Scope
Reference
T-1162
Description
The Framework for Watercourse Maintenance will encompass five Measured Term Contracts to deliver watercourse maintenance in the following Contract Areas:
A. WME1 (Armagh);
B. WME2 (Lisburn and Greater Belfast);
C. WMW1 (Coleraine);
D. WMW2 (Omagh); and
E. WMW3 (Fermanagh).
Within each Contract Area, the works to be undertaken under this Contract may include, but not be limited to, the following Principal Work Activities which are provided by way of example:
A. Maintenance of Watercourses;
B. Riverbank & Flood Defence maintenance and scrub clearance;
C. Tree felling/removal; and
D. Provision of labour/plant.
Further ancillary works may be asked of the successful Supplier such as:
A. Treatment of aquatic weed/invasive species.
Within each Contract Area, the successful Supplier will be required to carry out any such works instructed by a Works Order, issued under the provisions of the Contract. Such works will require a standard of works delivery consistent with that defined in the Procurement Documents. Reimbursement to the successful Supplier for such works will be paid generally on the basis of an applicable Schedule of Rates and Prices (SoRP), adjusted in line with permitted price-fluctuation-factor provisions.
For each Contract Area, it is likely that the successful Supplier will be required to work at more than one location at any one time in order to meet the requirements of the programme of work for each Contract Area.
Successful Suppliers will be expected to have sufficiently skilled and available resources necessary to meet the requirements of such a programme and will be required to include in its rates and prices for the inevitable peaks and troughs that will be inherent in any such programme. Such peaks and troughs may result from a variety of circumstances, not all within the control of the Department.
The financial limits for individual Works Orders under this Contract shall generally be between £1 – £250,000 GBP.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
- 4 years
Main procurement category
Works
CPV classifications
- 45240000 - Construction work for water projects
- 45246000 - River regulation and flood control works
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
- UKN0 - Northern Ireland
Engagement
Engagement deadline
6 March 2026
Engagement process description
As part of this Pre Market Engagement (PME) exercise, interested suppliers are invited to complete a short online questionnaire hosted on the Citizen Space platform. The purpose of this questionnaire is to gather early insight from the market to help inform the development of our proposed requirements and future procurement approach.
To participate, please access the PME questionnaire via the following link:
https://consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk/dfi-1/t-1162-watercourse-maintenance-framework/
Suppliers should provide their responses through the Citizen Space portal no later than 23:59 on Friday 6 March 2026. All responses will be treated confidentially and used solely to support the planning and design of any potential future procurement. Completion of the questionnaire does not constitute a commitment to participate in any subsequent tender process and does not guarantee inclusion in future procurement opportunities.
Any requests for clarification relating to this exercise must be communicated via email to TRAMprocurement@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Contracting authority
DfI Transport and Road Asset Management (TRAM)
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYQH-8789-DZPG
James House, 2-4 Cromac Avenue
Belfast
BT7 2JA
United Kingdom
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland