Contractors Need To Re-Register For Council Contracts By 8 January 2010

17th November 2009

The Highland Council calls on building construction and consultancy companies to register interest

Consultants, contractors and skilled trades businesses are being advised they have until Friday 8 January next year to register an interest in working for The Highland Council on future contracts with an individual value of up to £25,000. The Council is also urging consultants to register an interest by this deadline for future consultancy work for projects of all values.

The deadline is important because if companies miss it, there will be no opportunity for them to considered for Council contracts/consultancy for at least another two years.

All contractors and consultants who are currently on the Council's maintained list will receive a letter from the Council's Director of Housing and Property Services, Steve Barron, notifying them that the Council will shortly be introducing framework agreements for the commissioning of contractors and consultants who wish to be involved in the construction, improvement and maintenance of Council buildings.

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 first phase of the process will also focus on a contractors' framework for repair, maintenance and minor projects up to an individual value of £25.000. A second phase contractors' framework covering all construction related services will be sought for higher values of work.

Mr Barron said: "I urge all consultants, contractors and skilled trades to submit an application for inclusion in the new framework agreements before 8 January 2010 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 apply by 8 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 will be advertised through the Public Procurement Website www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk from Monday (15 November).

Contractors and consultants will be required to complete a pre-qualification questionnaire so that a shortlist can be established; and submit a Fee Offer (or tender) if successful at the pre-qualification stage.

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.

Further information is available on the Council's website at www.highland.gov.uk or by contacting The Highland Council Framework Helpline on 01349 886606.