WHY CHOOSE CIAPS? 

CIAPS is the first certification and data management  service for the construction industry that enables both clients and main contractors to select partners and suppliers by objective assessment that is validated by an independent audit conducted to the BS EN 45011 standard by UKAS-accredited certification bodies. Furthermore, CIAPS is in the forefront of programmes to address procuring clients’ requirement to demonstrate that their projects meet the Strategic Forum’s ‘Construction Commitments’.
CIAPS is by far the most comprehensive service of its kind yet established. It offers far more to all sectors of the construction industry than mere registration. CIAPS is flexible allowing a company to select the most appropriate standard to match its commercial needs . Moreover, it embraces all construction sectors including the professions...it is unique because it has been developed by the industry for the industry!

For clients

  • As both private and public sector clients need simple, fast and structured access to the company information when preparing frameworks and/or invitations to tender, the CIAPS database is web-enabled. Registered clients are able to browse, search or download company information and electronically invite responses to specific questions from individuals or groups of companies. The database also allows real-time updating online by companies and certification bodies. Company profiles within CIAPS become 'living PQQs'. The scope of the information held within a supply chain group can be extended by the client should the need arise.
  • CIAPS also contains a benchmarking mechanism that can automatically generate both company and project KPIs. This fosters continuous improvement in the achievement of pre-ordained criteria throughout the supply chain because the reports are accessible to all.

For prime contractors

  • Firmly establishes them as contractor compliant with ‘Construction Commitments’ without extensive management effort or resource;
  • Provides a means of tracking or verifying its supply chain companies’ progress through improvement and risk reduction programmes, as specified by Government agencies (e.g. HSE & EA) or themselves, using information provided by independent third parties;
  • Provision of an elegant supply chain management tool for first tier supply chain partners that enables them to effortlessly monitor and report on second tier members;
  • Furnishes quarterly financial probity updates on their supply chain members;
  • Significantly simplifies the process of PQQ preparation and submission;
  • Validates, and reports to the relevant client, the competence of all their downstream supply chain members;
  • Replacement of in-house ‘preferred contractor’ lists at minimal cost with an email ‘alert’ facility of deviations by supply chain members;
  • Enables its clients to access a real-time database of all the subcontracting companies working in their frameworks based on validated risk;
  • Offers the facility for collating company KPIs to support continuous improvement without extensive management effort or resource;
  • Significantly reduces the overhead costs; and
  • Gives the prime contractor a powerful marketing edge over those companies that are unable to demonstrate these same standards. .

For SMEs and sub-contracting companies:

  • The ability to establish, monitor and report on Construction Commitment compliance without exhaustive management effort or extensive resource;
  • Significantly simplifies PQQ preparation and their contribution to the preparation of the prime contractor’s PQQ submission;
  • Validation of their competence to participate in a given supply chain;
  • Access to preferential insurance terms from Zurich (UK) Insurance Ltd;
  • Establishes the facility for collating and reporting company KPIs with minimal effort;
  • Signposts the more modest SME and micro company to the resources available to improve their basic business, environmental and H&S skills in order to reach the agreed standards; and
  • Offers a marketing tool with ability to differentiate oneself from competitors;

For the construction industry:

  • Capability to undertake unified analytical overviews (derived from non-conformance figures from all certification schemes) to measure overall industry performance;
  • Ability to measure continuous improvement in performance and professionalism through ongoing continuous professional development (CPD) and other mechanisms, to achieve client specifications;
  • Ability to prove the level of participation in recognized management programmes spanning the whole spectrum of construction.