FAQs

Over the lifetime of the SEWSCAP framework we have compiled the following frequently asked questions:

  • What is a Framework?

    The Public Contract Regulations 2015 refer to a Framework meaning “an agreement between one or more contracting authorities and one or more economic operators, the purpose of which is to establish the terms governing contracts to be awarded during a given period, in particular with regard to price and, where appropriate, the quantity envisaged”.

  • Who can use the Framework?

    There are thirteen named local authorities which can use the Framework along with it being open to Welsh Local Authorities, Welsh Government and associated trading bodies, Welsh Further Education Colleges and Welsh Higher Education bodies. The full list of those can utilise the Framework can be found within the Contract Notice. Please click here to view the Contract Notice.

  • Is there a joining fee to use the Framework?

    No, the Framework is free to use.

  • Who are the contractors on the list?

    Please see here for a full list of the contractors.

  • What is the lotting structure and value bands?

    Please see here for the lotting structure.

  • How do we get access to the documents?

    All our documentation is available via our website. If you haven’t already got a log in, you will have to complete the access agreement and submit it via the enquiry form on the website. This will then reach the Framework Team who will review the request and provide you with a log in.

  • How quickly can we use the Framework?

    Once you have your log in details and informed the Framework Team of your project, you may use the Framework straight away. Please ensure you update the website to include your project in the members area on the website.

  • When is the start and expiry date of the Framework?

    The Framework runs from 1st October 2024 – 30 September 2028 with an option to extend for a further 2 years until 30 September 2030.

  • What type of work is covered within the Framework?

    The Framework covers construction / refurbishment works to schools / public sector buildings, as well as heritage, modular and demountable solutions. Further documentation can be found once logged into the website.

  • Can you use the Framework for funded projects?

    The Framework was awarded via a Compliant process in line with the Public Contract Regulations 2015. The Framework Team can provide documentation in order to support your request for funding.

  • Can we have a copy of the user guide?

    There is a user guide available to access on the website. Further guidance is available once you have logged into your account.

  • Are there standard quality questions available?

    There is a user guide available to access on the website. Further guidance is available once you have logged into your account.

  • What are the weightings that can be used in mini-competitions?

    The following weightings may be applied;


  • Can I Direct Award?

    Yes, direct award applies to Lots 1 to 5, 10a and 10b, and 12a only and PROVIDED THAT the Anticipated Contract Value is less than the Works Threshold. For the avoidance of doubt, where the Anticipated Contract Value is equal to or greater than the Works Threshold, a further competition through the Framework would be the route.

  • What forms of Contract can I use?

    The Framework offers a variety of forms of Contract that can be used;

    NEC4

    • Engineering and Construction Contract – Option A
    • Engineering and Construction Contract – Option B
    • Engineering and Construction Contract – Option C
    • Engineering and Construction Contract - Option E
    • Engineering and Construction Short Contract
    • Professional Service Contract
    • Professional Service Short Contract

    JCT

    • Design and Build Contract
    • Standard Building Contract with Quantities
    • Standard Building Contract without Quantities
    • Intermediate Contract with Contractor’s Design
    • Minor Works with Contractor’s Design
    • Pre-Construction Services Agreement
  • What scoring methodology do I have to use?

    The Framework was awarded on a 0-5 scoring methodology for quality, and a narrow average scoring methodology for commercials, but we have not stipulated that you must utilise a certain methodology. You may use a scoring methodology that is suitable for your requirement and tendering systems.

  • What is Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) and how will it benefit the Employer?

    Early Contractor Involvement allows the Employer to engage with a Contractor via a contract to carry out services such as initial design, feasibility and assisting in planning and business cases etc.

    This process known as a 2 stage design and build requires bidders to submit an overall price for the whole of the works including the design. This will form the basis for the ECI appointment and will be discussed and refined during ECI with the aim of agreeing prices or a contract sum within the price envelope prior to the start of the construction stage.

    This allows the Employer and the Contractor to bring their skills together from the beginning of the project, builds better collaboration and awareness and understanding of risk management. Along with improved innovations, cost and timescales estimation.

  • Does the framework offer Social Value opportunities?

    All our Framework Contractors have signed up to our Social Value Charter.

    The Charter aims to ensure that the Employers under the SEWSCAP Framework maximise the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing benefits delivered for communities through their construction and refurbishment procurement spends.

    The Charter is structured around the following three key Welsh Government initiatives:

    • Community Benefits – drives the creation of employment and training opportunities including apprenticeships, support for small and medium sized enterprises and delivery of community, educational and environmental initiatives;
    • Code of Practice Ethical Employment in Supply Chains – focuses on ensuring a high standard of ethical employment practices by our suppliers, service providers and contractors; and
    • Opening Doors: the Charter for SME Friendly Procurement - seeks to create a fair and open environment in which we can all do business together and address issues of particular concern to SMEs.

    The Charter is structured around a number of Policy Drivers such as The Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

    The Framework includes a number of Social Value related Key Performance Indicators within its Performance Monitoring and Review Regime which, whilst established at Framework level, will necessarily devolve to individual projects delivered under Call-Off Contracts pursuant to the Agreement. Tenders for Call-Off Contracts may also include Social Value in the scope of their requirements and/or in the award criteria.

  • Are there any schedules of rates?

    Due to the variety of projects run through the framework, there are no schedule of rates within the framework. The framework however has a maximum capped overhead and project percentage which cannot be exceeded unless permitted to within the Employers Invitation to Tender.

    The Framework has also stipulated a minimum 3% for profit in all projects, this cannot be reduced for any projects.

  • Can I hire or purchase a demountable through the framework?

    Yes you can under Lot 10a and 10b.

  • Can a modular building be procured through the framework?

    Yes, you can utilise Lot 10b or the appropriate value lot for your project.

  • Can this framework be used for heritage buildings?

    Yes, the Framework now offers Lot 12a which all Framework Contractors have been evaluated on their capability on heritage buildings.

    You may also utilise any of the value lots to procure these works.

  • Can I utilise my own social value approach through the framework?

    Yes, the Framework offers flexibility in how Clients wish to approach social value. You may utilise your own systems, TOMs or other approaches. This must be clear in your tender documentation

Knowledge Hub

Contractors on the framework are invited to make use of a range of tools and training programmes offered by the following partner organisations operating alongside the framework to promote best practice:

Y-Prentis

This is a construction based shared apprenticeship scheme which operates in south east Wales. The scheme employs apprentices across a range of construction trades enabling them to gain experience and work towards NVQ qualifications in their chosen trade.

It is supported by the Welsh Government and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

NEC Contract

This is a suite of contracts that reflect and enable procurement and project management developments and emerging best practice. From major frameworks to minor projects, the documents can be used in the procurement of a broad reaching works, services and supply. As the result of improvements in flexibility, clarity and the ease of administration, NEC reports that the use of NEC3 contracts has produced major time, cost and quality benefits for projects both in the UK and abroad.

BIM Claw Toolkit

Produced by the Consortium of Local Authorities in Wales, and devised to support officers and members, this toolkit is a suite of documents and tools to articulate the BIM business case and facilitate BIM focused approach, procurement and deployment in line with standards and protocols for BIM enabled projects.

Constructing Excellence Wales

As the united voice of Welsh construction, CEW is an independent, self-funding body that represents every part of the construction supply chain. It acts as a link between Welsh Government, construction clients and the construction industry to improve construction processes through collaboration between the parties and innovative and sustainable practices. It also actively campaigns to promote the industry’s role in underpinning Welsh Government key strategies and developing a built environment fit for the future.

Supply Chain Sustainability School

SCSS can help construction companies to meet their clients’ sustainability requirements through a wealth of resources focused on building, maintaining and operating more sustainable buildings, infrastructure and homes. Access is provided to an award-winning resource library offering: e-learning, films, tools and learning resources with best in class knowledge on sustainability, offsite construction and management techniques.

Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Wales

CECA represent 60 of Wales’ civil engineering contracting businesses, with a cumulative annual turnover of over £1bn and employing over 6,000 people. These businesses are instrumental in supporting communities nationwide, they contribute significantly to the economic prosperity of Wales and offer training and apprenticeship opportunities.

Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE)

With over 92,000 members worldwide, ICE supports civil engineers and technicians throughout their careers. They award professional qualifications that are the industry standard, lead the debates around infrastructure and the built environment and provide an unmatched level of training, knowledge and thinking.

National Association Construction Frameworks (NACF)

With 10 Partner Regional Construction Frameworks, the NACF plays a unique role in adopting best practice in local government, working together to shape the future of procurement.

JCT Contract

JCT contracts facilitate the process of constructing buildings. Setting out the responsibilities of all parties within the construction process and their obligations.

UK Steel

UK Steel champions and celebrates the UK steel industry. The UK steel industry is important, innovative, progressive and environmentally responsible — our services help to show this to the world.

BESA

By using a BESA member, you can be sure that your building engineering services contractor meets the required standards and has the proven competencies to deliver your project. Our members go through a thorough audit and assessment process before being approved as a BESA member, this means that you can rest assured in the quality and compliance of the work they undertake. Read more here.

Wales Co-operative Centre

The Wales Co-operative Centre is a pan-Wales support agency tasked with strengthening and empowering Welsh communities by supporting the growth of co-operatives and social enterprises, and by delivering projects that provide skills and tackle exclusion. It runs a number of services of use to the construction industry:

Social Business Wales is an EU and Welsh Government funded operation which supports the growth of social businesses (Social Enterprises, Co-operatives and Employee Owned Businesses). It works with social businesses to develop and to access new markets. It regularly maps the social business sector and it hosts a detailed directory of social businesses which can be accessed here.

Social Business Connect is a consultancy service which helps organisations to develop their supply chains in order to trade with the social business sector. The service offers a phased approach than can be tailored to your organisations requirements. Further information can be accessed here.

Street Games

StreetGames harnesses the power of sport to create positive change in the lives of disadvantaged young people right across the UK. StreetGames' work helps to make young people and their communities healthier, safer and more successful. In Wales, it has already supported over 75,000 young people.

Community Benefits Toolkit

The Community Benefits policy approach is principle 4 of the WPPS and seeks to act upon this wider definition of value for money by delivering the very widest social, economic and environmental benefits in the course of securing the goods, services or works required by the public sector in Wales.

Delivery of Community Benefits through public sector procurement is aligned to the Well Being of Future Generations Act and delivers against its goals.

Welsh Refugee Council

Empowering asylum seekers and refugees to build new futures in Wales. We provide specialist advice and support services to asylum seekers and refugees in Wales to ensure they can access the services they need.

Welsh Refugee Council is committed to protecting the human rights of people forced to seek safety from persecution, war, conflict, and other forms of injustice and abuse. For over 30 years, we have been helping asylum seekers, and refugees navigate the UK asylum system with specialist advice and support.

We have offices in Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, and Wrexham.

We work extensively with a range of community, voluntary and statutory sector partners to create a society where respect and equality are paramount and human rights are enjoyed.

We support asylum seekers and refugees at the most critical points of their lives. Our work makes the difference between someone experiencing a refused asylum claim followed by their life spiralling into destitution, untreated health problems, and homelessness, or an alternative future where they begin building a life in Wales with improved language skills, access to benefits, legal help, and other support services.

The Education & Employability Team is central to that vision. We understand that to truly feel at home; people need to be developing through education, working alongside their new neighbours, providing for their families and contributing to their community.

Access Agreement

Please see below a copy of the Access Agreement. Please send across a signed copy to [email protected]. We will then provide login details.

SEWSCAP 4 Access Agreement v1

User Guides

SEWSCAP4 USER GUIDE

For access to the technical user guide, please login to download the file. If you need to register first, please contact us.