Procurement partnership Scape Group has published details of its National Civil Engineering and Infrastructure framework, which includes the creation of a dedicated £400 million lot specifically for the public sector in Scotland.

Due to be re-procured in 2018, the second generation framework will deliver major civil engineering and infrastructure projects across the United Kingdom with an increased total value to £2 billion.

The increased value of the framework and its division into two lots responds to the growing pipeline of major infrastructure projects across the United Kingdom. The framework has been developed following engagement with local authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships and other public sector bodies across the country, as well as industry body the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA).

The Scape National Civil Engineering and Infrastructure framework will run for a period of four years from October 2018 and will include lots for:

Bidders are invited to tender either for individual lots or both lots, and the framework will also be open to consortium bids.

Scape’s Prior Information Notice (PIN) for the re-procurement of the framework will be published online on Friday 10th November 2017 via the Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) procurement platform. Details will also be available on the Scape Group website. Market awareness days will be held in Edinburgh and London in early December 2017 for prospective bidders.

An OJEU Contract Notice will be published in January 2018 with preferred bidders announced in October 2018. The new framework will allow the successful delivery partner(s) a three month mobilisation period to establish methods, processes and train teams, ready to engage with clients and take project enquiries as the current framework moves towards expiry at the end of January 2019.

Victoria Brambini, managing director of Scape Procure, said: “Across the United Kingdom there is a growing need for investment in infrastructure that is vital to unlocking long-term regional growth, bringing local economies closer together and ultimately strengthening communities. Greater connectivity for towns, cities and rural areas is vital in helping them to thrive, and local authorities are rightly ambitious for what can be achieved in their areas. The government has set out its plan to upgrade our national infrastructure, and our aspiration is to continue to provide a framework that allows time and cost certainty as well as delivering extensive social value for the public sector for every pound spent, including high levels of local spend, local employment and local apprenticeships.

“Our decision to create a separate lot for projects in Scotland reflects the clear commitment of the Scottish Government to further their investment in infrastructure in a way that supports the local economy. We know through our engagement with Scotland’s public bodies that there is real passion and drive to achieve social value with the benefits of investment passing deep into local supply chain businesses. Our mission is to maximise both efficiency and social value delivery for the Scottish public sector and the local communities they serve.

“Since January 2015, the National Civil Engineering and Infrastructure framework has been commissioned for almost 100 major projects across the UK and has delivered high levels of social value, including 82% of supply chain spend within 10 miles of projects, 70% local labour within 20 miles and 94% of suppliers to the framework partners being SMEs. We expect the new framework will deliver equally positive outcomes for the public sector and potentially increased impact.”

The current framework, led by Balfour Beatty and supported by an extensive local supply chain, was procured with an expected value range of between £1bn and £1.5bn and is on target, running until January 2019.

Prospective bidders can register their interest in attending Scape’s upcoming market awareness events for the Civil Engineering and Infrastructure framework by visiting www.scapegroup.co.uk/services/procure/live-procurement.