5-054 Technical procurement support for Severn Bridges Inspection and Maintenance Contract

This task is to provide technical procurement expertise support to develop and draft the SBIM contract documentation.

SBIM contract development is about to begin and will not only be building on the lessons learnt from AD contracts but also from the experience on the Forth Road and other specialist bridges across the world.

A significant aspect of the programme is to determine the inspection and maintenance requirements which are essential to get sound tenders. Supplier engagement will be key to attracting interest ensuring a suitable and attractive scope, size, value and level of risk transfer. In parallel need to consider the requirements and procurement approach for a suitable asset management system for multi element specialist bridges which is not currently catered for in existing or proposed systems.

The SBIM contract will cover detailed structural inspections, bridge and access system maintenance and repairs together with some modest capital delivery. HE will retain the intelligent asset management role including the ownership of asset data, cyclic and reactive maintenance planning decisions (but not day to day scheduling). The SBIM contract will also include Avonmouth Bridge, as is it another local specialist bridge with similar complex maintenance requirements.

To achieve challenging timescales Highways England requires a high and consistent level of specialist technical advice and services.

Transfer of knowledge to Highways England staff during, and on completion, of this Task Order will be a key requirement to enhance the in-house knowledge and experience for future contract development work.

All project management expertise to be used will be supplied from existing internal resources.