Implementation
This section of the website provides information to support the implementation of CoST pilots that are currently ongoing in seven countries. Please see the left hand menu for specific implementation guidance and information.
CoST is principally about achieving transparency through the release of information into the public domain. The aim is to enhance the accountability of procuring entities and construction companies for the cost and quality of public sector construction projects. CoST will do this by encouraging public procuring entities (PEs) to disclose to the public ‘Material Project Information’ (MPI) on selected projects. It may also be necessary to obtain MPI from the designer, supervisor and contractor.
It is important that the information that is released through CoST is both accurate, and available in a form that can easily be understood by stakeholders. To achieve this, the disclosed information will be verified for accuracy and factually assessed by experts (“Assurance Team”) appointed for this purpose. The role of the Assurance Team, who will be answerable to a National Multi-Stakeholder Group (NMSG) responsible for CoST, is to play an interpretative role in helping to make raw data disclosures understandable to a wider range of affected stakeholders.
The core elements of CoST implementation are: project selection, information disclosure, monitoring and evaluation and its governance, as well as multi-stakeholder principles. Information and guidance on each stage of the process is available- see the left hand menu and the home page for further details.
