Journal of Civil Engineering Vol 68 No 2

Journal of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering Volume 68 Number 2 June 2026 13 results) divided by the number of academic qualifications sub criteria = 0.1266 divided by 2 = 0.0633. Therefore, 0.0633 is the weight for the lowest criteria for academic qualifications, which is a certificate. The next criteria weight is the criteria weight of the lowest criteria plus the same criteria weight = 0.0633 + 0.0633 = 0.1266. Then, 0.1266 is added to 0.0633 to get the next higher criteria weight, which is 0.1899. To get the criteria weight for the last criteria, the weights of the four criteria are added, which equals 0.3798. Therefore, the weight of the academic qualifications, 0.633 less 0.3798 equals the weight of the last criterion, 0.2532. The weight of all the criteria equals the overall weight obtained of the sub-criteria in level 2, which is 0.633. This principle was adopted in calculating all the criteria weights. Thus, Tables 8 to 14 depict the sub-criteria weights. Key staff refers to staff with the relevant technical qualifications and experience. Similarly, experience is subdivided into five criteria. The weight of these criteria and all the other criteria (i.e. experience, plant and equipment, financial status, management capability, occupational health and safety, and past performance) are shown in Tables 9 to 14. Application of the framework to grade contractors and rate contractors’ performance Tables 8 to 14 have broken down the weights of the criteria to make better sense of the weighting and apply the results that may be used in practice. The results should provide guidance on how to grade contractors and rate contractor performance. The use of scenarios will be illustrated to indicate how contractors can be graded and rated in terms of performance. Table 9 Weights of experience sub-criteria Experience Project completed by company Weight Projects completed by key staff Weight 0 0 0 0 1 0.0125 1 0.0875 2 0.025 2 0.175 3 0.0375 3 0.2625 More than 3 projects 0.050 More than 3 projects 0.350 Total 0.125 0.875 Table 10 Weights of plant and equipment sub-criteria Plant and equipment Type of equipment Weight Minimum quantity Weight 0 0 0 0 2 0.0833 2 0.0167 5 0.1666 5 0.0334 8 0.2499 8 0.0501 10 equipment and more 0.3332 10 and above 0.0668 Total 0.833 0.167 Table 11 Weights of financial status sub-criteria Financial status Bank account Weight Available capital Weight Office space Weight No business account 0 No capital 0 No office space 0 New business account 0.010375 5% available capital 0.0724 Office space 0.193 Account with negative balance 0.02075 10% available capital 0.1448 Account with positive balance 0.05186 15% available capital 0.2172 R60 m available capital 0.2896 Total 0.083 0.724 0.193 Table 12 Weights of management capability sub-criteria Management capability Business specialist Weight 0 0 1 0.01 2 0.02 3 0.03 More than 3 0.04 Total 1.000 Table 13 Weights of occupational health and safety sub-criteria Occupational health and safety OHS certificate Weight Health and safety record Weight No employee with OHS certificate 0 No health and safety record 0 1 employee with OHS certificate 0.0125 Incomplete health and safety record 0.0875 2 employees with OHS certificate 0.025 Complete health and safety record with major injuries 0.175 3 employees with OHS certificate 0.0375 Complete health and safety record with minor injuries 0.2625 More than 3 employees with OHS certificate 0.0875 Complete health and safety record without injuries 0.350 Total 0.125 0.875