Urban Renewal Authority 2018-19 Annual Report

49 OPERATING REVIEW “Smart Tender” Building Rehabilitation Facilitating Services Scheme (Smart Tender) In May 2016, the URA launched Smart Tender which aims to provide technical services to the OCs of private domestic/composite buildings and reduce the risk of tender-rigging at the works procurement stage. Smart Tender provides building owners with help to procure contractors independently to carry out rehabilitation works with practical tools, independent professional advice and an electronic tendering platform. The Government’s 2017/18 Budget earmarked $300 million to enable property owners to participate in Smart Tender at a concessionary rate, which is expected to benefit about 3,000 owners’ organisations over five years. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 3 October 2017 between the Government and the URA, which stipulated the establishment of a concession fund and the implementation framework of the concession scheme for Smart Tender. Up until 30 June 2019, around 880 valid applications have been received, of which about 660 have been approved and service agreements issued to the owners’ organisations concerned. Since 27 May 2019, the Smart Tender has been expanded to cover the procurement of consultants and registered fire service installation contractors. Building Rehabilitation Platform (BRP) On 25 March 2019, the URA launched the BRP, an all-in-one information platform, to provide building owners with professional and comprehensive information and technical support on building rehabilitation. The BRP (https://www.brplatform.org.hk ) was built to officially replace the former Building Rehab INFO-Net through the concerted efforts of the public, private and professional sectors, with the support of the Government, public institutions, professional institutes and bodies, as well as contractor associations. Apart from retaining the existing information on different subsidy schemes and application functions available on the former Building Rehab INFO-Net, BRP has also introduced a variety of new functions and content, offering more diversified and holistic building rehabilitation information and support services for owners and different stakeholders. Currently, a building rehabilitation guidebook with a broad range of information on preparatory work, appointment of consultants and contractors, as well as monitoring of works, is available for download to help owners better understand the work, procedures and legal requirements involved in each step of building rehabilitation. The BRP will continue to enhance its content and is planning to include a cost reference centre to provide the range of costs of typical rehabilitation works items. The feasibility of establishing an assessment system on the quality of service providers for users’ reference is also being explored. The all-in-one Building Rehabilitation Platform website provides building owners with comprehensive information and technical support on building rehabilitation. Smart Tender helps building owners procure consultants and contractors to carry out rehabilitation works. A set of specially-designed WhatsApp Stickers featuring the building rehabilitation ambassador BRbot helps promote Building Rehabilitation Platform.