黑洞社区

The two bidders chasing a blue riband contract to carry out the fit-out contract on Google鈥檚 new headquarters building at King鈥檚 Cross are pricing it under a PCSA contract, 黑洞社区 understands.

Familiar rivals ISG and Overbury are halfway through a six month tender competition for the deal with bids back at the end of February next year.

The PCSA, or pre-construction services agreement, is normally awarded to a preferred bidder ahead of a main contarct being signed but is believed to be being used on the Google job in order to make sure both firms put together their best bids possible.

A source said: 鈥淥n a job like this there鈥檚 only a couple who could do it. I think the idea is to ensure both return tenders and that they really go for it. There鈥檚 a lot of work about and I think Google want the best bids possible.鈥�

The deal is believed to be a lump sum contract and is worth north of 拢150m meaning it will be one of the biggest fit-out jobs to be let when it is awarded in early summer next year.

The work is for the majority of the main building鈥檚 fit out but is understood to include the string of retail planned at ground floor level with the building running up the entire length of York Way.

A start on site is expected in early 2024 with work due to be finished by summer 2025.

Firms working on the fit-out deal include project manager Turner & Townsend, M&E consultant Hoare Lea and architect Perkins + Will.

Ahead of bidding, the client team is understood to have run the job past Mace鈥檚 interiors business but the firm, which has been growing its fit-out business and came close to landing a 拢75m deal to carry out work on Apple鈥檚 store at Battersea Power Station, decided not to bid.

Lendlease is construction manager on the main building which is not thought to be ready until around 2025.