Building construction work

Tender description

Christ Church University Canterbury is seeking to award a contract for the provision of the continued new build as part of a new Arts and Media building. The proposed Building 1 (Arts Building) is a reinforced concrete frame new build, two, part three storey all above ground structure with a gross internal floor area of approx. 2,500m2. It will house courses run by the School of Media Art and Design & Music and Performing Arts and will be fully funded by the University. The site is located on the existing North Holmes Road Campus CT1 1QU and has previously been used as a car park. There is a requirement for the building to be completed by August 2018 because the building was marketed to students starting courses in September 2018 at a time when the project was on time and on budget. The University had commenced a framework call-off procedure using an existing publicly procured construction works framework to tender this two-stage construction opportunity in good time. After holding a mini-competition only 1 bidder returned a compliant tender. This bidder was awarded the contract and commenced work on pre-construction works (Stage 1). However, the University was unable to enter into Stage 2 of the construction contract with this contractor as their final proposal did not meet the minimum requirement (budget). The University approached the second place bidder from the mini-competition but this bidder was unable to meet the minimum requirement of the timeframe. Whilst Stage 1 was progressing as a mitigation measure in order to keep to the required programme the concrete frame packages were awarded separately. Taking into account all available options, the University has decided to revert to a negotiated procedure without the prior publication of a contract notice for the reasons set out below and procure a contractor who can comply with the minimum requirements that include time and cost.