Building Better Health Secures Express LIFT Framework

NHS LIFT Developer Building Better Health has today been announced as one of the successful companies to secure a place on the new Express LIFT framework, announced by the Department of Health.

Building Better Health secured the framework having bid under its group owner’s name, Fulcrum Infrastructure. The successful bid also included Renova Developments, also part of Fulcrum Infrastructure.

Originally twenty firms were shortlisted for the framework. This has been reduced to seven successful companies. The framework is based on the creation of LIFTs (Local Improvement Finance Trusts) to deliver facilities under public private partnerships.

LIFT has been in operation since 2001 and has successfully delivered hundreds of facilities. However, only half of the UK’s Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) currently have an agreement with a LIFT company. Under original LIFT agreements, PCTs worked with development partners on contracts typically longer than 25 years. The new framework will essentially provide a simpler procurement route, allowing PCTs to choose a partner to work with, without being tied into a long term contract, and therefore stimulating new health developments across the country.

It is hoped that Express LIFT will accelerate the procurement process and reduce costs to bidders compared to the current process. The length of time for completion on bids should be reduced to four to five months, with local procurements from the framework able to be completed within about four to six weeks rather than two years as is currently the case.

Both Building Better Health and Renova have a proven track record delivering services under LIFT, Building Better Health through its three LIFT schemes in London and Renova with its LIFT schemes in the St Helens, Knowsley, Halton and Warrington boroughs.

"I am delighted that Fulcrum are on the final list for Express LIFT, particularly as this brings together Renova (St Helen's) and Building Better Health (London), building on the strengths of both - Renova's strong business acumen and Building Better Health's strength in design,” commented Sylvie Pierce, Chief Executive of Building Better Health. “We now hope that we'll have the opportunity to demonstrate the advantages of this new joint venture under the Fulcrum banner and look forward to working with new PCT partners."

It is proposed that the framework will run for two years with an option to extend for a further two years depending on the performance of the framework partners. This will allow for a re-tender, with the potential for new companies to be added.

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