Private sector opportunities within BSF
Q. How does my company tender for BSF projects?
All BSF projects must be advertised in OJEU under EU procurement rules. Please refer to the Programme section of our website for details of local authorities currently live in the BSF programme. We suggest you attend their Bidder Days (usually held just after advertising in OJEU) where opportunities to network and start forming supply chains are encouraged.
Most BSF bids are led by construction firms, within a consortium that includes an ICT partner, a facilities management company and a supply chain.
Q. Is there a preferred supplier list for BSF?
No.
Q. How can I become an ICT supplier to BSF schools?
Software for BSF schools is procured using the ICT output specification and it is open to any company to tender for the ICT Managed Service element of the BSF programme in each local authority.
You could make contact with the companies who are already tendering for ICT contracts, or if you wish to provide a full managed service yourselves, with the building contractors who tend to be the lead bidders in the consortia to ascertain whether they are open to partnership with your company or to see how they will be selecting their ICT partners.
Q. Where I can get details of dates and venues for Bidders Days on advertised BSF projects?
Bidders' Days will be announced individually by each local authority project team. You should respond to the local authority’s OJEU notice registering your interest. This should get you on their mailing list for information such as Bidders' Day dates.
Q. What impact will BSF have on the construction industry?
Current assessments suggest that there will need to be an increase in construction capacity and training; the long-term nature of the programme does create the scope for this to be achieved over time. The programme also creates the opportunity for the industry to develop additional capacity through, for example, developing off-site pre-engineered construction techniques that meet the exacting design and quality standards required, but in a more efficient way than has been achievable in the absence of a strategic investment programme. Local construction capacity will need to be a consideration when doing prioritisation planning and the involvement of the LSC in the local arrangements can only help.
