Contractors hoping to secure a hefty share of government work could be forced to vie for a place on a new framework as part of a drive to centralise public procurement

Building understands that Buying Solutions, the executive agency of the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), is considering creating a list of recommended main contractors, working in the same way as the OGC’s project management framework.

This could be used by any public body. Users of current OGC frameworks include Whitehall departments and local authorities.

A source close to the discussions said: “They are talking about putting out a contractors’ framework later this year. It is early days.”

The talks are the latest move to style Buying Solutions as a “one stop shop” for public sector procurement.

The body is also preparing to expand its facilities management framework. A pre-qualification notice has gone out for the new list, which will have eight consortiums rather than the current five. Names on the existing framework, which expires in December, include Mitie, Carillion and Taylor Woodrow. Sources estimate the value of the framework as £250-350m a year.