With a new primary school investment programme joining 黑洞社区 Schools for the Future and the academies scheme, education is still a rich source of work
黑洞社区 Schools for the Future
What work is in the pipeline?
The government's 拢45bn 黑洞社区 Schools for the Future (BSF) programme covers the rebuilding or refurbishment of all secondary schools in the country, including large elements of the government's drive to build 400 academies. With completion of only 35 schools expected by April 2009, there's still plenty to go around.How work is procured
The main procurement route for schemes in local authority areas where projects total 拢150m or more is through a local education partnership (LEP) formed between the authority, government delivery agency Partnerships for Schools, and a chosen building consortium.Local authorities wanting to carry out schools projects have been placed in 鈥渨aves鈥� by Partnerships for Schools depending on their readiness to carry out the work 鈥� a timetable for regions in waves seven to 15 is due to be announced early in 2009. Once each authority is ready, it is given the go-ahead to set up an LEP. Local authorities are being encouraged to use LEPs set up for building secondary schools to deliver primary schools and healthcare buildings too.
How to get involved
The private sector role can be advertised either through open tender on OJEU, or to firms on existing local authority frameworks in regions where this is applicable. The private sector consortium will usually include equity partner, contractor, architect and ICT provider. Firms lower down the supply chain will be appointed by the winning consortium. Consultants that work directly for the client on areas including programme management, technical aspects and legal services are appointed from national frameworks run by Partnerships for Schools. A list of is available.Where to find out more
Partnerships for Schools gives the list of which local authorities have schools projects in the pipeline on its website www.partnershipsforschools.org.uk, together with a list of the .Individual academies and smaller secondary school buildings
What work is in the pipeline
Some 拢4bn of academies and smaller BSF projects up to the value of 拢150m per project will be covered by a new academies framework, to be procured early next year.How work is procured
The academies framework is used by local authorities to appoint contractors to academy schemes in areas not yet prioritised for inclusion in BSF, and for smaller secondary school BSF projects up to the value of around 拢150m.How to get involved
The existing contractor framework was set up to run until 2010, with 拢2bn worth of projects, and comprises six firms 鈥� Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Kier, Laing O'Rourke, Skanska and Willmott Dixon. However, this is now being re-procured to cover a potential 拢4bn worth of contracts. The tender process will begin early in 2009, with firms to be appointed and winning work by next October.Once main contractors are appointed to the framework, they can bid for schemes that local authorities across the country decide to procure under the route.
Each contractor has identified a regional supply chain for each of four regions 鈥� the North, the Midlands, the South-west, and the South-east including London. These supply chains include a national architect partner to oversee designs put forward by the regional teams.
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