The Environment Agency has started the early engagement process to procure a Construction Partner for the £501 million River Thames Scheme to reduce the flood risk for 11,000 homes and 1,600 businesses in communities along the river.
The Environment Agency (EA) and Surrey County Council, through a collaboration partnership, have issued an invitation to express interest for potential suppliers to participate in a market engagement exercise for the Scheme, which has been designated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP).
The Agency are looking to bring on board a Construction Partner - the current project programme is aiming to initiate procurement in autumn of 2022.
The market engagement process takes place in five Phases 1 to Phase 5 prior to the start of the formal procurement process.
The EA has already developed outline design proposals and an initial procurement and contract strategy for the delivery phases of the River Thames Scheme, which will involve a range of works to reduce flood risk from the River Thames between Egham Hythe, Staines and Teddington weir.
The Agency intends to test the strategy and the outline design proposals through Phase 1, 2 and 3 of the Market Engagement whilst undertaking the Environmental Impact Assessment and preparing for the consenting process.
The current project programme intends to publish a contract notice and the tender documents in the autumn of 2022 with contract award anticipated in summer 2024.
The EA and Surrey County Council are now seeking feedback from the supply chain to help shape the current strategy, design, contracting and risk management proposals to ensure delivery in the most efficient and effective way.
Up to July 2020, the RTS included a flood channel in three sections but, following confirmation of the funding position, channel section 1 is now removed. The scope of the Construction Partner Contract and main works include the detailed design and construction of new flood channel built in 2 channel sections:
The market engagement exercise will be carried out in phases from July 2021 to Autumn 2022- each phase will have a different focus as follows:
Phase 1 Strategy Testing (July - December 2021): This phase will test and seek market feedback on procurement and contract strategy and current commercial approach;
Phase 2 Tier 2 and SME engagement (August 2021 - Jan 2022): This is a targeted engagement event to receive feedback from Tier 2 and SME's in the NEC scope planning and risk approach;
Phase 3 Design, scope and site information (April - September 2022) : An opportunity for the market to review outline design proposals, survey information, summary of constraints, construction planning, site information etc. that will become part of the NEC ECC Scope;
Phase 4 Contract Testing (February - May 2022: This phase will test and seek market feedback on the draft contract, contract risk allocation, incentive model etc;
Phase 5 tender briefing (November 2022): This phase will provide an overview of the tender process and tender requirements prior to issuing the formal contract notice and tender documents.
Defra and HM Treasury approved the outline business case (OBC) and funding for the scheme in June 2021.
Click here to download the EOI documentation