Southwark signs BSF deal

A contact award notice in the Official Journal of the European Union on 7 October 2010 says that the deal was won by the borough's Local Education Partnership 4 Futures. Its members include education IT specialist RM and construction firm Balfour Beatty. 4 Futures will supply ICT managed services, along with construction and engineering services, under one of a now diminishing number of BSF contracts. Michael Gove, the education minister, has said he will end the £45bn BSF programme, although deals at an advanced stage of negotiation are still being signed. The second phase of the inner London borough's schools refurbishment programme is expected to cost between £205m and £400m. The award notice says it consists of "two PFI schools and two design and build schools with a combination of new build and refurbishment". The contractors could also provide facilities for primary schools and community projects, such as libraries, which provide education. The second phase follows the delivery of two new build secondary schools, one under PFI and the other under design and build, under the first phase of the programme.