Skanska and Sir Robert McAlpine drop out of £660m NHS race

Contractors Skanska and Sir Robert McAlpine have dropped out of the race for a £660m framework for the NHS in Scotland.

The firms are not on a list of eight bidders for the job that includes contractors Balfour Beatty, Laing O’Rourke and Kier.

The contractors are vying to provide construction, repair, conversion and adaptation of clinical facilities for up to six years under the framework called Frameworks Scotland 2.

Both Skanska and Sir Robert McAlpine were invited to tender by the NHS but have not submitted bids.

The framework is set to consist of five firms.

The framework replaces an existing framework which expires in July 2013.

Projects conducted under the current framework includes a £110m emergency care unit for NHS Grampian and the £47.2m Royal Victoria redevelopment in Edinburgh.