BIM-Based Government Procurement System- The Likely Development in Taiwan

In Taiwan, government procurement still relies on the traditional “paper-based” approach. Much information is mis-carried and then mis-interpreted when procurement information is transferred from that of paper to digital form. This creates design negligence, conflicts, mis-calculations, and inconsistencies among drawings, specifications, etc, which often cause change orders and contract disputes. Government agencies, as the biggest procurer, are the most vulnerable to these problems. Considering the huge number of tenders every year, a sizable share of public resource is wasted to resolving the disputes caused by such information gap among owners, designers and contractors. Hence, the evolution of a true 3D digital approach hinges upon the government’s will to adopting it. The aim of this research is to examine the feasibility and the means to launch a BIM-based procurement system for public works in Taiwan. If a BIM platform is adopted, the current procurement system in Taiwan would need significant adjustments, which require a thorough and comprehensive analysis. Through this work, it is expected that the BIM-based procurement system can save much of the government’s trouble related to traditional paper-based approach, and the efficiency of government procurement will be enhanced.