Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council has gone out to tender with a wide-ranging mechanical and electrical engineering services contract worth an estimated £300 million.

The Council is looking to put a framework agreement within a partnering arrangement in place with a single supplier. The extensive range of services to be provided under the contract include:

• Reactive repairs and maintenance
• Planned Preventative/Cyclical Maintenance including Servicing of Installations
• Follow on Remedial Works
• Minor Works
• Capital, refurbishment and lifecycle replacement projects or programmes of work

The aim of the partnering arrangement is to channel all Mechanical and Electrical Services (M&E) through one preferred partner and the main place of performance will be in Solihull, However, it is anticipated that other contracted authorities and clients across the wider West Midlands region and potentially nationally may decide to access this arrangement at a later period in time.

The work involved which will relate to all domestic and non-domestic properties includes:

• electrical installations
• mechanical installations
• ground Source/ Air Source Heat Pumps / Biomass Boilers
• distribution pipe work and cables including underground services (i.e. gas, water, electrical)
• hot and cold water installations
• thermostatic mixer valves (TMV's)
• reduced pressure zone valves (RPZ) valves
• sewage equipment
• communication and data infrastructures
• fire sprinkler systems, hydrants, dampers
• control equipment
• automatic doors, roller shutters, access control systems, automatic gates and barriers, and door systems
• improved energy and sustainability (i.e. decarbonisation, electric charge points etc.)

All works will be delivered under the NEC4 Facilities Management Contract, except for project works and programmes which will be delivered under the NEC4 Engineering & Construction Contract.

Initial framework term is 5 years with up to a further 5 years in extension options.

A single operator, acting in a partnering arrangement, will be expected to support all participating contracting authorities within the UK in developing collaborative initiatives through the framework. This will include a focus on key strategic objectives including driving efficiencies through the entire supply chain, waste reduction and standardisation.

In addition, the operator may also be required to support contracting authorities with the delivery of long term strategic programmes of asset investment, servicing and maintenance work. According to the Council, the benefits of such initiatives and investment for both the operator and contracting authorities will only be realised over the longer term.

The Council said that feedback from consultation with the construction industry had also supported the view that a term significantly longer than four years would be needed in order to realise a beneficial return on investment.

The framework will be open to all public sector organisations and other bodies including:

• Local authorities - Metropolitan Districts, Unitary Authorities, County Councils, City Councils, District Councils and Borough Councils, Parish Councils, Town Councils and Combined Authorities
• Government Departments, agencies and public bodies
• Educational, training and learning establishments including schools, universities and further education establishments
• National Parks Authorities
• Police Forces
• Fire and rescue services
• NHS Bodies
• Local enterprise partnerships (LEPs)

The framework will also be available for use by other non-public body organisation, private sector companies and other enterprises.

Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate is 16 February 2022 – click here to access the tender documentation.