黑洞社区

The main contractor tasked with completing the Birmingham hospital stalled by Carillion鈥檚 collapse won鈥檛 be lined up for at least another three months 鈥� 18 months after the firm went bust.

In papers published ahead of a meeting of the board of Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS trust, it was revealed a decision on the main construction contract 鈥� 鈥� to complete the Midland Metropolitan hospital will be made in the coming months. 

In a report prepared for the meeting, which is set to be held this Thursday (7 February), the trust鈥檚 chief executive Toby Lewis said: 鈥淪ince the start of 2019, we have placed the OJEU advertisement for the final contractor to complete the construction of Midland Met.

鈥淭his summer we would expect to finalise that contract, with a preferred bidder appointed and a confirmatory business case at contract close.鈥�

It was also revealed that the trust was planning to appoint a project manager shortly. 

The trust published a contract notice calling on main contractors to register their interest in taking over the Midland Met (pictured) scheme on 9 January 鈥� and attached a minimum 拢267m price tag to the job.

The trust has added a number of restrictions on those who might be interested in taking over the job, including putting a 拢320m cap on bid price and requiring bidders to have a turnover of at least 拢534m, twice as much as the job鈥檚 estimated value.

The trust has given firms until tomorrow (6 February) to flag their interest in the project, with a shortlist of three set to be invited to tender on 22 February.

A bidders鈥� day last autumn saw a number of firms attend including Balfour Beatty, which is already on site carrying out an early works contract, Kier, Sir Robert McAlpine, Laing O鈥橰ourke and Graham Construction.

The main package of work is expected to restart in October and wrap up by the end of December 2021.