The Coal Authority has gone out to tender with a contract for ground Investigation works across British coalfield areas worth an estimated £6.5 million.

The Coal Authority is looking to put a framework agreement in place for the provision of ground investigation services including:
- boreholes
- rotary drilling
- pits and trenches
- sampling
- in-situ testing
- geophysical testing
- instrumentation and monitoring
- laboratory testing, chemical testing for contaminated ground
- attendance at framework meetings with the Authority
The Coal Authority has a legal duty under the Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991 to repair properties damaged by coal mining subsidence in the five coalfield regions.
Works required under the framework will be located throughout the British coalfield areas which are split across the following five regions.
- Region 1 - Scotland East and West
- Region 2 - Cumbria / Northumberland/ Co. Durham / Durham / Sunderland /Newcastle
- Region 3 - North Wales / Cheshire /Lancashire / Merseyside / North Yorkshire / West Yorkshire
- Region 4 - South Yorkshire /Nottinghamshire / Derbyshire /Leicestershire / Staffordshire /Shropshire / West Midlands /Warwickshire / Herefordshire /Worcestershire
- Region 5 - Somerset / South Gloucestershire / Bristol / South Wales/ Pembrokeshire / North Gloucestershire (Forest of Dean)
There may also be a requirement for ground investigations within Mid Wales for examination of metal mining fields.
A typical Work Order will be for Field Investigatory work, field testing, laboratory testing of samples taken, along with a factual Ground Investigation Report (GIR) to inform the Coal Authority of ground conditions and provide geotechnical parameters to aid the design of ground stabilisation, treatment works to damaged structures or new construction within one of the regions listed above.
The Authority is looking to appoint up to 10 participants to the framework agreement, which will run for 4 years.
Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate is 10 November 2023 – click here to access the tender documentation.


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