The four-year framework, which is also open to councils across the East of England, will be used for public sector building works and is expected to be used for around £500m of spending.

In total, 14 contractors have earned places across the three project value bands worth up to £250,000, up to £2m and over £2m. The low banding structure this time around has also allowed many local firms to secure places on the framework for the first time.

On the largest project band, Barnes Construction and Morgan Sindall both retain their places, while R G Carter and Wates replace previous incumbents ISG Jackson and Kier Eastern.

The framework is set to be operational from June and will govern the procurement of a full spectrum of new build and refurbishment schemes in education, health and community. These may include libraries, civic office developments and programmes for Suffolk Fire and Rescue.

John Homer, Morgan Sindall’s managing director of Construction East, said: “The framework will streamline the procurement process and deliver improved performance, quality and value for money from which communities across the region will benefit.”

Morgan Sindall and Wates’s Suffolk Construction Framework win follows both firm’s appointment to the four-year £4bn Southern Construction Framework, which covers the South of England, earlier this year.