The Environment Agency has gone out to tender with a £12m river maintenance contract lasting up to four years to support its flood risk management programmes across the North West, Yorkshire and North East of England.

The Agency is looking to appoint up to twenty suppliers to the framework contract - Northern Rivers Corridor Maintenance Services. The framework is for the provision of river corridor maintenance services, including incident response support, covering work on raised flood banks, river banks and in channel works.

Services will include vegetation and weed control; invasive species management; pest control; treeworks; minor landscaping and other related services.

The suppliers will be appointed to provide range of vegetation maintenance, arboreal, small scale landscaping and pest control services to support the Environment Agency flood risk management programmes across the North West, Yorkshire and North East of England.

The Agency said the contract will cover a rich diversity of urban and rural landscapes and require contractors to work in or near water courses, open water and coastal areas.

While the Framework is predominantly to supply the Environment Agency, suppliers may also be required to supply services directly to Natural England and other partner organisations under the same terms and conditions.

The estimated spend is between £8 million to £12 million – with an Environment Agency proviso that the figures are estimated based on historic data and “may fluctuate on the basis of operational need, government funding regimes or take up by other government clients.”

The framework, which is divided into 13 Lots,  will be awarded for an initial period of 24 months with the option of two further 12 month extension periods.