The Environment Agency is seeking input from the water sector supply chain on the formulation of its MEICA project and Maintenance Services procurement strategy.
The Agency is looking to put new supplier arrangements in place for MEICA maintenance and project works for services which will primarily be performed on its flood and coastal risk management, water resources and navigation sites.
The EA has now issued a Prior Information Notice seeking market engagement to understand supplier capability and the level of interest in each area for the opportunities.
Suppliers are being invited to respond to a short 5 Y/N questions) survey to lodge initial expressions of interest and provide feedback including:
- likely interest in bidding for each area/Lot;
- capability in providing key disciplines;
- any other factors or suggestions the supplier considers relevant
The EA currently intends to tender the contract - MEICA Maintenance Services for the Environment Agency – on a regional basis in the following 6 Lots:
- North West
- North East
- Central (Anglia and Midlands)
- South East, and two South West areas
- Wessex
- Devon and Cornwall
The EA is developing a specification and procurement strategy for project delivery and maintenance services (including a 24/7/365 call-out service and delivery of minor/non-complex projects) for MEICA (Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, Control and Automation) assets across England.
The services will primarily be performed on the Agency’s flood and coastal risk management assets - examples include:
- tidal barriers
- pump stations and waste pumps
- flood and sluice gates
- penstocks
- tidal barriers
- water transfer systems/pipelines, boreholes.
Assets include PLC and relay controlled MCC’s; electrically driven actuators; shaft driven and submersible axial flow pumps; Archimedean screws; hydraulic systems; lifting and hauling equipment; water flow and level measurement instrumentation; fire alarms; CCTV and security systems.
Typical maintenance activities will include scheduled maintenance for:
- on-site panel service and repair;
- water level instrumentation calibration, diagnosis and repair;
- ICA and telemetry fault diagnosis;
- diagnosis and installation of building services such as lighting and power.
Current estimated value for all Lots is put at an estimated £6 million per year in total – the Agency said that the figures are based on previous years' spend and are included for indicative purposes only at this stage.
The Agency also separately intends to appoint a national multi-supplier framework for the provision of complex MEICA projects with individual values up to £250,000.
Suppliers are being asked to respond to the survey no later than Wednesday 2 December 2020 with the formal contract notice expected to be published later in December.
Click here to access the Prior Information Notice