The preparation work on South Ayrshire Council’s Public Partnership Initiative - with proposals for £70 million worth of new school construction - takes an important step forward next week.

When the full Council meets on Thursday, elected members will be provided with a detailed report on progress achieved to date with the P.P.P.Project , and will be invited to approve further detailed analysis and review of the bids received from the Consortia.

Bidders will, in effect, be requested to submit a “Best and Final Offer” to the Council .

Once the revised bids have been evaluated to ensure affordability and Best Value for the Council, it is expected that a Preferred Bidder will be identified before the end of the year, with an expectation that construction work can begin next spring.

Said the Leader of South Ayrshire Council, Councillor Andy Hill: “There has been an extensive and comprehensive evaluation process to ensure that the Council, and indeed the Council tax payers of South Ayrshire, obtain the best possible value for money in this hugely important project.”

A report to the Council from the Head of Project (PPP), Roddy MacDonald, will provide full details of what has been undertaken, and will invite approval of his recommendation for the final steps of evaluation, including authority to seek a “Best and Final Offer” from each of two remaining bidders.

Explained Councillor Hill: “This will enable the Council to optimise the competition between the two bidders and ensure that all ‘best value’ considerations are met. We have also got to ensure that the bid is affordable to the Council. This strategy has been discussed and agreed with the Scottish Government who have supported this strategy as being prudent and best practice for this project in securing value for money for the Council .

“Without doubt these are exciting and highly responsible times for all concerned . We have made sure that we have taken all necessary steps to ensure that all the correct procedures have been followed, in partnership with the Scottish Government , to obtain the best value possible in relation to the bids.

“The meeting on Thursday will be invited to approve further engagement with the Consortia to ensure that the Council is in the strongest possible position to securing the best solution which will enhance the educational provision for future generations of school pupils.”

Councillor Hill explained: “Although this will require a little additional time for the documentation to be prepared , revised bids to be submitted and then evaluated by the Council, I fully believe that this is a prudent step to take to ensure that the Council receives the most competitive bid possible .”

Councillor Hill continued: “I have been told that the Council can expect to take a decision on the Preferred Bidder before the end of the year, with a contract likely to be awarded by next April.

“If all goes according to plan , then construction will start next spring, with schools being operational for the academic year 2007 / 08 which has always been our original target .”

The P.P.P. project includes new building at Belmont Academy, Prestwick Academy and Kyle Academy Annexe together with new primary schools at Alloway, Barassie and Monkton.

July 2005