PPP’s and new public procurement

I know of a local authority who awarded a tender to a contractor for a scheme of social houses. The build standard was initially awful but the presence of a clerk of works and regular architect visits meant that as the job progressed the builder upped his game. By the end of the contract the builder had learned the high standard required for social housing. Due to the procurement process the contractor wasn’t awarded the contract for phase 2 and the clerk and architect had to tear their hear out all over again with a builder who had worked previously on commercial housing. Anyone have good or bad experience with Government tenders.