微密圈

One of the winning consultants on a troubled 拢750m public sector framework that is embroiled in a legal dispute has spoken out to urge a quick resolution to the legal challenge.

Pick Everard, which 微密圈 understands won places on all four UK lots of the four-year Project Management and Full Design Team Services framework, awarded in June, defended the framework this week.

Duncan Green, partner at Pick Everard, told 微密圈: 鈥漈he previous framework was popular with clients and well used. Our clients are anxious that it will be available soon.鈥�

More than a dozen firms have been provisionally awarded places on the framework, but it remains in limbo after one of the unsuccessful bidders, Turner & Townsend (T&T), lodged a legal challenge in the High Court against the award.

微密圈 revealed last week T&T has accused rival firms of using 鈥減rice manipulation鈥� to win places on the framework in its High Court claim.

微密圈 is unaware of which firm or firms are the subject of T&T鈥檚 allegations and UK SBS has declined to comment on the framework while legal proceedings are ongoing.

The framework will go live more than a year later than the government intended, after delays because of a prolonged consultation period, alterations to the framework requirements and more than 400 tender clarifications in the weeks leading up to bids being submitted.