The Environment Agency is inviting interested suppliers to participate in a Market Sounding exercise for the proposed £500 million River Thames Scheme ahead of the formal procurement process scheduled to start in 2018.
The Agency is looking to explore opportunities to develop a delivery solution for the River Thames Scheme, which will involve a range of works to manage the risk of flooding from Datchet to Teddington in the future.
The current project programme intends to initiate a procurement exercise towards the end of 2018 with the contract award anticipated in Summer 2020 (subject to required approvals).
The River Thames between Datchet and Teddington has the largest area of undefended, developed floodplain in England - over 15,000 homes and businesses within the area are at risk from flooding.
Major flooding in this area would cause severe disruption to the local and regional road network. It would also suspend several major drinking water abstractions supplying the South East and threaten up to 20 local electricity sub-stations.
The River Thames Scheme will reduce the risk of flooding to homes, businesses and critical infrastructure (roads, sewerage network, power supplies) between Datchet and Teddington.
Estimated total value of the scheme is put at £500 million.
The Market Sounding Exercise is aimed at gaining feedback from the supply chain to help shape the future commercial delivery model to ensure delivery in the most efficient and effective way. No decision on the future solution, funding or commercial approach has yet been agreed.
The results of the exercise (including any 1-to-1 discussions) may be used to shape and refine the Environment Agency's proposition before any formal procurement commences. All participants in the Market Sounding exercise are expected to do so at their own cost.
The Market Sounding is focussing on the commercial options for the main delivery of the River Thames Scheme which is the capacity improvement and flood channel works. The proposed flood channel will be between 30 and 60 metres wide and 17 kilometres long, built in 3 sections, including:
- Channel Section 1 (CS1): Datchet to Hythe End
- Channel Section 2 (CS2): Egham Hythe to Chertsey
- Channel Section 3 (CS3): Laleham to Shepperton
Additional works will be required at three weirs including; Sunbury, Molesey and Teddington, further downstream of the new channel, to increase capacity and mitigate the downstream effects of the new channels. Works will also be required to increase the capacity of the Desborough Cut and to provide flood storage at Ham Lands.
Time-scales for the Market Sounding Exercise are currently envisaged as follows:
- Market Sounding Prospectus and Questionnaire will be available — Monday 12.6.2017
- Questionnaire return deadline — Friday 7.7.2017
Click here to access the Prior Information Notice
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