ORGANISERS are searching for a "gold medal service" for cleaning and housekeeping at the Commonwealth Games.

Glasgow 2014 is offering firms the chance to apply for contracts worth £3.8million to provide services including making the beds and servicing the rooms for international athletes.

The successful company will also be responsible for ensuring venues look their best for all the competitive action.

The pre-qualification invitation for companies to submit their interest to tender for the cleaning and house-keeping contracts is now open. Interested parties have until February 4 to submit responses to qualify for the next tender phase.

Contracts will be awarded from late July.

Organisers expect that housekeeping, linen and laundry services will be a 24/7 operation during the Games and the contractor will need to work with Glasgow 2014 and its partners during all phases of the work and planning.

Craig Lear, Glasgow 2014 general manager for catering, cleaning and waste, said: "We are looking for service companies with an interest to support Glasgow 2014 to deliver a consistent and 'gold medal' level of service that will ensure a positive experience for all Games client groups including athletes, team officials, technical officials, workforce, the media, Commonwealth Games Family, spectat-ors and sponsors."

The Games, which will run from July 23 to August 3 next year, will host 6500 athletes.

Glasgow 2014 head of procurement David Brown said a range of opportunities for firms of all sizes were coming up. He added: "In the run up to the Games, during and indeed after there will be all sorts of service contract opportunities.

matty.sutton@ eveningtimes.co.uk