Collaborative Delivery Framework

Internet address(es):

Main address: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency

Address of the buyer profile: www.defra.bravosolution.co.uk

Collaborative Delivery Framework

The Environment Agency is seeking Delivery Partners to collaboratively work with to provide or arrange for the provision of services (either itself or through its supply chain) to deliver (or the management of the provision or delivery through its supply chain) a programme of capital investment and improvement works for flood defence assets (both fixed and active) that delivers sustainable, best value outcomes across nominated geographical areas.

— Lot 1: Professional Services,

— Lot 2: Programme Delivery.

Both lots will be split into 6 geographical areas and will operate within local collaborative delivery teams. Tenderers will only be permitted to win a maximum of 2 geographical areas. Further detail available in the Selection Questionnaire.

Professional Services

National.

The Environment Agency is seeking delivery partners to collaboratively work with to provide or arrange for the provision of services (either itself or through its supply chain) to deliver (or the management of the provision or delivery through its supply chain) a programme of capital investment and improvement works for flood defence assets (both fixed and active) that delivers sustainable, best value outcomes across nominated geographical areas.

The Environment Agency is seeking a solution that ensures sustainability is embedded into all aspects of the services provided and to work with suppliers who share our ambition to be industry leading in relation to sustainable and innovative asset management.

Working with the Environment Agency as part of a Collaborative Delivery Team, it is anticipated that the consultants role may include (but is not limited to):

— Appraisal and design of capital works for fixed and active assets which may include (but is not limited to): asset replacement, refurbishment, and capital maintenance works,

— Asset structural condition inspections and structural intrusive surveys,

— Design and consultancy services,

— Project appraisal services,

— Economic appraisal,

— Engineering surveys and other investigations,

— Environmental and engineering design of works,

— Environmental assessment,

— Design of compensatory habitat creation schemes,

— Design of public amenity and environmental enhancements,

— Computational modelling,

— Reservoir inspection (in accordance with the Reservoirs Act 1975),

— Incident management support,

— Asset management,

— Programme and schedule management,

— Project management,

— Project execution,

— Spend forecasting,

— Supply chain management,

— Commercial management,

— Risk management,

— Safety management,

— Quality control,

— Document and data management, and

— Development of the forward programme beyond the framework duration.

The form of contracts used under the framework between the Environment Agency and suppliers will be based on the NEC4 Framework Contract, and call off contracts based on NEC4 Professional Services Contract, and Engineering Construction Contract with appropriate amendments to encompass the scope and nature of the Consultant’s role. Further information regarding the scope of the Collaborative Delivery Framework is set out in the Selection Questionnaire and Invitation to Tender documents.

The initial term of the framework will be 4 years with an option, subject to the successful supplier's performance during the initial term and on-going need by the Environment Agency to extend for a further period of up to 4 years; making a total maximum framework term of 8 years.

Minimum of 4 suppliers per geographic area and no less than 8 different suppliers in total. Further detail available in the Selection Questionnaire.

The framework itself is not subject to European Union funding, but it is possible that some Works and Services called off under the arrangement may receive European Union funding.

Programme Delivery

National.

The Environment Agency is seeking Delivery Partners to collaboratively work with to provide or arrange for the provision of services (either itself or through its supply chain) to deliver (or the management of the provision or delivery through its supply chain) a programme of capital investment and improvement works for flood defence assets (both fixed and active) that delivers sustainable, best value outcomes across nominated geographical areas.

The Environment Agency is seeking a solution that ensures sustainability is embedded into all aspects of the services provided and to work with suppliers who share our ambition to be industry leading in relation to sustainable and innovative asset management.

Working with the Environment Agency as part of a Collaborative Delivery Team, it is anticipated that the contractors role may include (but is not limited to):

— Appraisal and design of capital works for fixed and active assets which may include (but is not limited to): asset replacement, refurbishment, and capital maintenance works,

— Asset structural condition inspections and structural intrusive surveys,

— Site investigations,

— Construction engineering works,

— Coastal works,

— Incident management support,

— Design and consultancy services,

— Project appraisal services,

— Engineering surveys and other investigations,

— Environmental and engineering design of works,

— Environmental assessment,

— Design, construction and management of compensatory habitat creation schemes,

— Design and implementation of public amenity and environmental enhancements,

— Soft landscaping implementation and maintenance (at the Environment Agency's option),

— Asset management,

— Programme and schedule management,

— Project management,

— Project execution,

— Spend forecasting,

— Supply chain management,

— Commercial management,

— Risk management,

— Safety management,

— Quality control,

— Document and data management, and

— Development of the forward programme beyond the framework duration.

At the Environment Agency's option, the contractor may also be required to provide and deliver (or manage the provision and delivery through its supply chain) operation and maintenance services for the fixed and active capital assets falling within the Environment Agency Programme.

The form of contracts used under the framework between the Environment Agency and suppliers will be based on the NEC4 Framework Contract, and call off contracts based on NEC4 Professional Services Contract, and Engineering Construction Contract with appropriate amendments to encompass the scope and nature of the Contractor’s role. Further information regarding the scope of the Collaborative Delivery Framework is set out in the Selection Questionnaire and Invitation to Tender documents.

The initial term of the framework will be 4 years with an option, subject to the successful supplier's performance during the initial term and on-going need by the Environment Agency to extend for a further period of up to 4 years; making a total maximum framework term of 8 years.

Minimum of 4 suppliers per geographic area and no less than 8 in total. Further detail available in the Selection Questionnaire.

The Framework itself is not subject to European Union funding, but it is possible that some Works and Services called off under the arrangement may receive European Union funding.

Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded:

The Environment Agency is open to receiving Expressions of Interest from Consortia, Joint Ventures, Strategic Alliances and other such arrangements, however, we would require such organisations to form a single legal entity to contract with prior to the award of the contract. For the avoidance of doubt the Environment Agency does not require a legal entity to be formed for the purposes of tendering.

Submission of expressions of interest and procurement specific information: This exercise shall be conducted using the Environment Agency's eSourcing portal provided by Bravo Solutions. Candidates shall only be considered by registering their expression of interest on our portal at www.defra.bravosolutions.co.uk

— Click on the “register now” link and then Register Free on the portal. Login to the portal with the username/password then find this opportunity in the Search Latest Opportunities area and

— Click on the relevant hyperlink relating to this contract. Those published in this area are opportunities open to any registered supplier.

Requests to participate must be made by completing and returning a selection questionnaire by the date and time specified in Section IV.2.2 and in accordance with the instructions set out in the selection questionnaire. Completed selection questionnaires submitted after the deadline may not be considered. The selection questionnaire will be made available to potential providers who have registered their interest.

Section II.1.5: The estimated framework value of GBP 1 500 000 000 is the estimated value over the full 8 year duration. The estimated framework value for the first 4 years is GBP 410 000.

Section IV.2.3: The date for issue of invitation to tender documents is provisional and may be subject to change.

Right to Cancel: The Environment Agency reserves the right to discontinue the procurement process at any time, which shall include the right not to award a contract, and does not bind itself to accept the lowest tender, or any tender received, and reserves the right to award the contract in part, or to call for new tenders should it consider this necessary.

Other contracting authorities: This framework is primarily intended to meet the needs of the Environment Agency. The Agency may require the successful bidder(s) to provide the goods/services on the same terms that are agreed as a result of this tender to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and to its associated bodies including any Agencies and non-departmental public bodies and others (the Defra Group). The Environment Agency may also require the provision of the goods/services to members of the aforementioned Defra Group via the Environment Agency, rather than directly. A full list of the Defra Group can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations#department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs

The successful bidder(s) may also be required to provide the services to local authorities in England and Wales. Details may be found at: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

The successful bidder(s) may also be required to provide the services to Internal Drainage Boards in England and Wales. A full list may be found at:

http://www.ada.org.uk/member_type/idbs/

Similarly, the successful bidder(s) may be required to supply the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, Forestry Commission Scotland, or Forestry Service Northern Ireland.

The successful bidder(s) may also be required to provide the services to Central Government departments, executive agencies, and other NDPBs. Full lists can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/public-bodies

In no circumstances will the Environment Agency be liable for any costs incurred by the Applicants/Tenderers and their associated parties. Any expenditure, work or effort undertaken prior to contract award is accordingly a matter solely for the commercial judgment of potential Applicants and the Environment Agency will not be responsible for any such expenditure.

The Authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar days standstill period following electronic notification (minimum of 15 calendar days for any other means of communication) to unsuccessful applicants of the award decision. Applicants who are unsuccessful shall be informed by the Authority as soon as possible after the decision has been made as to the reasons why the Applicant was unsuccessful.

The Environment Agency expressly reserves the right:

(i) not to award or enter into any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by the publication of this notice;

(ii) to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering competition;

(iii) to award one or more public contract(s) in relation to part only of the requirements covered by this notice; and/or

(iv) to award a contract(s) in stages.