A council in the West Midlands is on the lookout for contractors specialising in modern methods of construction (MMC).
Staffordshire County Council launched a search for contractors to join a framework to complete MMC work to the tune of £45m over three years.
Jobs will be on an ad hoc basis and will typically consist of new-build works, alterations and extensions, refurbishments, replacements and installations, according to a tender notice released on Monday (17 February).
The framework will “primarily accommodate” education sector projects but could also include other areas of the public sector, such as health and social care, emergency services, housing and offices.
The selected contractors could also find work in the nursery facilities, community buildings and industrial sectors, according to the notice.
Other public sector bodies are able to use the framework with the council’s permission, including Stafford Borough Council, Cannock Chase District Council, South Staffordshire Council, Lichfield District Council, Staffordshire Police, and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Most of the individual projects will be worth between £0.5m and £2m, but the council said the framework could also be used for bigger projects. It expects to spend between £20m and £45m over the three-year period.
Interested contractors should submit tenders by midday on 7 April here. The framework is set to start on 1 November this year and will run until 31 October 2028.
The council also has the option to extend the framework by a further 12 months.
MMC-focused contractors have been under pressure in recent years and several have wound up their activities, including TopHat in October. The Goldman Sachs-backed contractor blamed the decision on “challenging” market conditions and a dwindling pipeline of work.
ModPods, Urban Splash House, Ilke Homes, Mid Group, Eco Modular Buildings and Caledonian Modular are among the offsite specialists that have gone under in the past three years.
