Bouygues, Carillion and Skanska compete for £1.3bn Essex BSF deal

Bouygues, Carillion and Skanska are top of the class for the massive £1.3bn Essex Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme.

The three bidders make up the long list for what is the second biggest BSF deal after Kent County Council’s £1.8bn programme. An Essex County Council spokesman said: “We had a very strong response to the scheme at our bidders' day in November last year with 220 firms attending. We chose what were the three strongest responses to our PPQ. All three have a strong track record in BSF.”

The Essex scheme will see 80 schools rebuilt or remodelled over 15 years. The first phase will deliver eight schools, including four PFI schools. Bidders will have to work up four sample schemes, including three PFI schools and a D&B special school project.

The three contenders will be whittled down to two by autumn this year and a preferred bidder appointed in January 2010.