Contractor shortlist announced for National Construction College redevelopment

5 contractors have made it to the final shortlist to undertake the £21million redevelopment of the National Construction College in Bircham Newton, Norfolk.

The project, which is due to start next year, is supported by funding received in principle from the Learning and Skills Council and is expected to last 2 years.

Galliford Try, Kier Regional, Morgan Ashurst, RG Carter and Wates Construction were selected from a list of 10 PQQ returns and will each receive tender documents. The NCC aims to make the final appointment late 2008 with work starting on site in the summer of 2009.

The shortlist fulfils the first stages in the procurement procedure, to appoint a contractor via the Official Journal of the European Union process.

A Strategic Brief and Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) were both issued in May and all responses were judged by an evaluation panel, which included members of the Design and Client teams, led by Drivers Jonas – the company selected to manage the project.

The contractor will be expected to meet NCC’s rigorous time, cost, sustainability and build quality requirements to provide an exemplary learning and development environment for the College.

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For further information, please contact David Pidgeon on 0207 367 9803 or email david.pidgeon@cskills.org

About the National Construction College

The National Construction College is the largest specialist construction training provider in Europe. The College, which is the direct training division of ConstructionSkills, has 6 campuses in England and Scotland. It provides courses in management, sustainability, plant operations and mechanics, groundworks, crane operations, lightning conductor engineering, scaffolding and steeplejacking, general construction, civil engineering, roofing, ceiling fixing, partitioning, surveying and setting out and floor covering.

For its flagship campus in Norfolk, the Learning and Skills Council has agreed in principle to provide £17.2 million in capital funding - with additional funding provided by the NCC – to redevelop the site over an expected 2 year period. The project will see new accommodation blocks with en-suite bedrooms; a new restaurant to cater for learners and staff; a sports centre and additional amenities including a shop, offices and training support services.

The 2008 prospectus features 160 pages of course information covering a full range of apprenticeships and adult courses offered at the National Construction College’s 6 sites in the East, South, Midlands, Scotland, Central and London. For a free copy please call 0844 8440466.

About ConstructionSkills

ConstructionSkills is the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry. It is UK-wide and represents the whole industry from professional consultancies to major contractors and SMEs. Established as a Sector Skills Council in 2003, ConstructionSkills is working to deliver a safe, professional and fully qualified construction workforce.

ConstructionSkills is a partnership between CIC, CITB NI and CITB-ConstructionSkills. All three partners are committed to working together to deliver industry-led skills and training solutions through the Sector Skills Agreement for construction. We work to negotiate the best partnership and funding deals for the construction industry to help raise standards and we develop the skills products and services employers need.