A preferred bidder has been chosen to build the bridge and connecting roads elements of the Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC), the biggest Scottish infrastructure project for a generation.

The Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors (FCBC) consortium, comprising Dragados, Hochtief, American Bridge International and Morrison Construction, was chosen ahead of Forthspan, the other consortium bidding for the contract, following an 18 month competitive tendering process. Both bids were found to be valid and of a high standard following a rigorous assessment of technical, quality and cost aspects.

FCBC's successful bid for the design and build contract of £790 million at today's prices, represents a significant saving on the initial estimated cost range of £0.9 billion to £1.2 billion.

This bid for the Principal Contract excludes VAT and inflation. By incorporating this bid value and removing the cost of capital charge the FRC project now has a revised total out-turn cost of £1.47 to £1.62 billion. This is a significant reduction on the project's original estimated cost range of £1.7 to £2.3 billion.

It is intended to award the contract to FCBC in April, subject to a mandatory standstill period, with construction starting on site soon after. The FRC project is currently on track to be delivered in 2016 and will replace the current Forth Road Bridge as the main crossing for cross-Forth traffic.

Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "The Forth Replacement Crossing project will be essential in protecting and promoting Scotland's sustainable economic growth, safeguarding a vital link in the country's transport infrastructure, protecting thousands of jobs and securing over a billion pounds in economic revenue.

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"I was therefore delighted to inform Parliament this morning that the tender period for the FRC Principal Contract has now concluded.

"The successful FCBC consortium includes world class bridge building and civil engineering firms with strong records of successfully delivering similar projects throughout the world.

"It is a testament to the robust competition we put in place that it has delivered a bid representing a significant saving for Scotland's capital budget. This is yet more compelling evidence that the Scottish Government is managing major infrastructure projects successfully in a way which maximises benefits and minimises cost to the public purse.

"Value for money was clearly an essential factor in making this decision but the winning proposal also includes hugely valuable commitments on sustainability, training and employment opportunities and community engagement.

"It is particularly pleasing to see that this bid will annually provide 45 vocational training positions, 21 professional body training places and 46 positions for the long term unemployed. This means many more employment opportunities will be provided for school leavers, graduate engineers and those currently out of work than originally expected. We will also be working with the preferred bidder to maximise Modern Apprenticeship opportunities."

Mr Swinney added that today's announcement of the FRC preferred bidder represented "remarkable progress" since he first signalled a green light for the project to Parliament in December 2007.

"The project is on time and ahead of budget and that is a considerable achievement considering both the Bill process and procurement of such a major contract had, necessarily given the issues facing the current Forth Road Bridge, to be run concurrently.

"Since 2007, Transport Scotland has been driving forward the largest transport investment programme Scotland has ever seen with an impressive record of delivery."

Transport Minister Keith Brown also announced that £10m is to be made available to Fife Council to deliver a 1,000 space Park and Ride facility at Halbeath by 2013. Mr Brown said: "We are committed to cutting carbon emissions by encouraging modal shift from private cars to public transport. The FRC project includes using the existing bridge as a part of a dedicated public transport corridor but it is clearly vital we do all we can to encourage and promote that shift to sustainable cross-Forth travel now."

Transport Scotland is the national transport agency responsible for trunk roads, rail and national concessionary travel. It is an Executive agency directly accountable to Scottish Ministers.

(GK/KMcA)