BSFBlog

On June 20^th the three Bid Teams submitted their individual Interim Bids to the Core BSF Team for evaluation.  This is a critical point in the procurement process and the Core BSF Team is now fully engaged in the evaluation of these Interim Bids.

As in the previous PQQ and ITPD procurement evaluation benchmark stages we are using a specialised software product called Award to assist in this very important task. We will be engaged in this evaluation process until early August and it will be the main focus of our work during this time.

Regards

Kevin

As part of our ongoing BSF Quality Assurance Process we invited the 3 Bid Teams to present their current Sample School Designs prior, to submission of their Interim Bids, to representatives of CABE.

CABE, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, is the government's advisor on architecture, urban design and public space. The organisation works directly with architects, planners, designers, developers and clients, offering them design guidance on their projects.

Each individual Bid Team presented their design proposals to two CABE Representatives and engaged in a lengthy discussion at a series of planned meetings at the BSF Offices at Normanby Gateway. This was a very interesting and engaging series of meetings.

Following these interactive meetings the  two CABE Representatives gave individual Bidders Design Presentations to a full CABE Review Panel at a special CABE Review Meeting in CABE's London Headquarters in London last Thursday.

Following this CABE Review, the BSF Team will receive a full and detailed report from CABE and this will assist the BSF Core Team with the Evaluation process.

Regards

Kevin

During the past couple of months I have been busy liaising with schools in order to draft the second edition of the BSF Newsletter Agenda, which following publication, was delivered to all schools this week.

This edition includes more detailed reports from 3 of the Secondary Schools who are included in the first stage of the programme. There are reports from the Principals of our two Sample Schools, Brumby Engineering College and Melior Community College and a Headteacher's report from Foxhills Technology College. To complement these reports are two pupil reports from each school which display their aspirations for their new schools. I hope that you enjoy reading their thoughts on the progress of the BSF Programme in their schools.

Within this issue are the results of our Schools National Poetry Day Competition and the three successful pupils can see their poems in print. There was a superb response from the schools that chose engage and the BSF Team would like to thank all pupils who took part.

Also within this edition there is an input from two key players in North Lincolnshire's BSF Strategy, Ade Williamson, BSF Project Director and Councillor Tony Gosling, Cabinet Member for Children Services. I have introduced a new element in this second edition, the BSF Brainteaser Page. I  hope that it both stretches your mind and makes you smile!

Finally, there is also an overview of our BSF Team who are working on the BSF Strategy. Agenda issue 2 is now in schools and will be ready for distribution to pupils, staff and Governors straight after half term, I hope that you enjoy the read.

Regards

Kevin

As part of the BSF Design dialogue process, John Galbraith the BSF Manager, organised two BSF Design Brief Review Days this month. Both were led by a recognised and proven architect Depeche Patel from the Arup Associates working with two further associate architects and members of the Core BSF Team.

The first was hosted at the North Lindsey College's Kingsway Centre and the audience was pupils and staff from the two sample schools, Brumby Engineering College and Melior Community College. During the intense and successful planned programme the pupils and staff were made aware of strategies and skills to engage with the current Bidding Design Teams. They were also given opportunities to practice their newly acquired critical design awareness skills on live projects through discussion and group work throughout the day.

 The finale of the day was the opportunity for them working in teams to design and create a series of 3 models which displayed their knowledge, understanding and creativity within the school design process. Both Principals of the two sample schools were in attendance to view their final models and engage in the final discussions and outcomes. It proved to be a really successful day and both the staff and pupils can return confidently to their respective schools more critically adept at engaging with the design process within this current and future phases.

 The second day was hosted at the BSF Office at Normanby Gateway and this was an opportunity for each of the 3 Bid Teams to present individually their current designs to an audience of the Core BSF Team and Depeche and his two associates. This was an excellent opportunity for much more focussed dialogue prior to their final presentations to the sample schools and ultimately their submissions at Interim Bid Stage in mid-June. It was a really worthwhile exercise for all participants concerned and I found both days both informative and successfully delivered.

 Both days have given a real positive "heads up" to pupils, staff, Bid Teams and the BSF Core Team to our current ITCD position and are a measure of our positive quality assurance procedures.

 
Regards

 
Kevin

Good Evening Bloggers

It's been a while since my last Blog due to the intense engagement of the ITCD Process. The last seven weeks have been really busy for all the BSF Team myself included, as we have engaged with the 3 individual Bid Teams within the confines of the rigorous ITCD timetable.

Each Bid Team has been allocated individual slots of time to engage in dialogue on ICT, Education, Change Management, Facilities Management and Design and Construction, Finance, Legal and LEP Partnership issues. These dialogue sessions have been chaired by the BSF Chairpersons of the various Sub-Groups and organised and supported by the individual BSF Bid Co-ordinators. On average this has meant timetable dialogue sessions three full days a week for the BSF Core Team with our Internal Evaluation adding an extra day a week to the process.

The ITCD Timetable has also included 15 additional hours of Sample School engagement with Senior Staff and pupils at Brumby Engineering College and Melior Community College for each individual Bid Team supported by key members of the BSF Core Team.

It has been a mammoth but worthwhile task for all concerned. The process will roll on to the middle of next month when each of the Bid Teams will be requested to submit an Interim Bid for assessment.

Unfortunately during this lengthy gap between my Blogs, Scunthorpe United has been relegated from the Championship. A great shame, lets hope the lads can "bounce straight back up" next season.

Regards

Kevin