Two tenders better than one

QS News understands that EC Harris has submitted its report to the Department for Education and Skills claiming the schemes would be better built under a two-stage tendering process, rather than contractors offering a single lump sum bid.

An industry source claims the two-stage design and building process would offer more certainty of price. The process also leads to some of the design team being novated to the contractor.

Another QS, Davis Langdon is believed to already be using the procurement method for a live scheme, the John Madejski Academy.

This will see a splitting of the design team, with the architect Wilkinson Eyre and services engineer Arup remaining underneath the client, whilst the winning contractor will appoint its own architect for work on detailing, and structural engineer.

Three contractors, HBG, ISG Interior/Exterior and Mace, are understood to be bidding for the scheme. Work is due to start in the autumn and the team working on the scheme also includes project manager Buro 4.