The Swan Windows and Doors Term Partnership

Introduction

Swan Windows and Doors have entered into a partnership arrangement with key manufacturers and suppliers involved in the manufacture of composite doors and PVCu windows for public sector clients. The Partnership agreement is operational and fully documented with each application giving rise to a detailed and dedicated agreement.

This paper aims to provide an appreciation of the principles involved in the partnering arrangement. Swan Windows and Doors is a well established manufacturer with an unprecedented 30 year history and as the lead partner can provide more detailed information on request.

Partnering Charter

The Swan Windows and Doors Partnership was established with the objective of partnering public sector Clients for the purpose of installing composite doors and PCVu windows within a Term Partnership to meet a supplied specification and project brief.

All Contractors associated the Swan Windows and Doors Partnership have signed a Partnering Charter. The Charter commits each partner to working in a spirit of co-operation and total transparency in achieving the objectives and aspirations of all concerned. Clients become partners thereby benefiting in the same manner. Notwithstanding a specification provided by the Client it is agreed that all Swan Windows and Doors Partnership members will use their specialist product knowledge and experience to ensure that the specification and any other instruction by the Client is in the interest of installing products

'fit for the purpose intended.'

The lead Partner completes a Declaration of Conformity, to that effect on completion of each defined project.

The Partnership

Manufacturers and suppliers forming the Swan Windows and Doors Partnership are designers and source manufacturers each having proven substantial and dependable resources, including elements of research and development. Each contractor involved complies with the requirements of BS EN ISO 9001: 2000. As lead Partner, Swan Windows and Doors is the point of contact with the Client for the duration of the Partnering term.

Partnership Objectives

The overall objective of a Term Partnership is to create circumstances where the Client and Contractors develop a long term relationship with mutual trust and confidence in the knowledge that requirements and aspirations of each are fully understood and achieved through the Contractors being recognised as competent entities and the Client being recognised as a willing and confident buyer.

Day to Day Management

The Core Group has been formed within the Partnership for day to day management issues and to remove any obstacles that may appear and are likely to adversely affect the working of the Partnership or hinder progress generally. The Client has the facility to call a Core Group meeting at any time in order to resolve specific problems. Proper provision is made in the Partnering Agreement for site safety, resident consultation, technical audits and payments.

Flexibility

The Swan Windows and Doors Partnership is sufficiently flexible to incorporate unforeseen Client needs in delivery of the service, such as accommodating related building work as well as being able to extend post-contract services including product maintenance if required.

Contractor Facilities

Swan Windows and Doors is FENSA registered and will confirm to the Local Authority Building Control section and/or other regulatory bodies details of window styles, 'U' values and similar to ensure compliance with Building Regulations.

The combined facilities of Contractors forming the Swan Windows and Doors Partnership are extensive and are at the disposal of Clients. The Swan Windows and Doors Partnership is available to make presentations or to enter into consultative processes with Residents, Councillors and Council Officers plus other public utilities (Fire Authority, Police etc.) Swan Windows and Doors Partnership facilities available include:

Risk Management

It is accepted by the Swan Windows and Doors Partnership that risks exist in undertaking door and window renewal projects, in the public sector from design through to installation stages. Contractors involved agree that they have individual and a collective responsibility in identifying potential risks and in seeking to eliminate or to reduce their effect.

Certain risks cannot be anticipated, such as unusually adverse weather conditions. In such cases it may be necessary to suspend activities until weather conditions become favourable. In any event the Lead Partner would inform the Client accordingly, provide suitable evidence so that any resultant remedy can be agreed.

Dispute Avoidance / Resolution

It is recognised that litigation, arbitration and adjudication procedures should be avoided. It is therefore agreed that the first stage in settling a dispute is through the Lead Partner and Client. Where agreement cannot be reached at that stage the problem will be referred to the Core Group and finally to an independent professional body.

Additional Information

More detailed information can be obtained from Swan Windows and Doors, 9 Mandervell Road , Oadby, Leicestershire , LE2 5LQ .