South-west contractors chase £3bn regional framework

Contractors are chasing a £3bn regional framework which will deliver building work for local councils, health trusts, colleges, police and fire services across the south west of England.

Construction Framework South West (CFSW) is modelled on the South East Centre of Excellence framework. The four-year deal is being procured by Devon County Council on behalf of the South West Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership.

The framework will cover public sector building work across six counties: Cornwall, Devon, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset and Gloucestershire.

A shortlist is expected this month with a final line up of around eight to 15 contractors due next March.

The value of work will range from £1m upwards, with plans to bundle some contracts into larger packages. A further framework for smaller works is also in the pipeline.

Framework manager Jon Williams said that there was no upper limit to the size of the contracts.