For repairs works that are to be funded by English Heritage, there is now a new requirement to tender for professional services. This is important so that you can choose the most appropriate architect/ professional and so that you don't necessarily have to choose the lowest tender. Details can be found on these websites:

English Heritage

Church of England's Church Care

In brief:

For fees up to £10,000 tendering is not required, however the church must demonstrate good value for money, for instance, the existing architect has a particular skill and knowledge of the church and should therefore be retained. This would comply with the procurement ruling and be classed as a single tender action.

• £10,000-50,000 - tendering is required with at least 3 bids from conservation-accredited architects; evidence may need to be demonstrated. The church should select the best value for money.
• £50,000 plus -competitive tendering is required, including advertising (regionally and/or nationally) for services & this needs to be demonstrated.
• £150,000 plus - advertisement in the European Journal will be necessary.

This means that churches cannot rely on retaining their Quinquennial Inspection architect, unless their appointment was robust at the start e.g. an architect was appointed and retained on a percentage basis and their fee was competitive.

Churches do not have to pick the lowest tender as they can apply a 70:30 weighting to their decision when appointing an architect; 70% on quality and 30% on fee cost. Churches can judge an architect's quality by i) their communication skills and ii) their understanding of the client and iii) the church's needs. However, if a church has not enquired about quality, they will have to accept the lowest bid. EH has an evaluation score sheet for contractors which may be of some help: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/content/imported-docs/p-t/pqq-evaluation-score-sheet-building-works.xls

English Heritage can help a PCC/church body to procure an architect if they don't currently have a QI architect.

CTfC August 2011