Following a period of extensive market engagement, involving more than 70 contractors, firms will have until March 25 to answer the PQQ following the contract notice being submitted today.

The third-generation framework will enable local authorities and public sector organisations to accelerate the delivery of sustainably designed major infrastructure projects – including roads, rail, flood and coastal, broadband and electric vehicle infrastructure – with no defined upper limit for project value.

Running for a period of four years from 2023, with an option to be extended for a further two years until 2029, the fully-managed framework builds on the success of SCAPE Scotland’s existing Civil Engineering framework which has commissioned more than 40 projects to date for public sector clients across Scotland. The current framework is due to expire in January 2023.

SMEs will sit at the heart of the new frameworks, with the successful principal contractor expected to engage with an extensive supply chain of local businesses. The framework has been designed to facilitate better access for small companies to major public sector contracts they might otherwise not have been able to bid for, while also allowing public organisations to procure local specialists.

Part of SCAPE Scotland’s suite of direct award frameworks, the new civil engineering framework has been developed following engagement with local authorities and other public sector bodies across the country, as well as industry body the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA).

SCAPE Scotland intends to issue invitations to tender (ITT) in June 2022 before the successful contractors are named in November 2022.

Lillian McDowall, senior business manager at SCAPE Scotland, said: “As Scotland transitions into a post-pandemic world, the delivery of infrastructure with a clear focus on community wealth generation – whether social, environmental or economic – has never been higher up the agenda.

“The successful market engagement has given us great confidence that we can help local communities receive much-needed infrastructure by providing fully-compliant, direct award frameworks.

“Ultimately, our next generation civil engineering framework is designed to give contractors and our colleagues in the public sector greater control to drive better outcomes for communities across Scotland.

“What’s more, the framework has been created to prioritise SME spend and keep the pound local – helping to deliver projects that have the communities they serve right at the heart of the build.”

For full details of timescales and information on the SCAPE Civil Engineering frameworks re-procurement, visit www.scape-scotland.co.uk/live-procurement.