Balfour Beatty, Graham, Kier, Vinci and Wates will be among the firms fighting to retain their places on the highest value lot covering projects worth more than £25m.

There will also be a lot for projects worth between £8m-£25m, where Bowmer & Kirkland, Conlon, ISG, Eric Wright and Seddon are presently named partners.

The lotting structure has been streamlined from three value lots down to two for the next four-year framework term.

North West Construction Hub said the overall value of the framework would be between £250m and £1.5bn.

The procurement body aims to adopt the principles of partnering through the development of longer term relationships through the supply chain, integrated design and construction teams, shared risk/rewards and performance management.

The framework is intended to be used by Manchester City Council and other North West local authorities.

Other bodies may enter into individual call-off contracts from the panels of firms.

Under the present timetable, firms have until 15 August to submit PQQs. Successful bidders will be alerted before the end of the year for the new four-year term to start in January 2023.

More details from [email protected].