BSF newcomers: prove worthiness

Contractors without a record of partnering will have to work harder to win a place on any Building Schools for the Future bid under new procurement rules confirmed by the Department of Children, Schools and Families.

Launching the rules, Partnerships for Schools (PfS) chief Tim Byles said firms experienced in partnering would have the edge over those without. He insisted barriers to entry were not being raised, but added: "If new entrants are without a record in partnering then they will have to work harder to convince us of the deliverability of their proposals."

The new procurement rules come out of a major review of BSF last year, prompted by the programme's rising bid costs and lengthy procurement process. The changes, revealed in CJ last February, will see BSF bid costs slashed by up to 30% and procurement time cut by two months with savings of more than £250m across the 15-year life of the BSF programme.

Under the changes, local authorities will use an extended prequalification process to shortlist two bidders, based on their partnering and design capabilities and records. The shortlisted bidders will immediately enter the competitive dialogue stage, working up no more than two detailed designs.

Currently local authorities require at least three shortlisted bidders to work up any number of detailed designs.