Building Schools for the Future procurement process is under way!

Blackpool Council has today (26th August 2009) commenced the formal procurement process that will enable the transformation of the delivery of education to young people across the borough.

The Council has published a formal notice in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) that will eventually result in the award of a contract for its Building Schools for the Future programme.

Under the Government's BSF programme, Blackpool will receive more than £140 million to enable the transformation of the delivery of education to young people.

The main contract is due to be awarded in late 2010, with work on the first schools scheduled to begin soon after. Under the scheme four schools will be rebuilt whilst a further eight will have their facilities remodelled and refurbished. The programme is due to complete in 2016.

Councillor Don Clapham, Blackpool's Cabinet member for Children and Young People, said: "The OJEU notice marks the start of a long and complex decision-making process to choose the best possible partner for Blackpool.

"This programme is the chance to create modern facilities for our secondary schools and to have an educational provision fit for the 21st Century. Our young people deserve the very best opportunities for learning and BSF will deliver that."

The Official Journal of the European Union is the only periodical published every working day in all 11 official languages of the European Union.

According to EU legislation, all contracts from the public sector that are valued above a certain threshold, must be published in the journal. The legislation covers organisations and projects, which receive public money.

Interested parties should consult the OJEU notice for further information or contact Blackpool’s procurement team at procurement@blackpool.gov.uk.

The closing date for the receipt of Pre-Qualification Questionnaires is Friday 25th September 2009.