The race has started to secure places on the £3bn third-generation Constructing West Midlands framework.

Acivico, owned by Birmingham City Council, is leading procurement of the CWM3 framework alongside partners Solihull and Sandwell councils.

Contractors fighting to renew places include Galliford Try, Morgan Sindall, Willmott Dixon, Speller Metcalfe, Seddon, Interclass and GF Tomlinson.

Twenty contractors will be selected to deliver a pipeline of projects spanning education, housing, healthcare, blue-light facilities, leisure buildings and public realm schemes.

The framework will cover a wide range of activities, including new-build construction, extensions, refurbishment, retrofit and repair works alongside mechanical and electrical installations, infrastructure works and associated design services.

CWM3 will be split into three value bands, with contractors restricted to bidding for just one lot.

Lot 1 is designed to encourage participation from SME contractors.

The framework is expected to run for four years from September, with the option to extend for a further two years.

Tender submissions close on 5 May with framework awards scheduled for August. Interested firms can click here for information.