Trio in line for £360m Somerset framework
00:00 15 Nov 2006
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Three contenders are tussling to haul in the largest-ever corporate services framework deal.
In the hunt for the £360m scheme in the South West are IBM, with Hyder and Mouchel Parkman as subcontractors; BT, working with Carillion; and Capita.
The project involves setting up a strategic service partnership with Somerset County and Taunton Deane Borough Councils to provide a raft of services including facilities management and construction procurement.
The deal is being rolled out by the South West Centre of Excellence, one of nine such organisations throughout England aimed at improving councils’ efficiency.
A further 35 councils in the South West, plus a primary care trust, have also registered interest in the framework to avoid the OJEU tendering process and go instead straight to the preferred bidder for their needs.
The scheme will initially run for 10 years, with the option of an extension for five more years.
The victor will emerge next spring, with work on the project due to start in summer 2007.
[Contract Journal, 15 November 2006, p 13]