New £4bn Academies framework shortlists 22 firms

Balfour Beatty, BAM, Carillion, Kier and Willmott Dixon are among 22 companies shortlisted for Partnerships for Schools new £4bn Academies framework deal.

All four firms come with significant experience as framework members on the original PfS Academies framework. However fellow framework members Laing O'Rourke and Skanska have failed to make the grade. 

Fifty seven firms were in the running for the deal, which is known as the Contractors Framework. Eighteen have been shortlisted for the North and Midlands contract and 18 for the London and South area. Fourteen companies have been shortlisted for both geographical areas, with eight companies making it onto a single shortlist. Up to 12 contractors will be appointed for each of the two geographical areas, with bidders able to express an interest in one or both.

Tim Byles, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Schools, said interest had been high from both large and medium-sized companies across the country. He added: "The construction industry sees this as a great opportunity, particularly at a time when conditions are challenging."

"With over 127 Academies being delivered through BSF currently, with over 100 more in the pipeline, the new Framework will enable contractors and suppliers from across the country to get involved in a scheme that has a predictable flow of work, supported by direct grant Government funding."

The new framework will be operational by the end the year.The successful firms will begin bidding for work from November 2009. The new framework will operate in tandem with the initial Academies Framework, which will continue to operate until December 2010.
The shortlisted firms are:

Sector 1: North and the Midlands

1.     Apollo

2.     Balfour Beatty

3.     BAM 

4.     Bovis

5.     Bowmer & Kirkland*

6.     Carillion

7.     Clugston*

8.     Galliford Try

9.     Henry Boot*

10.  Interserve

11.  Kier

12.  Miller

13.  Morgan Ashurst

14.  Shepherd*

15.  Sir Robert McAlpine

16.  VINCI

17.  Wates

18.  Willmott Dixon

Sector 2: London, the South and the South and East of England

1.     Apollo

2.     Balfour Beatty

3.     BAM

4.     Bovis

5.     Carillion

6.     Educinq*

7.     Galliford Try

8.     Interserve

9.     JB Leadbitter* 

10.  Kier

11.  Miller

12.  Morgan Ashurst

13.  Rydon* 

14.  Sir Robert McAlpine 

15.  VINCI

16.  Volker Fitzpatrick*

17.  Wates

18.  Willmott Dixon

 * denotes the company appears on a single shortlist.