2.11 In response to the advert published in the Official Journal of the European Communities, the Department received only 10 expressions of interest (Figure 9). Concerned that some potential bidders had not responded to the advert, the Department commissioned advisers to investigate. The advisers found that some of those that the Department considered as potential bidders were not interested because they considered that the project was too small, or did not suit their abilities. Some had not seen the advert.
2.12 In November 1996, the Department short-listed four parties to bid for the contract (Figure 9). One, Teddington Technology Park, withdrew shortly thereafter. In February 1997, the Beazer Homes & Balfour Beatty consortium did not respond to the Department's invitation to negotiate because it was concerned that its proposals to exploit surplus land would not secure planning consent. Under procurement regulations, the Department could only increase the number of bidders by effectively restarting the whole process. Rather than do so, it decided to continue with only two bidders.