The framework will be split into six regions, with seven contractors appointed to each regional panel.
Single firm’s bidding for a place on a lot will need to turnover at least £25m although the EFA is also allowing for consortia of smaller companies to bid with sales of £10m.
Works will include asbestos removal and window replacement upgrades as well as an element of new build.
Regions
- North East – Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Durham, Tees Valley, Yorkshire and Humberside – worth £500m
- East of England – Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Peterborough, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk – £750m
- London and South East – Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, London, Berkshire, Hampshire, Isle of White, Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent – £1.5bn
- South West – Wiltshire, West of England, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall – £500m
- Midlands West – Staffordshire, Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire, West Midlands, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire – £875m
- North West – Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire – £875m
EFA plans is to shortlist around 14 firms for each regional lot before inviting tenders in March and then selecting the seven firms to handle school and college upgrade works.
The framework will kick into action in July and run for four years.
Bidders days
– 5 December at DfE offices, Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BT
– 11 December at DfE offices, 2 St. Paul’s Place, Sheffield, S1 2FJ
It is anticipated that each event will last around two hours.
If potential bidders wish to attend any events they must register via the Bond Dickinson e-tendering system by 2 December. Only one place is allowed for each firm.
Last month the EFA let its latest £4bn new-build framework, which split the country in two between north and south, to 10 contractors.