Contracts

A major procurement provider has appointed 126 firms to a £660m retrofit and decarbonisation framework for public sector work. The LHC Procurement Group (LHCPG) Retrofit and Decarbonisation (N9) framework will run until the end of February 2029, providing public sector clients and registered social landlords with access to vetted local…

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has recommended that clients move away from comparing contractor's bid prices against each other.  In a report published this morning (24 February), the industry body set out a series of actions public clients should take to avoid “confusing, time-consuming and costly” procurement practices. The CLC…

Basildon Borough Council has threatened to terminate Morgan Sindall’s lucrative maintenance contract unless it sees “drastic improvements” in the quality of work.  Council leader Gavin Callaghan said the authority has invested an additional £16m into the repair and maintenance of council properties over the past year “due to the diabolical…

A £970m public sector building and maintenance framework has opened for tenders. The Communities & Housing Investment Consortium (CHIC) is looking for contractors to take on work across a range of jobs including demolitions, extensions and groundwork. Other tasks covered by the Multi Elements of the Built Environment Framework include…

A joint venture (JV) between Graham and Bam Ireland has been appointed to build a £671m children’s hospital in Belfast.  The project at Royal Victoria Hospital will be undertaken by the Northern-Ireland based Graham and Bam Healthcare Partnership (GBHP). The 10-storey hospital will have 155 beds – 80 per cent…

Ministers have ordered public bodies to increase their procurement spending on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A national procurement policy statement published by the Cabinet Office last week said in-scope contracting authorities should “maximise” the proportion of their budgets directed to SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs). Public…

A procurement specialist has invited interest in two major deals potentially worth a combined total of £1.3bn. South East Consortium published official notices of its Decarbonisation Partnerships and Fire Remedial Works frameworks on Friday (14 February). The body said the agreements would provide routes to market for housing clients nationally…

A Yorkshire council has launched a tender for a £1bn civils framework in northern and central England. Sheffield City Council, which is leading the tender process on behalf of Yorkshire-based procurement organisation YORhub, expects to appoint eight contractors. The framework will last for four years with an optional two-year extension.…

The value of construction projects starting on site has plummeted by almost a fifth this winter, according to new data. Industry-intelligence specialist Glenigan said 19 per cent less work got underway in the three months to 31 January than in the same period a year earlier. The research showed ground…

Wokingham Borough Council has put contractors on notice as it prepares to assemble an £850m construction procurement framework.  In a prior-information notice published last week, the Berkshire local authority said it was “seeking to engage with external organisations to gauge the level of market interest in the formation of a…