WEST Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) has appointed 12 companies to its Professional Services Framework, including six from York.

This means that as the combined authority and its partners progress their ambitious West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund programme of City Region infrastructure schemes, they will be able to call off a range of services from the companies appointed.

These services, which would be used on a call-off basis, include civil engineering and highways consultancy, bridge, structural and engineering design, construction supervision and project and programme management.

The companies are Aecom, Amey, Arup, Atkins, CH2M, Curtins, Jacobs, Local Transport Projects, Sweco, Waterman, WSP and WYG.

To qualify, the companies went through a European Compliant tender process. The work was divided into three lots, representing services costing up to £200,000, between £200,000 and £500,000, and over £500,000.

Almost 50 submissions were received, which were scored on both quality and price consideration. The quality element included companies’ method statements, their commitment to promoting skills and training plus their approach to carbon reduction and wider sustainability aspects.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority chairman Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe said: “Our West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund programme is already benefiting people and businesses locally through completed schemes such as Wakefield Eastern Relief Road and Temple Green Park and Ride with others already underway.

“I am pleased that we had such wide-ranging interest expressed from companies wanting to supply these key services to the region.

"Their work will be vital to us implementing and accelerating our large-scale programme of infrastructure projects that will help unlock our City Region’s huge economic potential.