BAA seeks contractors for multi-million pound projects

Contractors are being called in to meetings with BAA to help beef up its framework contractors base.

One contractor has revealed that the airport operator's resources "were starting to dry up" and that it needed to add more names to its lists of long-term multi-million pound contracts.

"We got the call from BAA and we are delighted. We would jump at the chance of getting the work," said the source. "There was a feeling in the past that many contractors had missed the boat when the first generation frameworks had been announced."

BAA will spend the rest of the year speaking to interested contractors before progressing further on how new names can be introduced and selected.

Names currently on the construction manager agreement include Bovis, Taylor Woodrow and Mace, while the general builder framework is made up of Mace, Mansell, Llewellyns and Warings.

The group's construction director Richard Petrie, who hinted that BAA would be looking to increase the number of contractors involved in future work earlier this year admitted that the move was only natural with the increased demand in construction work expected in the coming years.

"It would be silly not to make sure we are well positioned and not too stretched," he said. "We are always keen to keep abreast of the market and we are putting systems in place to get a grasp of what's needed in the future," he added. "Our supply team will be working closely with contractors to see what areas need to be addressed."

The full details of the areas needed bolstering have yet to be determined, although Petrie added that contractors would be asked to show an interest in the re-tendering of the construction manager and general builder frameworks early next year.  Both contracts have a combined value of £60m a year and form part of the old five-year first generation contracts. The new agreements will be for 10 years.