SME contractors across Nottinghamshire are invited to secure their role in £17million-worth of construction and retrofitting projects being procured by Arc Partnership for Nottinghamshire County Council.

Arc Partnership, a joint venture between Nottinghamshire County Council and public sector procurement specialist SCAPE, has outlined the timetable for its General Building framework, with SME contractors across the county now able to respond to a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) to submit their interest to tender.

Running for a period of four years from 2023 to 2027, up to 33 contractors including SMEs will secure a place on the framework, delivering construction and maintenance services across Nottinghamshire County Council properties, including County Hall.

Following an initial period of market engagement, Arc Partnership has lowered some barriers to entry by reducing the turnover-based requirements on a range of lots across the framework. Firms will have until midday 17th June to answer the PQQ.

The second-generation framework marks a £7million expansion on the cumulative value of projects being procured through Arc Partnership’s existing framework. The expansion will further aid the growth of local businesses while delivering extensive social value in local communities, including through skills development.

SME contractors across Nottinghamshire will sit at the heart of the new framework, with the successful firms well positioned to contribute to the county’s ongoing regeneration. To date, Arc Partnership projects have generated more than £210 million in local investment, with almost £190 million in contracts for Nottinghamshire businesses.

Councillor Reg Adair, Vice-Chairman of the Economic Development and Asset Management Committee at Nottinghamshire County Council, said:

“Enhancing the local economy and promoting a prosperous community for our residents is our number one priority. We remain committed to creating the right environment for businesses to succeed. Local contractors are a vital part of this and are the cornerstone of the new framework.

“The second-generation framework embodies all of our ambitions for a brighter future for Nottinghamshire, as we strive to deliver more sustainable and cost-effective infrastructure, to make the best use of taxpayer’s money and achieve our long-term net zero ambitions.”

Daniel Maher, managing director of Arc Partnership, said:

“Delivery underpinned by value for money, quality of output, and customer excellence across our built environment programmes, on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council, remains top of our agenda to support the county’s ongoing economic recovery.

“In recent years, our framework has supported local contractors and provided them with a healthy pipeline of work to help them succeed and, in turn, create more employment opportunities by investing in the future of the region’s workforce. The expansion of our framework reaffirms our commitment to provide greater opportunities for local SMEs to deliver transformative programmes of work with a clear focus on community value.”

The chosen contractors will also benefit from access to SCAPE’s network of delivery partners, allowing them to forge relationships with firms who are responsible for as much as £18bn in public sector investment - both in Nottinghamshire and across the UK.

Arc Partnership, which was formed in 2016, currently supports more than 50 local businesses across its network of supply chain providers, delivering major projects, planned works, responsive repairs and servicing for the County Council.

For full details of procurement timescales and information, visit here.