LCKW002 Standish Hospital: Japanese Knotweed Excavation and Management Works 2016

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is the single, national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England. For more information visit www.gov.uk/hca

The HCA ‘holds’ large expanses of land and built estate. The HCA will work with local partners to develop, invest in and dispose of the assets in pursuit of the economic development and regeneration objectives agreed by local partners and in support of local strategies. Whilst these sites help facilitate the delivery of the vision for the organisation, they also bring duties of care, health and safety, trespass and other liabilities and responsibilities. As part of the solution to manage such liabilities the HCA procure Services to undertake routine and emergency activities on its estate. The HCA’s procurement is led by its duty of care in relation to health & safety and building conservation as well as their responsibilities surrounding the economy, environment and society.

The HCA is seeking to appoint a competent Supplier for the provision of Japanese Knotweed Removal Works, installation of Root Barrier and Chemical Spraying for land at Standish Hospital, Stroud.

Nineteen stands of Japanese Knotweed are located on site, with two further stands located in NHS property. Works are required to excavate a number of stands of Japanese Knotweed and remove off-site as Controlled Waste to an authorised landfill. Chemical Treatment (Spraying) is to be undertaken using Glyphosate to remaining stands. It is essential that a competent and qualified person carries out the herbicide treatment. Herbicides shall only be handled and applied by persons holding a valid Certificate of Competence issued under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986. The Supplier will be required to provide the Contract Administrator with copies of the Certificates for each relevant person undertaking spraying activities. Where necessary, the Supplier shall engage a specialist subcontractor to comply with this requirement. A root barrier is to be installed this it to be triple coated, twin reinforced, impermeable polyethylene barrier membrane, buried to 3m.

Suppliers should be members of the Property Care Association (PCA) and/or Invasive Non-Native Specialists Association. Where a Supplier is not a member of the above trade organisations they must provide evidence of accreditation to a commensurate scheme or evidence of a proven track record of experience in Japanese Knotweed Removal Works.

Suppliers will be required to provide Warranties and Guarantees for these Works as detailed in the Invitation to Tender. The minimum level of Public Indemnity & Employers Liability insurance cover needed for this Contract is £10 million and £10 million respectively. Professional Indemnity Insurance of £10 million is required.

The site will be available for viewing during this Tender. Suppliers will be required to visit the site prior to Pricing and will be required to confirm this within the Tender return.

Additional information: Tender return 13.00pm

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Suppliers wishing to tender for HCA contracts which involve physical Works or Services such as construction, demolition or building maintenance, must either be registered and assessed by a prequalification assessment scheme which is a member of SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement), be able to demonstrate membership of an equivalent scheme or complete a Health and Safety Questionnaire. SSIP membership must either already be in place, or be likely to be in place when Tenders are to be returned to the HCA. Therefore, it is recommended that applications should already be submitted when Suppliers submit their Suitability Assessment. Further information on SSIP and details of assessment scheme members can be found on http://www.ssip.org.uk/.

All discussions, meetings and communications will be conducted in English.

The contract will be subject to English law. Tenders and all supporting documents must be priced in GBP and all payments under the contract will be made in GBP.

This procurement and award is subject to the transparency arrangements adopted by the UK Government. Please refer to the Tender Document for further information.

Suppliers are advised that the HCA is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ("The Act"). Please refer to the Tender Document for further information.

The HCA takes a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption and sets high standards of impartiality, integrity and objectivity in relation to the stewardship of public funds and the management of its activities. Please refer to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/anti-bribery-and-corruption-policy for further information.