Works packages being put forward vary from legionella testing and M&E works through to delivering major building projects.

From the outset, Birmingam City Council will lead the framework with other West Midlands councils expected to sign up as the agreement becomes established.

The key major projects package, known as lot 7, is expected on present spending forecasts to be worth up to £150m a year and be shared between four contractors.

Council procurement chiefs hope to attract up to 16 firms to take part in the bidding race for this lot, which will include all jobs worth more that £500,000 and cover a variety of project types from traditional build work, through to design and build and develop and construct projects.

As the framework develops, this work plan will plug into the City’s ambitious £10bn development masterplan, published in September.

The council intends to split its £20m annual repair and maintenance work programme into two lots for the north and south of the city.

The city’s huge housing repair and maintenance commitments will be excluded from the framework until later with much of the initial work limited to repairs at schools, leisure centres and other council buildings.

The council wants the successful contractor for each of the two regions to offer a full emergency service 24 hours a day, all year round.

It is intended that the two lots for planned, emergency and reactive electrical and mechanical repairs and Legionella inspection and servicing will also be broken down into northern and southern regions.

The councils expects 60 firms to join the race for a place on the framework and has given interested contractors until 5 December to submit PQQs.

The questionnaire and further particulars can be obtained on request by email only from [email protected] and will be available from 15 November.