Application of MMC in Delivery of Schools Construction Programme

Description

Powys County Council (the “Council”) is preparing to tender for the design and construction of several new primary and secondary schools within Powys. These will provide new, fit for purpose and energy efficient buildings to improve the school estate as part of Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. The Council is focussed on improving efficiency in all aspects of its project delivery and intends to engage with suppliers to explore opportunities available via Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). In the interest of running a fair, efficient and effective procurement process and to help inform the Council’s approach to procurement, the Council is seeking to engage with potential contractors experienced in the delivery of whole-school projects using MMC in advance of commencing the formal procurement process. Further details are set out in II.2.4 below. Lot 1: The council has an ambitious forward workload of new-build school projects within Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, including new primary and secondary schools. The first of these is a new primary school in Brecon, with a GIFA of approximately 2,500m², where a concept design is nearing completion. The Council is currently considering how to achieve best value in the procurement of this school, and it is anticipated that lessons learnt will be applied across the wider programme. In particular, it wishes to explore opportunities to increase efficiency via the adoption of MMC. The Council is inviting potential contractors experienced in leading and delivering whole-school MMC projects to contact the Council for a short, individual meeting in advance of the formal procurement process. These meetings are intended to help the Council understand the following with regard to major capital school projects of this nature: (a) the market’s ability to deliver using MMC and the expected benefits; (b) the market’s current approach to delivering low energy and carbon in use; (c) the market’s potential to achieve tangible social value benefits and; (d) any other risks or issues that could affect the successful delivery of the Council’s projects using MMC that might need to be taken into account when preparing the procurement. Contractors who wish to engage with the Council prior to publication of a tender are invited to contact the Council at the e-mail address in section I.1 above by no later than 5pm on 21st February 2025. Subject to capacity constraints, the Council plans to hold individual meetings (each of up to an hour long) with contractors who respond within the above specified timescale (meeting dates and times to be arranged). Such meetings will be held on an individual basis via Microsoft Teams. Non-participation in this market engagement process does not preclude any potential main contractors from participating in the formal procurement process.