Two Highland companies have been appointed to deliver property contracting and management services for the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) network following a Europe-wide tendering process.

Last June HIE announced it was adopting a new, modernised approach to the procurement of a number of services, called supply partnering. Under this system, HIE provides services, either for the Network or its clients, through a partnership approach with a number of key strategic suppliers.

Following an open tendering process under European procurement regulations and a rigorous selection procedure, Tulloch plc has been appointed prime contractor for HIE's property requirements for the next four years. Under the same process Synergie Scotland Ltd, based in Inverness, has been appointed prime consultant for property requirements for a period of three years.

Tulloch plc emerged successful from a field of 10 companies that submitted tenders for the prime contractor contract. Synergie Scotland Ltd was selected from a field of six tenders.

Under a framework agreement, as prime contractor Tulloch plc will provide a "one-stop-shop" for the design and construction of advance and bespoke buildings throughout the HIE network area. The contract includes site servicing works and environmental renewal work carried out at the Network's hand relating to site improvements. The HIE network retains the discretion to make alternative procurement arrangements where it is considered that the scope or scale of a project requires specialist technical input.

Synergie Scotland Ltd's core responsibilities will be cost and project management along with site supervision and the fulfilment of the planning supervision role. The company will be involved in the initial stages of projects, interpreting the Network's needs or the bespoke needs of a client, then preparing a project brief in consultation with the prime contractor.

Douglas MacDiarmid, HIE's director of growing businesses, said that while both successful supply partners had emerged as clear winners in the selection process, the quality of submissions from all those who had tendered had been extremely high.

He said: "We look forward to working closely in partnership with Tulloch plc and Synergie Scotland Ltd as we develop this new and improved approach to property procurement for the HIE network.

"I would also like to thank all those companies who submitted bids for the considerable amount of work and energy they put into this process. We hope that many of them will have a significant role under this new strategy, supplying services as sub-contractors to our prime contractor and consultant."

David Sutherland, chairman of Tulloch plc, said: "We are very pleased to be prime contractor for HIE. We will be forming strategic alliances with contractors throughout the Highlands and Islands, building on close links we have already established in some areas.

"It has been our policy to use local skills and local people wherever possible and we'll be liaising with smaller firms in areas where work is required.

"We bring to this supply partner agreement our depth of project management expertise, based on a proven track record of major contracts successfully delivered and the commitment we have made to employee development and an outstanding apprenticeship programme. On this basis, we consider we can add value to HIE's property agenda.

"We already employ several hundred people in the Highlands and this agreement will significantly underpin those jobs. We are keen to go forward in partnership with the area's enterprise agency to deliver the infrastructure in which business can grow and flourish to the social and economic benefit of the communities involved."

Ian MacGillivray, director of Synergie Scotland Ltd, said the company and its partners throughout the Highlands and Islands were looking forward to working with Tulloch plc and further developing an already well-established relationship with the HIE network.

Mr MacGillivray said: "Together with our partners in EC Harris and our colleagues in partner companies in Shetland, Lewis and Argyll, we are delighted to have been successful with our bid to Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

"Over the past few years we have enjoyed a good working relationship with HIE and a number of the local enterprise companies. We look forward to working with HIE and Tulloch plc to deliver an improved, effective property service to meet the Network and local objectives."

The service procurement strategy follows both central government and National Audit Office advice in relation to the modernisation of construction practices and follows a growing trend towards collaborative working practices in the construction sector.

Over the past five years the HIE network's property development related expenditure, mainly comprising construction of offices and factories, site servicing and environmental renewal, but also including a number of one-off projects, has averaged  £18million per annum.

Following a similar exercise last year HIE selected supply partners for business advice services, details of which are available on the network website: www.hie.co.uk.