Opportunities Hub: Bid for work that gets you noticed

For updates on the latest competitions, contests and contracts follow us on twitter #ribajopportunites @RIBAJ. 

Contract

WICHELSTOWE DISTRICT CENTRE URBAN DESIGN SERVICES

Swindon Borough Council seeks designs for mixed-use development in Wichelstowe new town

Swindon Borough Council is requesting quotations for the design of a mixed-use development in Wichelstowe, Wiltshire. Constructed from 2006 and known as ‘Swindon’s front garden’, Wichelstowe is a residential development and urban expansion along the Wiltshire and Berkshire Canal south of Swindon. It will have around 4,000 homes when complete. The contract relates to the central District Centre area and two development blocks – Canalside West and Canalside East - which are yet to receive planning consent. Work will include the detailed design of the two blocks, including the internal layout of buildings and public realm. Designs will need to include a health centre and community centre plus a mix of leisure facilities, small-scale retail, residential, office space and public realm. According to the brief, the vision behind the project is the creation of ‘a distinctive, contemporary, mixed use scheme as a ‘place’ anchor to the evolving district centre focused around Wichelstowe’s canal waterfront. A human-scale development with increased enclosure, a layering of uses, multi-functionality, concentrated forms in a walkable layout, so that the conditions for successful placemaking are achieved’. 

Evaluation criteria: 60 per cent price; 10 per cent each for architectural style, quality and cost-effective public realm, flexible multifunctional space, and design challenges. Value of contract, £25,000.

Procedure Open procedure.

Location Wichelstowe, Wiltshire.

Deadlines and dates Closing date for receipt of tenders, 4pm, 22 June 2023. Award of contract, week of 10 July 2023. Contract dates, 14 July 2023 to 30 July 2024.

To apply or find out more, see the contract notice

Buyer contact Emma Leake, Swindon Borough Council, 07775 221593, eleake@swindon.gov.uk

Contract

CORNWALL BUILT ENVIRONMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 2 FRAMEWORK

Four-year, £40 million agreement for multidisciplinary design support

Cornwall Council is looking to appoint a single consultant to deliver county-wide capital projects from RIBA stages 0 to 7. The agreement will cover multidisciplinary design support, including architecture, civil engineering, structural engineering and mechanical and electrical engineering, plus development management, project management, cost management, site supervision and health and safety assessment. Projects will be aligned to the RIBA Plan of Works 2020 with formal go/no-go gateways at the end of each stage. According to the brief, the council proposes to ‘enter into the framework agreement for a maximum period of eight years on a four plus four year basis’. Award criteria: quality, 55 per cent; price, 35 per cent; social value, 10 per cent. Anticipated framework spend is around £10 million a year.

Eligibility £8 million plus annual turnover and support of a ‘predominantly locally based sub-consultant supply chain’ are required.

Procedure Open procedure.

Location Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.

Deadlines and dates Closing date for receipt of tenders, 5pm, 23 June 2023. Award of contract, 4 August 2023. Contract dates, 2 October 2023 to 1 October 2027.

To apply or find out more, see the contract notice

Buyer contact Angela Stevens, Cornwall Council, angela.stevens@cornwall.gov.uk

Contract

BUNGALOWS FOR EXISTING GARAGE SITES, TYNE & WEAR

Gateshead Council unveils three-year residential development opportunity for single provider

Gateshead Council is looking for a design and build developer or consortia to provide residential bungalows on existing garage sites across the borough under a three-year, extendable contract. Gateshead is known for its Millennium Bridge and sits across the Tyne from Newcastle. Initial procurement covers an ‘exemplar site’ in Thorne Avenue in Wardley, east Gateshead, with potential further sites identified in Whickham North, Dunston and Teams and High Fell. According to the brief, the initial site ‘presents an exciting opportunity to provide a showcase development in the heart of Wardley… a unique, well designed residential development in a sustainable location which benefits from its proximity to Gateshead and Newcastle and the coast with excellent road and Metro links.’ The requirement will be for either one or two-bedroom, off-gas bungalows with fully serviced and fitted bathrooms and kitchens.

The winning bidder will need to gain full planning permission prior to the start of each project. ‘Each bungalow must be fully built out within 20 weeks from start of construction at each garage site. The council will work with the successful contractor to assess further garage sites for suitability throughout the contract term.’ Evaluation criteria: quality, 40 per cent; social value, 20 per cent; value for money, 40 per cent.

Procedure Open procedure.

Location Tyneside.

Deadlines and dates Closing date for receipt of tenders, 12 noon, 12 June 2023. Award of contract, 4 July 2023. Contract starts, 15 July 2023.

To apply or find out more, see the contract notice

Buyer contact Fiona Jamieson, Gateshead Council, 0191 433 5981, FionaJamieson@gateshead.gov.uk

Contract

CARMARTHENSHIRE CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FRAMEWORK

South Wales councils aim to award 70 places for architectural and multidisciplinary services and more with four-year agreement

Carmarthenshire County Council has announced a new four-year construction framework for full design team and property-related management services. As well as architecture, the framework will cover MEP, project management, cost consultancy, structural engineering, low energy, planning and multidisciplinary services. The contract is divided into seven lots split by discipline, and tenders may be submitted for three lots maximum, with some restrictions around lot combination. Up to ten consultants will be appointed per lot. The agreement covers projects in Carmarthenshire with neighbouring councils potentially commissioning services in Ceredigion, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire and Swansea. Estimated total value of the framework is £15 million.

Procedure Open procedure.

Locations South west Wales, Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea.

Deadline Closing date for receipt of tenders, 2pm, 15 June 2023.

To apply or find out more, see the contract notice

Buyer contact Helen Beddow, Carmarthenshire County Council, 07525 188226, ccpsf@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Contract

BROADWAY REDEVELOPMENT, DIDCOT

Second-time-around procurement seeks architect-led team for South Oxfordshire housing and community space project

South Oxfordshire District Council is looking for a multidisciplinary team to redevelop premises at 116, 118 and 120 Broadway, in the centre of Didcot for use as a housing and community space. The buildings are currently vacant retail and a now relocated council-run youth support centre. According to the brief, the site covers 0.07ha. ‘Numbers 116 and 118 Broadway are single storey buildings in poor condition, comprising ground-floor office units of 87sqm and 128sqm respectively.  120 Broadway is a two-storey vacant retail premises of 149sqm with accommodation on the first floor. A rear yard area extends behind 116,118 and 120 Broadway and is approximately 0.04ha’. 

The design team will work with a previously appointed project manager team to ‘enable the highest possible sustainability standards’ and will need to include, as a minimum: structural and civil engineer, mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineer, sustainability consultant, acoustic consultant, daylight /sunlight consultant, planning consultant and a principal designer for building safety. Evaluation criteria: quality, 40 per cent; price, 40 per cent; carbon reduction and energy efficiency, 10 per cent; social value, 10 per cent. Estimated value is £180,000.  

Procedure Open procedure.

Location Didcot, South Oxfordshire.

Deadlines Closing date for receipt of tenders, 5pm, 16 June 2023. Award of contract, 7 July 2023.

To apply or find out more, see the contract notice

Buyer contact Angela Cox, South Oxfordshire District Council, 07761 329169, procurement@southandvale.gov.uk

Ideas competition

HOUSE OF THE FUTURE, DUBAI

Dubai government seeks innovative housing templates that 'anticipate the needs of new-age homes'

The Dubai government and competitions organiser Buildner have launched an open-to-all international ideas contest calling for designs for a new-age home for Emirati citizens in Dubai. According to the House of the Future competition brief, ‘the jury is searching for innovative projects that use design to refresh the current offerings to locals, bringing them more up-to-date with the architectural aesthetic of the country and its people’. Three winning proposals will be added to the government’s list of housing options for local people to choose from when building their home. Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates and home to over 200 nationalities. There is no specified site for designs, but proposals should be based on a land plot no larger than 400 m2 in the United Arab Emirates. The home will need to house four to six people and follow specific criteria around aesthetics, function, materials, versatility, sustainability and innovation. ‘Innovative and disruptive materials’ are encouraged and budgets must be under 1 million Emirati Dirhams (around £220,000). There is an additional prize for a ‘Self-sustained House’ design (able to go off-grid, without water or electricity, for two consecutive weeks). The competition is being launched in partnership with the Mohammed bin Rashid Housing Establishment and Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Government Innovation. Entrants can be from anywhere around the world and need to register by 30 September 2023. Winning entries will be ‘considered for construction’ by the Dubai government.

Eligibility The competition is open to all. No professional qualification is required. Design proposals can be developed individually or by teams (four team members maximum).

Procedure Single stage competition - designs required.

Registration fees From €150 (students €130).

Submission requirements Four A2 landscape presentation boards with sketches, renderings, plans, sections, elevations, diagrams, and/or other presentation tools to explain the proposal.

Prizes First, €140,000. Second, €45,000. Third, €20,000. Self-sustained House, €45,000.

Jury panel Includes Micael Calatrava, Calatrava International. Charles Walker, Zaha Hadid Architects; Christina Seilern, Studio Seilern Architects; Ahmed Bukhash, Archidentity; Martin Voelkle, Bjarke Ingels Group.

Deadlines and dates Project submissions, 11.59pm, 1 November 2023. Winners announcement, 30 November 2023.

To apply or find out more, go the competition website

Competition contact contact@buildner.com

Ideas competition

A NEW TIMEPIECE FOR THE RAILWAY CONTEST

Two-stage £35k open-call seeks ‘unexpected genius ideas’ to communicate time across the UK’s stations and railways estate

The RIBA and the Design Museum (London) have launched a design competition in partnership with Network Rail inviting proposals for the design of a timepiece to be used across the British rail network and its associated built environment estate. ‘The British railway was integral to the standardisation of time across the world but, unlike other countries, Britain did not implement a standard railway clock,’ explains Anthony Dewar, head of buildings and architecture at Network Rail. ‘We hope this competition will put that right with the creation of a timepiece that can be adapted for use across the whole rail network - from stations to maintenance delivery units, railway control centres to train depots.’ The winning proposal will need to be an inspired and transformative design built on an ‘unexpected genius idea’ that can be cost effectively implemented at scale and adapted to different settings. According to the brief, ‘it is anticipated that future development and implementation [of the winning design] will be undertaken by Network Rail without further input of the author(s)’. Registrations are open until 5pm on 8 June 2023.

Eligibility Open internationally to practitioners within the fields of art, design, engineering and/or architecture. Submissions are also welcome from students from these disciplines. Collaboration is encouraged between individuals and organisations of different size, expertise and experience.

Procedure Two-stage contest. Phase 1: submission of initial design concepts. Up to five design entries will be shortlisted. Phase 2: submission of developed design concepts and interviews/presentations followed by winner announcement.

Prizes Honorarium of £7,000 for each shortlisted competitor. Network Rail will pay £35,000 for the winning design.

Evaluation panel Includes Sarah Gaventa (chair), architect Frank Anatole, graphic designer and typographer Margaret Calvert, Crispin Jones of The British Watch and Clockmakers Alliance, and creative director Violetta Boxill.

Deadlines and dates Phase 1 submissions, 12 noon, 13 June 2023. Shortlist announced, week of 17 July 2023. Phase 2 submissions, early September 2023. Interviews/presentations, late September 2023. Winner announcement, to be advised.

To apply or find out more, go the competition website

Competition contact RIBA.Competitions@riba.org

Contract

NATIONAL CONTRACTOR FRAMEWORK 2023-2027

Multimillion, four-year agreement includes housing and infrastructure projects across 9 English regions

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust is acting as the contracting authority for a multi-lot, national contractor framework covering 9 English regions. The four-year agreement is ‘designed to help the public sector deliver on the government's ambition to “build back better”, bringing together commercial best practice and reform to drive better, faster, greener delivery’. It will operate across 5 core disciplines (construction, decarbonisation and retrofit, demolition and site preparation, housing, and infrastructure), 9 regions (see below) and with around 4 value-banded lots (from £50,000 to £30 million plus) per region. Buyers are likely to include schools, academies, colleges, universities, blue light/emergency services, NHS bodies, local authorities, health and social care bodies, housing associations, libraries and museums, registered charities, government departments, leisure providers, and clinical commissioning groups. Projects will be design-and-build or build-only via a single or two-stage procurement route. There are 171 lots and 8 contractors will be awarded to each. Bidders select which disciplines, regions and value bands they wish to tender for. Note that the construction and infrastructure lots have bidding restrictions. Evaluation criteria: 70 per cent quality; 30 per cent price. Value of the total framework is £8,000,000,000.

Procedure Open procedure.

Locations English regions covered by the framework are North East, North West, Yorkshire, West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England, London, South East, and South West.

Deadlines and dates Closing date for receipt of tenders, 12 noon, 6 June 2023. Notification of result, 14 July 2023. Framework agreement, 9 August 2023. Framework dates, 1 November 2023 to October 2027.

To apply or find out more, see the contract notice

Buyer contact frameworks@procurepartnerships.co.uk

Ideas competition

PAVILION OF HUMANITY

Open-to-all single-stage contest seeks architectural ideas for a temporary structure anywhere in the world that represents ‘the best and brightest of our species’

Competition organiser Buildner has launched its second Pavilion of Humanity contest and is looking for ideas that reflect on the positive aspects of humanity and its achievements. Participants are required to design an architectural structure ‘encapsulating the best and brightest of our species in a way that, should we ever be visited by other life forms, would allow them to learn about our achievements in a single space’. The competition is inspired by the pictorial Pioneer Plaques that were placed on board the 1972 Pioneer 10 and 1973 Pioneer 11 spacecrafts. The brief states that entries can focus on a ‘site anywhere in the world and, as long as the structure is located on Earth and obeys the basic laws of physics, anything else goes’. Suggestions for entries include a temporary pavilion that would act as an educational space, containing lecture and workshop rooms and galleries to host presentations, lectures and exhibitions.

Eligibility Competition is open to all. No professional qualification is required. Design proposals can be developed individually or by teams (4 team members maximum).

Prizes First, €3,000; second, €1,500; third, €1,000; student award, €1,000; sustainability award, €500.

Jury panel Likely architects include Astrid Klein, Gonca Arik, David Telerman, Bartosz Haduch, Xuanru Chen.

Submission requirements One A2 presentation board including sketches, renderings, plans, sections and other tools to represent the proposal.

Deadlines and dates Register by 24 July 2023 (fees from €110; €80 for students). Submissions, 11.59pm, 4 September 2023. Winner announcement, 18 October 2023.

To apply or find out more, go the competition website

Competition contact contact@buildner.com 

For updates on the latest competitions, contests and contracts follow #ribajopportunities @RIBAJ

If you have a competition or contest you want architects to know about, email details to julie.butterworth@riba.org