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What responsibilities do each member of a UTE have?

UTE Groupings

Ok, let's make it clear and without so much formal roll, ok? An UTE (that is, temporary union of companies) is basically when two or more companies decide to get together temporarily to attack a specific project, almost always because there is a fat contract in between, public tender type. It is not that they suddenly become better friends forever, but that they should join forces, resources and contacts to carry out the project and, of course, distribute the cake.

Each company within the UTE has very clear tasks to meet. The first, and super important, is to sit down in writing who does what. You have to decide who is going to be the visible head, which will put your face and sign the papers with the administration (the representative or administrator, come on). That is the one who eats the brown if things twist or if something must be negotiated.

Topic Contributions: Each member has to put what has been agreed, be it money, materials, personal ... There is no official rule that says "you have to put minimal so much", so negotiate between them and make it clear in the agreement. Here is almost everything, while in writing.

Then there is the roll of obligations: each company is responsible for fulfilling its part of the contract and paying what it touches (taxes, salaries, etc). But be careful, in a UTE all go to the jacket: if one lies it and does not comply, the others have to adhere and respond too. Come on, it is a roll "all for one and one for everyone", they like it or not.

A key part: coordination. If they do not talk, if each one goes to their ball, the disaster is guaranteed. So it's time to be in contact, solve brown together and not wait for things to explode.

And well, do not forget to comply with the law. In Spain, this is quite regulated (Law 18/1982, in case someone gives it to it). If they do not respect the rules, the party ends before starting.

In the end, the move is that each company has to have very clear what it has to do, but, above all, no one can disregard if things twist. Or curly together or sink together. And this is key if they want to catch public contracts without leaving.

Marta Jiménez

Marta Jiménez

Expert in public procurement • Digital transformation of tenders • Trainer and author at Tendios

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