3Rs Project - News Archive
Latest News
Tuesday 01 July 2008
Photographs from Sites
Photographs of the construction progress at each of the active sites are available from the links to the right of the 3Rs home page. The current site development is very rapid and even as these images are posted the sites may have changed a great deal. If possible we will continue to update these images each month as the buildings develop.
Click here to view "3Rs Project - Photographs from Sites"
Previous Updates
Monday 26 May 2008
Progress Update
Progress has been excellent and there are currently 2 Secondary and 5 Primary Schools in progress. The erection of the Glulam (laminated wood) beams is due to start shortly at the Heathryburn site; and at the Airyhall site starting the end of July. Demolition is complete at the Mile End site, with pouring of the concrete foundation underway. Meanwhile site preparation is underway at the Braehead and Hazlehead sites.
At both the Bucksburn and Cults sites progress continues to be impressive and last week was the final week of pre-cast concrete elements being erected at both the Secondary schools; all walls and roofs of the main accommodation blocks are now assembled and watertight. The exterior roofing and other elements of the build are also well underway.
Friday 23 May 2008
3Rs Press Briefing
The press briefing relating to Financial Close (signing the contract) took place on the 21st February in the Council Chamber. Leaders of the Council along with representatives of NYOP attended and spoke about the great opportunities that the 3Rs Project partnership offered to Aberdeen. In particular the aims for sustainable, innovative facilities tailored to their communities was applauded.
The full details of the press conference can be viewed the following link;
View the Press Release "3Rs Launch"
Tuesday 22 January 2008
The 3Rs Project Outline Business Case is now available to view at the following link;
View "3Rs Project - Outline Business Case"
Monday 24 December 2007
Council awards contract for £110million 3Rs Project
Aberdeen City Council is pleased to announce that a contract has now been agreed with NYOP Education (Aberdeen) Ltd. for the design, construction, financing and operation of the ten schools and other facilities comprising the 3Rs Project.
Work is already underway on the construction of the new Cults Academy and Bucksburn Community Campus - and work will begin early in the new year on the development of new schools at Airyhall, Heathryburn and Mile End.
Full details will be issued in early January.
Friday 15 December 2006
Council appoints preferred bidder for £110million 3Rs Project
Aberdeen City Council is delighted to announce that NYOP Education has been appointed as the preferred bidder for the multi-million pound 3Rs Project, which will see brand new schools and community facilities built in the City...
View the Press Release "3Rs Announcement"
Monday 30 October 2006
Aberdeen City Council has agreed the selection of a Preferred Bidder for the project, subject to completion of key stage review with the Scottish Executive. The decision was taken at the meeting of the Council on 25 October 2006, following a report on the evaluation of proposals from the two remaining bidders. Council also agreed that responsibility for cleaning the schools included in the 3Rs Project will move to the private sector.
The Council hopes to be able to formally announce the name of the Preferred Bidder during November 2006, and to make the proposed designs of the schools available to the press and public. The Council will thereafter open discussions with the Preferred Bidder to agree full details of designs, terms and conditions, so that development can begin in summer 2007.
Cleaning staff at the affected schools will be given the option to move to other Council premises or posts if they wish. Those who choose to transfer to the private company will have their terms and conditions protected, and staff signed up to the local government pension scheme will also remain members of this scheme.
Wednesday 26 April 2006
Bid submissions have now been received from the three short-listed bidders:
NYOP (via PFI Solutions)
Robertson Education (Aberdeen City) Ltd
Transform Schools Aberdeen Ltd
The Council's DSO Cleaning Services has also submitted bids for carrying out the cleaning services to the schools.
All bid submissions are now being evaluated and a confidential report will be submitted to the Project Board on 15 June 2006.
Thursday 30 March 2006
3Rs Project Bid Submissions are now due to be returned on 11 April 2006. The three shortlisted bidders are now concluding their proposals for each of the 10 separate school developments ready to deliver to the Council.
The proposals have been developed with considerable input from the Reference Groups for each separate school development, so that each school will be unique, and will support the needs of the local community. The bidders have acknowledged that these discussions have helped them to understand the particular local aspirations, and their design development has been very much shaped by the feedback from these meetings.
A programme of evaluation of the bid submissions will begin when the bids are opened. Each submission will be examined for quality on commercial (legal and financial) grounds, and on technical aspects such as construction, design, project management and facilities management. We will also of course look at the cost of each bid, and will recommend the bid which provides the best value to the Council, for approval.
We hope to recommend a Preferred Bidder in Autumn 2006, and commence construction in Spring 2007.
Friday 9 December 2005
3Rs Project issues 'Invitation to Negotiate' (ITN) documents.
Aberdeen City Council has issued tender documents to the three approved bidders for the 3Rs project.
The Scottish Executive has confirmed its approval to allow these documents to be issued following their key stage review, and so the documentation has now been sent out to bidders. The council expects to receive returned bids with developed proposals on 7 February 2006.
The bidders who have received the documentation (issued on 22 September 2005) are:
NYOP Education, a consortium comprising Nysir, an Icelandic property and property management company; Pihl & Son, a Danish contractor; and OPERON, a UK facilities management company. It is expected that Stewart Milne construction, with the support of other local contractors and sub-contractors, will carry out much of the construction work.
Robertson Education (Aberdeen City) Limited. This consortium will include Robertson Capital Projects Limited; Robertson Construction (Eastern) Limited; Robertson Construction (Northern) Limited; and Robertson Facilities Management Limited.
Transform Schools Aberdeen Limited. This consortium will comprise Balfour Beatty Capital Projects Limited; Mansell PLC (Hall and Tawse); and Haden Building Management Limited.
A programme of meetings will be held with each bidder to assist them in the preparation of their bid proposals. These meetings will cover commercial and technical aspects of the council's requirements. This will include the opportunity for bidders to meet with the schools and the reference groups to learn about the needs and aspirations of the schools and local communities.
The tender documents comprise the following:
Volume 1 - containing the instructions for tendering, the procurement timetable, an overview of the facilities and services to be provided, legal and financial issues, bid submission requirements, and bid evaluation.
Volume 2 - containing the Authority's technical requirements, accommodation schedules, room data sheets, and full details of the works and services specification.
Wednesday 31 August 2005
Council approves bidders for 3Rs Project
At the full Council meeting on 17 August 2005, Aberdeen City Council agreed the list of three bidders that will be invited to tender for the 3Rs Project. All three consortia successfully negotiated a detailed evaluation process conducted by Council officers and external advisers and will soon be issued with the detailed tender documents.
The three bidders are as follows:
- NYOP Education, a consortium comprising Nysir, an Icelandic property and property management company; Pihl & Son, a Danish contractor; and OPERON, a UK facilities management company. It is expected that Stewart Milne Construction, with the support of other local contractors and sub-contractors, will carry out much of the construction work.
- Robertson Education (Aberdeen City) Limited. This consortium will include Robertson Capital Projects Limited; Robertson Construction (Eastern) Limited; Robertson Construction (Northern) Limited; and Robertson Facilities Management Limited.
- Transform Schools Aberdeen Limited. This consortium will comprise Balfour Beatty Capital Projects Limited; Mansell PLC (Hall and Tawse); and Haden Building Management Limited.
It is very pleasing to note that each of the consortia contains a representative of one of the major construction groups in the north-east. This is both desirable and reassuring in respect of the employment of local labour in the construction phase.
Monday 23 May 2005
The 3Rs Project is now advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union. Aberdeen City Council invites expressions of interest from companies wishing to be considered to participate in the bidding process.
Those responding to this invitation will be sent a copy of the Information Memorandum and a Pre Qualification Questionnaire. This questionnaire should be completed and returned no later than 28 June 2005. The completed questionnaires will then be evaluated and used to select up to 3 bidders who will be invited to negotiate with the Council for the design, build, financing and operation of the schools and community facilities included in this phase of the 3Rs Project.
Tender documents should be issued around mid-August 2005, for return in November 2005.
Monday 16 May 2005
3Rs project contract notice was published in official journal of European Union on May 16 2005.
Monday 04 April 2005
Outline Planning Application updates relating to the 3Rs proposed sites are now available here.
Thursday 24 March 2005
A 3Rs Newsletter informing stakeholders of 3Rs Project developments is published.
Friday 11 March 2005
A group of Head Teachers and senior staff representing all 8 of the Primary School rebuild or refurbishment projects accompanied Project Manager Andy Oliver and Education Adviser Graeme Traill on a visit to Edinburgh on 10 March.
The group visited Oxgangs Primary School and Forth View School. Oxgangs Primary School is a newly built two-stream primary school which will open to pupils after the Easter break. The group had the unique opportunity to look all through the school without restriction and see the space and facilities provided. Forth View School is also a new build school, but has been open for one year, and was formed by the amalgamation of two existing schools. It was interesting and instructive to see how similar spaces provided at Oxgangs were actually being used in a working school.
The Heads were able to discuss those elements that they liked and those they did not like, and they will discuss these points with their staff, and with the Reference Groups when considering the schools to be built or refurbished in Aberdeen.
We are extremely grateful to the Head Teacher at Forth View School, Ms Sheila Laing, and Helen McGhee of City of Edinburgh Council's PPP team, who arranged our visit.
Saturday 05 March 2005
3Rs Project Prior Information Notice (PIN) published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 05 March 2005.
Saturday 22nd January 2005
Design Matters to Community Representatives
Community representatives from across the City attended a well received and productive workshop at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.
Around 150 people took part in the Design Matters sessions on Saturday 22nd January 2005, which gave members of community groups the chance to influence the possible design of their local school.
Participants were drawn from various organisations and groups, including community councils, community centre management groups, school boards and PTAs.
John Stodter, Corporate Director of Learning and Leisure, spoke on "Design for Education", while Andy Oliver, 3Rs Project Manager, discussed detailed aspects of design, including the "Secured by Design" concept, promoted by Grampian Police.
After lunch, delegates were divided into groups, one for each of the schools to be built or refurbished. The groups were supported by education officers, community planning officers and community learning and development officers.
They were given the task of discussing design aspects for their own school, taking into consideration factors such as classroom design, use of external areas, community facilities and access, security and environmental issues, such as sustainability.
These groups will form the nucleus of Reference Groups to be set up for each project.
These will meet regularly for the duration of the whole reorganisation project, over the next few years and will ensure that the opinions of the local communities are included at every stage of the project.
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