Public sector procurement specialist Scape has fired the starting gun on a search for contractors from across the construction industry to work on two new four-year frameworks valued at £13bn - a new £11bn construction framework for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and a £2bn framework for Scotland to be operated and managed by Scape Procure Scotland. 

The latest enhancements to Scape’s construction framework suite have been designed to provide direct support to the local economy and the green recovery. The frameworks will empower public sector organisations to shape their project objectives, whilst offering a wider choice of delivery partners, contracts and performance measurement, without compromising the accelerated direct award model that Scape has pioneered.

The four-year framework for England, Wales and Northern Ireland has the option to be extended until 2027 and the new simplified frameworks, which are available to all public sector organisations, will accelerate the delivery of innovative and high-quality construction projects across all sectors and values. A new feature to the next generation Scape construction framework is a unique parallel lotting structure that, for the first time, will give commissioning clients the option to engage early with multiple contractors before awarding a project. 

This element of the framework has been designed to stimulate innovation and a reinforced commitment from contractors to maintain the highest possible standards. It has also been designed to support the growing list of project objectives that the public sector seeks to address, including enhanced local economic engagement and supporting the achievement of the UK’s 2050 net-zero carbon commitments.

Users of the framework will also benefit from a wider range of NEC contract options. These new contracts will provide greater opportunity for collaboration and flexibility across the supply chain on longer-term, higher-value projects or for specifying performance objectives that cover the full life cycle of an asset. The new £11bn framework will be structured into seven lots; two of which are specific to Northern Ireland. 

Commenting on the launch, John Simons, head of procurement and audit at Scape Group, said: “This is by far the most innovative framework in our 15-year history and, importantly, offers more choice and control to the public sector, whilst maintaining our heritage in framework and performance management. 

“Our public sector colleagues have a diverse mix of challenges that they have to tackle as a part of the projects they commission. By introducing what we believe is the first ever parallel lotting structure within a direct award framework, we feel that we can help to clear a path to achieving those objectives, whilst maintaining a bedrock of rigour, compliance and client support. By providing clients with the flexibility to decide how success is defined, be that related to local spend, social value or low carbon initiatives, we can help the public sector to meet their strategic goals.” 

Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, said: “The construction industry has a clear mandate from the Prime Minister to build back better. The entire sector has experienced a shock to the system over recent months. As a public sector organisation, we have a duty to play our part in accelerating project delivery and to ensure that the right mix of contractors is available to support the sector with a real commitment to innovation and local delivery. 

“Importantly, we need to ensure that the wide range of adjacent social, economic and environmental objectives are uncovered upfront; that they are planned in and treated with the same rigour as time, cost and quality. Our role is to broker the right relationships and conversations between the private and public sector.  Underpinned by a delivery model that has a proven track record of successful delivery, we believe that our new construction frameworks will not only nurture those partnerships and deliver great buildings but that they will ensure each and every project plays its part in driving the economic recovery.”

Prospective bidders can register their interest in attending Scape’s upcoming market awareness webinar events for the new National Construction Framework by visiting www.scapegroup.co.uk/services/procure/live-procurement