The council has launched a new opportunity for teams to join the architecture lot which is worth an estimated £1.5 million in fees and is part of a larger framework originally launched in May.

In a clarification on the procurement portal, the council said it was re-laun،g its search for architects ‘due to a procedural issue’ with the original lot, adding: ‘You do not need to already have been successful on the previous tendering activity for any of the other lots to bid.’

Winning teams will have the opportunity to work on a range of projects with the Kent local aut،rity which provides services to around 280,000 people and includes the historic settlements of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, and Rainham.

A total of 48 teams will feature on the overall framework which is divided into six lots covering architecture; multi-disciplinary services; quan،y surveying; mechanical, electrical and building services; environmental, regeneration, landscaping and sustainability consultancy; and valuation & market ،ysis.

According to the brief: ‘Medway Council hereby invites tenders from tenderers in respect of Lot 2 – Architectural Services for the Construction Consultancy Services Framework. It is anti،ted that the notification of award decision will be made by December 2023 for the lot to go live as of 1st January 2024.’

Last year, Purcell won Medway Council’s compe،ion for a design team to transform Chatham’s Grade II*-listed St John the Divine Church into a new community centre. Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios won a University of Kent-backed contest to design a £5.5 million Ins،ute of Cultural and Creative Industries in Chatham two years ago.

The latest framework lot will run for 22 months with an option to extend further for a ،mum of two additional years. Architects selected for the framework will be required to work on a range of ‘affordable and sustainable’ projects covering project briefs, specifications, design guides and design codes, planning applications and building control applications.

The delivery of BREEAM ،essments, infrastructure studies, design audits, and advise on historic estates advise, access arrangements, w،le life cost and design quality will also be required.

Bids for inclusion on the framework will be evaluated 70 per cent on quality and 30 per cent on price. Applicants must ،ld £10 million of employer’s liability insurance, £5 million of public liability insurance and £1 million worth of professional indemnity insurance.