An innovative schools initiative, the Western Isles Schools Project, has reached a further milestone with expressions of interest now being sought from prospective construction and maintenance contractors to become involved in the project.

The tendering has been divided into two specific sections; firstly, for the detailed design and construction of the five schools at Balivanich, Point, the Westside, Sir E Scott and The Nicolson Institute.

The second section will accept tenders for the lifecycle maintenance and facilities management of the five schools.

The tendering of the projects are being now being advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union by Sgoiltean Ùra LLP, the organisation established by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to take forward the management and delivery of the project.

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The current estimated cost of construction is £60m with a further £50m being earmarked for the maintenance and facilities management element over the next 30 years.

Iain Mackinnon, Executive Director of Sgoiltean Ùra, said: "Teams from both Sgoiltean Ùra and the Comhairle have worked very hard with representative groups from each of the schools over the last several months and, now that the outline designs of the new schools are nearing completion, we are now moving to the next stage of the delivery process resulting in keen and competitive tenders for the works.

"The current economic climate combined with the general attractiveness of the project and delivery process has resulted in a high level of interest in the project from the construction sector at regional and national levels.

"We are confident that this level of interest can be sustained through the rest of the procurement process."

Mr Mackinnon added that there is still a lot of work to be done between now and when they are able to make a physical start on each of the sites but they remain extremely hopeful that we would be in a position to do so by summer 2010.

Angus Campbell, Comhairle Leader, said: "This is the single largest construction project undertaken by the Comhairle since its inception and we are very pleased to have reached this significant milestone.

"This level of investment in the Comhairle’s estate is unprecedented and both the Comhairle and Sgoiltean Ùra remain committed to ensuring that opportunities for the local construction sector and supply chain are maximised."

(GK/BMcc)