Rok Building and Mitie among 17 vying for £40m framework

Rok Building and Mitie are among seventeen firms on the shortlist for the £40m Sussex-wide framework for smaller public works.

The four-year framework for public sector schemes ranging between £100,000 and £750,000 is aimed at local firms. Almost all of the contenders are regional contractors based in the Sussex region.

East Sussex Council, which is leading the procurement of the framework, is planning to appoint between eight and 12 contractors to the framework.

Framework manager Paul Benford said using local suppliers was a crucial element of the framework: "Most of the bidders are local but even those from outside the area have been asked to look at utilising smaller local suppliers in their supply chain," he said.

Framework members will range in size. Benford said: "It's quite a broad range because we want to ensure we get expertise in all areas. So we have firms bidding with £10m a year turnovers down to firms with annual turnovers of £400,000."

The Tier Three framework follows in the footsteps of the recently awarded £80m Sussex wide Tier Two contract which will deliver work between £500,000 and £3m.

The seventeen bidders for the Tier Three deal are:

• Booker & Best
• Bramber Construction
• Colours Decorating
• Fitzpatrick Contractors
• Ian Williams
• J. Cheesmur
• JH Payne & Sons
• Mariners Building Contractors
• Mitie Property Services (Fareham)
• Patching & Son
• P H Beck
• R B Construction Group
• Rok Building (Eastbourne)
• T H Kenyon & Son
• Underwood Construction
• Walkers Construction
• WH Catchpole