05.04.19
Government awards framework for modular building revolution across the public sector
The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has awarded 24 firms with its framework for a number of modular building projects in the public sector.
The modular building solutions framework will “provide the public sector with a low-cost solution for their temporary and semi-permanent building needs,” with a particular focus on the education and healthcare sectors.
The CCS says that modular buildings are an alternative to traditionally built accommodation that customers can buy or lease tailored to their specific needs, and the framework will supersede the existing DfE framework established last year.
A total of 24 suppliers, 80% of which are small or medium-sized enterprises, have been chosen to deliver the framework across seven lots.
Four of the lots focus exclusively on education and healthcare, whilst the remaining are for the supply of modular building solutions for other areas of the public sector including retail, housing and defence.
The line-up also includes five major suppliers alongside the SMEs; Caledonian, McAvoy, Wernick, Elliot, and Portakabin.
Modular buildings offer a number of advantages to traditional building solutions, according to the CCS, including being faster to supply and having a specific design life which provides the “lowest cost solution.”
A significant proportion of the modular buildings can be made off-site, giving a “cleaner, safer build” whilst the foundations of the structure are installed on site at the same time, savings time and costs.
John Welch, CCS’s deputy director of construction services, said: “CCS is really pleased to be able to provide the public sector with such a comprehensive solution to their temporary building requirements.
“The current generation of modular buildings are solid, well insulated, and can be appropriately specified - providing a quick, safe and cost-effective answer to our customers’ needs.
“Although we have put education and healthcare sector customers at the forefront of our framework design, this framework has been prepared to serve all aspects of central government and the wider public sector for their temporary and semi-permanent modular building requirements.”
Image credit - brizmaker