Natural Resources Wales has revised the value of its current consultancy services framework up from £11.25 million to £15 million, citing the need for the modification as “brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority/entity could not foresee.”

The environmental regulator for Wales first awarded its Next Generation Consultancy Services Framework Agreement 2021-2024 back in 2021, when the contract was awarded to two companies - Black & Veatch Ltd - now known as Binnies UK Ltd and Ove Arup & Partners.

The contract term, which originally been 36 months, has also been extended by a further four months to 40 months in total.

NRW undertakes a range of civil engineering works – its design and construction works include:

• Flood risk management capital schemes and capital maintenance/repair of flood defence structures on main rivers and coastal areas.
• Reservoirs Act (1975) compliance projects.
• Hydrometric and telemetry assets construction and capital maintenance/repair.
• Habitat management and creation and environmental land and water remediation.

Services the companies are required to provide under the framework include:

• Undertaking project feasibility and other studies;
• Mapping and hydraulic modelling of varying scales and flood risk sources;
• Reservoir flood study;
• Flood consequences assessment;
• Geotechnical advice and assessment;
• Design civil engineering, structural engineering, MEICA and associated works for construction
• Advice on project sustainability and the sustainable management of natural resources;

The need for the modification has been brought about "by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority/entity could not foresee", NRW explained, commenting:

.“The framework value is being increased due to difficulties in recruitment, and other market factors, across the flood risk sector as a whole, resulting in more expenditure than anticipated which has inflated the Framework spend beyond its original estimates.”

NRW added that the framework had also been extended for 4 months to minimise operational risk when the new framework should be in place.