黑洞社区

The award of Scape鈥檚 拢350m consultancy framework has been delayed after questions were raised from at least one of the unsuccessful bidders, 黑洞社区 has learned.

Multiple market sources previously informed 黑洞社区 the joint venture between Gleeds, Aecom and Pick Everard was being lined up for the four-year public sector framework.

The JV was said to have beaten off competition from the other five bidders - Mace, Turner & Townsend, Norse Group and the previous holder of its consultancy framework Faithful+Gould (F+G), who this time around teamed up with Arcadis, Bilfinger GVA and Grant Thornton to bid after Scape set a turnover threshold of 拢125m per annum for bidders.

However, market sources have now informed 黑洞社区 the F+G-led joint venture has raised queries over the award of the framework with one source adding they believed 鈥渢here may be others鈥�.

The same source said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 in a period of questioning, questions like 鈥榳hy has it been marked that way?鈥� It鈥檚 a movable feast.鈥�

This source added a legal challenge would be 鈥渁 really strong鈥� reaction but it could not be ruled out.

Another source said bids for the framework 鈥渉ad cost a lot of money so it鈥檚 understandable people are raising questions鈥�.

A spokesperson for Scape confirmed the standstill period had been extended: 鈥淭he Alcatel [standstill] period for this framework has been extended. Scape Group is unable to provide further comment at this time.鈥�

The F+G-led JV declined to comment. The JV between Gleeds, Aecom and Pick Everard and single bidders Turner & Townsend, Mace and Norse Group have been contacted for comment.

The four-year Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework will be open for use by all public sector clients and will cover project management, quantity surveying, architecture, engineering services and strategic asset management.

Scape describes the BECS framework as 鈥渘ew鈥�, but it in effect replaces its existing Asset Management, Survey and Design Services framework, which is held by Faithful+Gould and expires at the end of this September.

Scape runs a number of frameworks and .

Unlike Scape鈥檚 existing major works agreement, held solely by Willmott Dixon, the latest version will be split into five lots and appoint a lead contractor to each one.

Meanwhile the other major public sector consultancy framework from the government鈥檚 buying arm, the Crown Commercial Service (CCS), has suffered repeated delays to its launch.

The 拢2.9bn flagship Project Management and Full Design Team Service framework had been expected to launch this month, but the CCS has now said it will go live next month after scrapping the international lots from the framework.

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