CSCS yet to decide on bids for smartcard

The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) has still not chosen a bidder to manage its long-awaited smartcard, as it emerged this week that the scheme will not be ready until next year.

The £25m project was originally expected to launch in summer or autumn this year. But on Monday, CSCS chief executive Brian Adams told CJ the smartcard would be introduced "as early as possible" in 2008.

The delay follows controversy in May as to which firm had exclusive rights to manage the scheme. Rival bids from a JV between Intelligent Security and Causeway, and Construction Skills both claimed they had an exclusive deal the run the scheme.

It was later reported that a third firm, Reference Point, was the preferred bidder for the work.