Tamar Road Bridge Suspension System Remedial Works

The Tamar Road Bridge crosses the River Tamar between the main Towns of Saltash in Cornwall and Plymouth in Devon.

The Bridge is jointly funded by the Local Authorities of Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council and administered on behalf of those Authorities via the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee with Cornwall Council taking the lead role and responsibility for this and the majority of Procurement Activities.

Inspection of hidden critical elements (hanger and cable band bolts) in 2014 and associated laboratory testing in 2015 revealed some anomalies in bolt hardness values.

Some additional sample hardness testing was instructed and undertaken in Summer 2016. This was further extended to full coverage hardness testing in Autumn 2016.

Preliminary results of the full testing exercise have indicated that provision for a programme of bolt replacement is now required. The nature of the proposed replacement works is of a relatively specialist nature and will involve works at height adjacent to live traffic and a waterway. The works are likely to be instructed for priority completion.

In view of the likely mobilisation period and winter working restrictions this is expected to mean a start on site in Spring 2017.

It should be noted that testing works and interpretation are still ongoing at the date of publication of this document and therefore the final scope of the works cannot yet be defined.

As such, it is envisaged that the client will develop and enhance the agreed specification and scope of works in collaboration with a likely maximum of three Contractors to be selected to discuss possibilities and options through a formal Competitive Dialogue Procurement Process, to arrive at an optimum working solution of planned replacement for these key components of the Bridge structure over an agreed period of time.Currently, the range of work may vary from the minimal replacements of bolts, i.e. approximately 20 % out of a total of 1374 bolts, up to full replacement and this is reflected in the estimated value of work, envisaged to be between 2,825 000 and 4,788 000 GBP.

It should be noted that the bolts are located across 120 Hanger locations, spanning the full length of the Bridge, and as such it is envisaged a programme of complete replacement may take between 12 and 18 months.

This opportunity is also being advertised via the Official Journal of the European Union for the same duration.

Additional information: The Joint Authorities intend to use the following objective criteria for selecting the limited number of candidates to take through to the Competitive Dialogue stage of the overall process based around clarity of their capability, availability and agreement on contractual preliminaries. More specifically an expectation that prospective Contractors can meet or demonstrate the following mandatory requirements:

1. An expression of interest confirming willingness to participate in the proposed Competitive Dialogue process for its full duration.
2. Confirmation of suitability of previous experience to undertake such works and a clear understanding of Health and Safety requirements.
3. Confirmation of availability of adequate resources to undertake the works commencing with design and planning in 2017.
4. Contractor's initial views on proposed form of contract, expected to be an appropriate NEC option, tender period, liabilities and insurances to assist with achievement of a short but productive dialogue, tender, and tender assessment periods prior to award.
5. Contractor attendance on site for a half day visit, scheduled to commence at the Bridge Offices at 10am on Wednesday 25th January, 2017, to allow prospective contractors to view the bridge site and some of the more accessible hangar bolts etc.

The Client will select up to three of the contractors considered to be most suitable on the basis of the aforementioned criteria combined with the top scoring three contractors via assessment of their responses to the quality based questions posed within the preliminary Invitation to Tender document.

PLEASE NOTE: The attached Contractor preliminary briefing document attached gives a more detailed explanation of the likely scope of works and the process to be followed but all further electronic information concerning this project and access to the pre-qualifying Invitation to Tender documentation can ONLY be gained via the Supplyingthesouthwest.org.uk portal, wherein this project has the reference DN231976.