MCG welcomes Building Schools for Future review proposals

The MCG has welcomed the preliminary findings of the Building Schools for the

Future (BSF) Procurement Review outlining plans to reduce bidding costs savings

and make the procurement process more efficient.

Proposals include saving up to two months in overall procurement time, reducing

the number of sample designs and enabling two bidders to be deselected earlier in

the process, with projects down to two bidders after 29 weeks rather than 44 weeks

as in the current process.

MCG Director Stephen Ratcliffe said: " These proposals offer a practical way

forward and reflect contractors' concerns that there is a clear need to speed up the

process and reduce bidding costs for these projects. Not only will this help to freeup

bidding capacity but it should also improve competition and result in better value

projects.”

Notes for editors

1. The Major Contractors Group (MCG) represents the UK's largest

construction companies. Its members carry out over £20bn worth of

construction work each year.

2. For further information (media) contact Kurt Calder on 0207 227 4508. The

MCG website at www.mcg.org.uk features general information about the

MCG's work.

3. Building Schools for the Future (BSF) schools capital investment programme

aims to rebuild or renew every one of England's 3,500 state secondary

schools during the 15-year lifetime of the programme.

4. Key recommendations of the BSF Procurement Review include:

A reduction in the overall procurement time - down to 75-weeks from the

current 82-week model; More comprehensive pre-qualification for bidders;

Two bidders should be deselected earlier in the process, with projects down

to two bidders after 29 weeks rather than 44 weeks in the current process;

Time and cost savings in the design process, with sample schemes only

required for two projects, and additional time for detailed development and

completion of design work; Integration of ICT in the BSF programme should

continue as demonstrable benefits for building design; More effective focus

on partnering issues in the dialogue process

MCG, 55 Tufton Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3QL

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