£2m RAAC Roof Replacement Tender to be Reissued after No Responses

A £2M CONTRACT for RAAC roof replacement on West Lothian council homes will go out to tender again after the first tender received no bids.

The first tender issued in the summer for the roof replacement programme failed to attract bids from contractors.

The original tender was for roof replacement work on West Lothian council homes in Bathgate, Linlithgow, Broxburn and in Livingston’s Craigshill.

Around 90 houses were built with flat roofing panels made of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) which is now deteriorating and defective.

RAAC Roof Replacement 

A new open tender has repackaged the 3-year work plan, scheduled to start in January 2025.

At a West Lothian Council meeting discussing capital spending plans, Housing Strategy and Development manager, Marjory Mackie, said there had been slippage of £1.78 million.

She reported the increase was “as a result of the requirement to re- tender the planned works due to insufficient market interest. ”

She added: “This programme of work has been reviewed and is currently in the process of going back out to tender with an anticipated start on site in January 2025. Monitoring work will continue to ensure the ongoing safety of tenants.”

Linlithgow SNP Councillor, Pauline Orr, asked: “Do we know why that is at all? Is it due to the complexity of the work, is it due to the size of the projects or is it due to a lack of skill out there to be able to undertake the works required on these premises?

RACC Panels

Marjory Mackie replied: “It was a combination of items. We have looked at packaging up the work in order that it makes it more manageable. We are also going out to open tender this time and we have actually undertaken a supplier forum to ensure that suppliers come in in advance of tender and were given full information around the tender.

“We are anticipating that this will have a successful tender at the end of this period.”

“The work itself is not complex, it is removing RAAC panels and replacing roofing. The fact it is going to the open market will deliver best value.”

A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: “We are aiming to have our Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) Remediation Programme for affected council homes ready to start from January 2025.

“Work has been delayed after our initial tender exercise in the summer did not attract any bids from contractors. An engagement event was carried out with potential contractors before revised tenders were issued last month, and we hope to be able to appoint a contractor soon, once this process is complete.

“Preparatory work has been undertaken in the common blocks of properties in Broxburn to ensure safety and support the main works. This included securing common areas, creating new access arrangements, removing asbestos, and completing essential remedial work.”

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