The decision to let repair and maintenance packages for local schools, council-owned homes and buildings to up to 50 contractors comes after Sefton council was caught by the collapse of Connaught.

Mears eventually stepped in to replace Connaught on the housing repairs job in Sefton, but Liverpool City Council officials have opted to spread forthcoming repair and maintenance work among many smaller firms rather than use a single contractor.

Council procurement chiefs also hope the four-year framework will help them unearth cost savings needed to meet new spending budgets.

General work packages will be broken up into 31 lots covering a host of different specialist trades, split between jobs valued up to £100,000, £500,000 and £3m.

These include asbestos removal, brickwork cleaning, basic groundworks and paving to ground investigation, scaffolding and M&E services.

Firms have until 9 February to fill in PQQs and can register at https://www.thechest.nwce.gov.uk/procontract/supplier.nsf/frm_home?openF… under the job code NWCE-8CBT7E.

Further details are available from [email protected]