Today, the regulatory framework for construction quality in Kazakhstan is the Construction Norms and Rules (KNR) and GOST.

Previously, prices and commercial offers for construction projects for material resources and engineering equipment were partially set, and their prices did not always correspond to the market. This has repeatedly led to an increase in the cost of construction.

In order to avoid this problem, as well as to save budget funds and minimize the use of price lists financed by state investments, quasi-public sector entities and public-private partnership (concession), when making design decisions (when forming the characteristics of equipment, products and materials) for the construction of facilities envisaged, it is necessary to use the nomenclature of material resources and engineering equipment "List of building structures, products and building materials" in accordance with the Architectural, Urban Planning and Construction Catalog (AGSK-3).

For example, in July 2022, the normative technical document of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 1.02.03-2022 "Procedure for the development, coordination and approval of design and estimate documentation for construction" came into force, which provides for the inclusion of price lists in the GSC, which provides for the prevention of increasing the estimated prices of construction materials through price lists. The norm for the exclusion of use is indicated.

It should be noted that AGSK-3 recommends adding a reference book, providing the necessary material resources, equipment, furniture and accessories that are not in the estimate-normative base, and relevant price and technical information (catalogs with detailed technical specifications, certificates of conformity, certificates of origin of goods (ST KZ), test reports).

It is important to know that the estimated cost of resources is determined by a set of estimated prices. If the collections do not contain an estimated cost of the required item, then its cost should be determined at the lowest price, based on the estimated prices of such resources in accordance with the approved decisions of the Customer, that is, using information on the prices of resources, taking into account the technical parameters and characteristics adopted in the project.

If the price of individual resources and equipment according to price lists or commercial offers is lower than in the reference, the Customer has the right to make a decision to revise the prices of materials included in the reference, recalculating the estimated cost of construction in the process of conducting a comprehensive external examination in order to effectively use financial resources. Recalculation of the estimated cost is carried out by the design organization that developed the project on the instructions of the Customer.

The requirements of paragraph 5.13 of the RK Construction Code are established only for material resources and engineering equipment. Today, the use of price lists and commercial offers is applicable only to technological equipment.

It is worth noting that the use of AGSK-3 when developing estimate documentation is one of the stages of introducing an automated method of checking estimate documentation.

As part of the digitalization of the construction industry, work is underway to combine all local estimates into a single digital estimate with automatic verification during project appraisal. The implementation of this initiative is planned for 2025.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mps/press/news/details/936150