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Devon, acting on behalf of all the counties in the South-west construction framework, has sent a letter to all of the bidders, asking them to attend an interview this week.

The move follows the rejection in the High Court last Friday of a claim by contractor Leadbitter that it had been unfairly ruled out of the process when it filed its submission 26 minutes late.

The framework is based on the South-east model, under which Hampshire council administers procurement for all of the counties in the area. It is thought between 15 and 20 contractors will gain places on it, but the bidding process has been on hold since Oxfordshire-based Leadbitter launched its legal challenge earlier this year.

Devon council was appointed by the South West Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership to act on behalf of a number of public bodies over the procurement of services for construction projects.

Mr Justice David Richards rejected the claim, ruling that 鈥榓 deadline is a deadline鈥�

Leadbitter鈥檚 lawyers said the council had already extended the deadline by three hours after a rival company suffered an unexpected power failure, and it should have been offered a similar extension.

Mr Justice David Richards rejected the claim, ruling that 鈥渁 deadline is a deadline鈥� and the decision to reject Leadbitter鈥檚 tender was 鈥渨ell within鈥� the council鈥檚 margin of discretion.

He said that Leadbitter鈥檚 witnesses 鈥渞eadily accepted鈥� that they knew about the tendering rules, and the provisions of the process 鈥渨ere clear and well understood鈥�.

The extension due to the power cut had been communicated to all tenderers, added the judge, and it was not 鈥渄isproportionate鈥� for Devon to have refused to consider Leadbitter鈥檚 bid.