Additional information
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The 2021 Framework represents a crucial route to market to enable the DFE to support its educational infrastructure delivery programmes and related initiatives ranging from schools, academies, colleges and other educational facilities that are required across England. The DFE has commenced a procurement exercise under the Procurement Act 2023 to establish the new, DFE Construction Framework 25 (Successor Framework) which is anticipated to conclude by early January 2026. Once available, the Successor Framework will become the primary procurement route for the DFE in sourcing new projects that would have otherwise been procured via the 2021 Framework . The intention was that the Successor Framework would be in place and fully mobilised prior to the expiry of the 2021 Framework. However, there has been an unanticipated delay with the Successor Framework procurement process (in part due to the delay to commencement of the Procurement Act 2023) which means that it is unlikely that it will be fully mobilised and available for use until after the 2021 Framework’s original expiry date on 30 November 2025. That said, should the Successor Framework become available sooner than expected, the DFE will utilise the same for new projects. The projects/schemes currently being delivered and proposed to be delivered under the 2021 Framework as part of this variation are of significant importance and not doing so would cause substantial disruption to the DFE’s delivery programmes which will impact on the provision of education services across England. Acknowledging the above, the DFE has identified the need to modify the 2021 Framework as proposed to ensure that the DFE maintains business continuity delivering educational infrastructure works. The DFE considers that it is permissible to modify the 2021 Framework to extend the duration of the 2021 Framework on the basis that it falls within the scope of Regulation 72(1)(e) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR). The proposed modification will be limited to extending the duration of the 2021 Framework by 5 months, which the DFE does not consider to be substantial for the reasons set out below. In incorporating the modification, the estimated value of the procurement stated in the Contract Notice remains unchanged at £7bn (and will not be exceeded). The estimated value of projects awarded to date under the 2021 Framework is approximately £4.97bn. The modification will not render the 2021 Framework materially different in character to the one originally awarded by the DFE; it represents a variation to incorporate a short extension to its duration only without incorporating any other changes to its terms. The 2021 Framework will still be for the delivery of educational infrastructure as originally advertised and awarded. The DFE does not consider that the modification introduces conditions which would have resulted in a different outcome in the original procurement process, nor would have resulted in a different tender being accepted. This is because (save for the 5 months extension) the conditions and scope of the 2021 Framework remains as originally advertised. The modification does not seek to extend the scope of the 2021 Framework considerably ; it represents a short extension to the original duration which is necessary and strictly limited to ensure continuity and to maintain capacity until the new Successor Framework is established. Aside from the extension to the term the original Framework terms remain unchanged. Lot 11 winning bidders: Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd, Kier Construction, Wates Construction, VINCI Construction UK Limited - Building Division Lot 12 winning bidders: Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd, Kier Construction, Wates Construction, ENGIE Regeneration, Rayner Rowen Construction Ltd Lot 13 winning bidders: Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd, Kier Construction, Wates Construction, Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd, G F Tomlinson Lot 14 winning bidders: Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd, Kier Construction, VINCI Construction UK Limited - Building Division, ENGIE Regeneration, The McAvoy Group Limited Lot 15 winning bidders: Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd, Kier Construction, Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd, Wates Construction, ENGIE Regeneration Lot 16 winning bidders: Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd, Kier Construction, Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd, Wates Construction, VINCI Construction UK Limited - Building Division, ENGIE Regeneration Lot 17 winning bidders: Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd, Kier Construction, Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd, Wates Construction, Baxall Construction Limited, ENGIE Regeneration Lot 18 winning bidders: Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd, Kier Construction, Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd, Wates Construction, ENGIE Regeneration Lot 19 winning bidders: Kier Construction, VINCI Construction UK Limited - Building Division, ENGIE Regeneration, Darwin Group Lot 20 winning bidders: Kier Construction, ENGIE Regeneration Lot 21 winning bidders: Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd, Kier Construction, Wilmott Dixon Construction Ltd, Wates Construction, G F Tomlinson Lot 22 winning bidders: Bowmer and Kirkland Ltd, Kier Construction, Wates Construction, Conlon Construction Ltd