University starts race for £60m consultancy framework

The University of Manchester has started pre-market engagement for a new £60m consultancy framework, which will help it deliver its £1.2bn 10-year estate regeneration plan.

The University has issued a Prior Information Notice on the framework which includes lots for architects, cost consultants, project management, M&E services, structural engineers, and building control services.

Consultants will work across a wide range of projects including demolitions, refurbishments, new-builds, and maintenance.

Services will be procured across 18 different lots, with disciplines typically split across two lots; one for projects below £10m, and one for project above £10m in value.

Overall, the framework could be worth as much as £60m over a four-year period. The University expects to publish a contract notice for the framework early next month.

Last month, the University named five consultants on its £6m consultancy framework for asbestos and demolition surveys.

Airborne Environmental Consultants, Environmental Essentials, Life Environmental Services, Santia Asbestos Management, and WYG were chosen for the two-year framework, which has the option to run for an additional two years.

The procurement of both frameworks will help to support the University’s estate regeneration plan, which is already underway.

Projects currently on-site include Laing O’Rourke’s Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre, and a £55m overhaul of its business school, which is being led by Mace.

Laing O’Rourke has also been named main contractor on the University’s £150m, 170,000 sq ft Henry Royce Institute, which will act as the UK’s national institute for materials science research and innovation.