Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Environment Agency
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street, Westminster
London
SW1P 3JR
Contact
Jon Mannering
RTS_Commercial@environment-agency.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 2072385921
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
National or federal Agency/Office
one.5) Main activity
Environment
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
River Thames Scheme - Tier 2 and SMEs - Market Engagement
Reference number
Bravo reference: project_33469
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 45000000 - Construction work
two.1.3) Type of contract
Works
two.1.4) Short description
This notice is only an invitation to Tier 2 suppliers and SMEs to express interest to participate in a market engagement exercise for the River Thames Scheme. The Environment Agency and Surrey County Council, through a collaboration partnership, are issuing this PIN for the purpose of seeking organisations that wish to take part in Market Engagement exercises, Phase 2 to Phase 5 before we start a formal procurement process, for which a separate contract notice will be issued. Organisations should ensure that they express their interest for all the relevant phases of the market engagement process so that their intent is correctly noted by the Environment Agency.
The Environment Agency has already developed outline design proposals and an initial procurement and contract strategy for the delivery phases of the River Thames Scheme, which will involve a range of works to reduce flood risk from the River Thames between Egham Hythe, Staines and Teddington weir. The Environment Agency intends to test this strategy and the outline design proposals through Phase 1, 2 and 3 of the Market Engagement whilst undertaking the Environmental Impact Assessment and preparing for the consenting process.
Our current project programme intends to initiate publishing a contract notice and the tender documents in the summer of 2023 with contract award anticipated in spring 2025 (subject to required approvals). We are seeking feedback from the supply market to help us shape our current strategy, design, contracting and risk management proposals to ensure delivery in the most efficient and effective way.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £275,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 45110000 - Building demolition and wrecking work and earthmoving work
- 45112700 - Landscaping work
- 45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work
- 45210000 - Building construction work
- 45221245 - Under-river tunnel construction work
- 45233100 - Construction work for highways, roads
- 45240000 - Construction work for water projects
- 45262000 - Special trade construction works other than roof works
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
South East, works to be carried out near or on the River Thames, from Egham Hythe, Staines to Teddington.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Environment Agency are looking to bring on board a Construction Partner for the River Thames Scheme. Our current project programme aims to initiate a procurement exercise in summer of 2023 with contract award anticipated in early 2025 (subject to required approvals).
Up to July 2020, the RTS included a flood channel in three sections but, following confirmation of the funding position, channel section 1 is now removed. The scope of the Construction Partner Contract and main works include the detailed design and construction of new flood channel built in 2 channel sections:
First section (Runnymede channel) – Egham Hythe to Chertsey
Second section (Shepperton channel) – Laleham to Shepperton
Other works include the following areas:
Includes increasing the flow capacity of existing Sunbury, Molesey and Teddington weirs
Increasing the capacity near the Desborough Cut
Utility diversion works
New road and pedestrian bridges to accommodate the new channel sections
New permanent compounds for Environment Agency operational use
Demolition of residential properties to make way for the Runnymede channel
Landscaping works including creation of areas for community use post construction and areas of habitat created to mitigate impacts during construction
Earthworks including excavation, material storage, treatment, logistics and disposal of material including landfill waste, topsoil, alluvium and gravels.
The following areas sit out of scope from the construction partner contract main contract:
Further design and construction works on M3 motorway assets.
The approximate value of the design and construction works is expected to be approximately £250 - £275 million.
The market engagement exercise will be carried out in phases and each phase will have a different focus. The phased market engagement process is due to run from July 2021 – end 2023, at which point the Environment Agency will progress with the pre- tender briefing phase.
An overview of each phase and anticipated timescales have been provided below:
Phase 1 Strategy Testing (July – December 2021): This phase will test and seek market feedback on our procurement and contract strategy and current commercial approach;
Phase 2 Tier 2 and SME engagement (February - April 2022): This is a targeted engagement event to receive feedback from Tier 2 and SME’s in the NEC scope planning and risk approach;
Phase 3 Design, scope and site information (June – November 2022) : An opportunity for the market to review our outline design proposals, survey information, summary of our constraints, construction planning, site information etc. that will become part of the NEC ECC Scope;
Phase 4 Contract Testing (November 2022 – February 2023: This phase will test and seek market feedback on the draft contract, contract risk allocation, incentive model etc;
Phase 5 tender briefing (June 2023): This phase will provide an overview of our tender process and tender requirements prior to issuing the formal contract notice and tender documents.
Additional information will be provided via the Defra e-sourcing portal, Bravo, which can be accessed using this link https://defra.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html. Interested suppliers must register on the portal, then search for the project code – 33469 or project title – River Thames Scheme – Tier 2 and SMEs, in the “Current Opportunities” area.
Please ensure that your organisation is registered in order to gain access to the briefing documents and questionnaires to take part in Phase 2 of the market engagement process. In case of any queries, please email: RTS_Commercial@environment-agency.gov.uk
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
1 June 2023
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Organisations must register their interest for this market engagement exercise via the Defra e-sourcing portal, Bravo, which can be accessed using this link https://defra.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html. Interested suppliers must register on the portal, then search for the project code – 33469 or project title – River Thames Scheme – Tier 2 and SMEs, in the ‘Current Opportunities’ area.
Organisations should note the anticipated timescales for each stage as below.
Market engagement briefing documents and questionnaire will be available during February and March 2022 and the questionnaire return deadline is 31 March 2022. A broadcast presentation is planned for mid-April 2022 and full details will be provided via the portal.
The results of the market engagement exercise (including any 1-to-1 discussions) may be used to shape and refine the Environment Agency's proposition before any formal procurement commences. It should be noted that any information provided on our current thinking should be considered formative in nature and could be refined/changed as necessary. All participants in the market engagement exercise will do so at their own cost.
The Environment Agency will use its discretion and invite suppliers for a one to one meeting which will be based upon the following key factors:
The quality of information received through the questionnaires and participating supplier organisation’s responses;
Representation of suppliers across a wider cross-section of the market that is proportionate to this procurement exercise;
Representation of suppliers that have divergent views.
The Environment Agency reserves the right to share information and/or summary outputs, outcomes of the engagement to the wider supply market which will be based on participating supplier questionnaire responses and information shared in any subsequent 1 to 1 meetings.