardised, interoperable components and connections should help new entrants to the market by lowering start-up costs. In the event that one manufacturer goes into administration, it would mean there's a resilient supply chain to step in and complete projects. It could also reduce complexity for safety inspectors, who currently have to assess a proliferation of different systems and components. There has been a lot of work on this issue by industry and other government departments to date. They have identified many productivity and quality benefits through greater standardisation. We want to build on this from a housing perspective, not reinvent it. This is not about building boxy houses that all look the same. We want to standardise invisible components, while still allowing for good architectural design and local character. We will work with industry to determine which components would be sensible to standardise, and which would not.