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The contract requires the contractor to ensure that a minimum number of apprenticeships and training opportunities are provided through the project. The contractor is responsible for how it will provide these and must submit a training and employment method statement detailing how it will achieve and manage the recruitment, training and employment objectives.

An application was made for EU Trans-European Transport Network funding in each of the 2008, 2009 and 2010 rounds. Unfortunately due to the criteria set we have been unsuccessful in securing this funding.

The Forth Replacement Crossing will be fully funded through capital budgets.

The new VAT rate will be applied to the project, but we have reviewed the matter and are confident that the outturn cost can be kept within the present range.

It is anticipated that the principal contract (main crossing and approach roads) will be awarded in late spring 2011, while the M9 Junction 1a and Fife ITS contracts are due to be awarded in summer 2011.

Following award of each contract a contract notice will also be published in the Official Journal of the European Union to provide details of the successful contractor.

The Scottish Government is committed to effective management and delivery of its capital programme and we are working to manage the impact of the Forth Replacement Crossing on it. In order to provide maximum support for our wider capital programme following the massive reduction in our capital budget by the UK Government, we plan to take forward a major new pipeline of transport, education and health infrastructure projects worth up to £2.5 billion through the revenue-funded non-profit distributing model. This decision will boost capital spending next year and in subsequent years.

The Forth Replacement Crossing Project has been separated into three main contracts. We expect the final cost for the project to be less than the upper estimate of £2.3 billion.

Following award of the contract, the successful contractor is required to advertise all subcontract opportunities on the Public Contacts Scotland website.

In addition the project team has worked to encourage opportunities for small and medium enterprises through briefings and presentations with business representatives including the CBI.

The estimated costs of the Forth Replacement Crossing costs have been considered in relation to the Scottish Government definition of value for money (VfM), as the optimum combination of whole-life costs and quality (or fitness for purpose) of the goods or service to meet the users'' requirements. This is not necessarily based on lowest costs as VfM includes both quantitative and qualitative assessment.

The procurement of the project has been taken forward in parallel with the promotion of the Bill. The Project has been divided into three separate contracts, namely the Principal Contract, M9 Junction 1a and Fife Intelligent Transport System (ITS). Under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2006, where a public authority has transmitted a Contract Notice by electronic means, the minimum time for advertisement, which is the time elapsed between publication and requests to be selected to participate, shall not be less than 30 days.

The three contracts were advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union on the following dates:

Principal Contract: 29 June 2009 to 3 August 2009

M9 Junction 1a: 8 June 2010 to 12 July 2010

Fife ITS: 2 July 2010 to 2 August 2010