Highland Council extends deadline for Framework Agreements to 22 January 2010.

20th December 2009

Consultants, contractors and skilled trades businesses are being advised they have until noon on Friday 22 January next year to submit an application to The Highland Council to be included on frameworks for construction work up to a value of £25,000, and for design consultancy services for projects of all values.

The deadline is important because if companies miss it, there will be no opportunity for them to be considered for Council contracts/consultancy for at least another two years. Applicants have to record their interest on the Public Contracts Scotland Website by the 19th January, and submit their application by 22 January 2010.

The consultancy agreements will cover all professional disciplines, and include work for repairs, maintenance and minor works, and new build projects in various construction cost bands.

The contractors' framework will focus on repair, maintenance and minor projects up to an individual value of £25,000. A second phase contractors' framework covering larger construction projects will be announced in due course.

Steve Barron, the Council's Director of Housing and Property Services, said "I urge all consultants, contractors and skilled trades to submit an application for inclusion in the new framework agreements before the deadline if they are interested in working with The Highland Council. This is not just for our existing contractors, it applies to anyone who is interested in working with the Council on building projects. Everyone needs to apply by completing a new questionnaire as we will stop using our current list of approved contractors for the selection of tenders after the framework agreements go live. I cannot stress enough how important it is that interested contractors submit their application by noon on 22 January 2010 because after that date there will be no opportunity for them to be added to the framework agreement for at least the next two years."

The framework agreement will begin in April 2010 and will last for two years, with the option of a one-year extension. It is advertised through the Public Contracts Scotland website www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk from Monday (15 November).

Contractors and consultants will be required to complete a pre-qualification questionnaire, which can be downloaded from the Public Contracts Scotland website. Following assessment of submissions, a panel of complying contractors will be established, and a panel of consultants will be invited to submit a tender. The successful tenderers will form the consultant panel.

For further information please visit the Highland Council website www.highland.gov.uk where there are links to the notices on the Public Contracts Scotland website, or contact the Framework helpline on 01349 886606.