ITP goes live for £1.5Bn Scottish housing programme

A four-year residential new build programme has been launched with an Invitation to Participate (ITP) by Scotland Excel.

The construction framework is the largest ever contract opportunity offered by Scotland Excel, and will close on 14 January.

The Centre of Procurement Expertise has joined forces with 11 Scottish councils to implement the framework, which will enable contracts for housing developments to be formed up until summer 2023. Companies looking to get involved in the framework can now access the ITP via the Contract Notice published on the Public Contracts Scotland website at:

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=DEC339068

Jennifer McKerrall, Scotland Excel’s Strategic Programme Manager, said: “This is a significant contract opportunity for the construction industry over the next four years to deliver new public social housing. The ITP is now live. We strongly encourage all contractors to complete their Request to Participate by 14 January. Only those contractors who successfully complete this stage will be invited to tender.”

Eleven councils have directly partnered with Scotland Excel to fund the development of this framework – a joint approach which demonstrates a commitment to delivering significant new business for the construction sector. Further spend is expected from the other Scottish councils and housing associations who can also use the framework.

The structure has been specifically designed to encourage SME opportunities, as well as large companies. With companies able to tender for small projects of one-15 properties with the choice of ‘build only’ or ‘design and build’ depending on their capabilities, and there are further lots for 16-25, 26-40 and 40+ properties. Companies can also bid to deliver projects nationally or submit offers for specific council areas.

Scotland Excel has engaged extensively with the construction sector to ensure it firmly understand business needs. The framework has been designed around a commercial model aligned to the industry’s typical pricing structure, with standard templates and SBCC terms and conditions to make it easy for contractors to bid for work packages once the framework is in place. The framework will also address a number of areas highlighted within the recent industry strategy published by Construction Scotland, including: 30 day payment terms, aggregation of demand to ensure a sustainable pipeline of work, and providing local opportunities for Scottish SMEs.

While an innovative approach to community benefits has also been employed, aimed at addressing industry skill shortages while creating employment and training opportunities within the area of each development.

The Scotland Excel New Build Residential Construction Framework ITP was published on Wednesday 5 December 2018 and will close on 14 January 2019. The framework is due to go live in August 2019.

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