ABP Lock Gates Framework

Associated British Ports (ABP) is the UK’s largest ports group with 21 ports across the UK, providing essential gateways for trade and enabling the green infrastructure essential for the UK’s energy transition. ABP directly employs over 2,000 individuals across the UK and handles approximately a quarter of the country’s seaborne trade.

ABP intends to procure a new Lock Gates Framework to support the design, supply, installation and commissioning of lock gates across its ports.

Lock gates are critical operational assets for ABP, underpinning the safe, reliable movement of vessels and the ongoing resilience of our infrastructure. Through this framework, ABP is seeking to establish a robust, long-term delivery model that enables both planned renewals and reactive interventions, while securing value for money and maintaining high standards of quality and safety.

Indicative Framework Scope

(Final scope to be informed by market engagement)

The Framework is expected to cover a comprehensive range of services associated with the delivery, refurbishment and ongoing maintenance of lock gate assets across ABP’s UK port estate. This may include, but is not limited to:

Typical Asset Parameters

Indicative lock gate sizes across ABP’s estate are expected to be in the order of up to approximately 15m wide by 13m high per leaf, although this may vary by location and asset type.

The scope is intended to support both planned capital renewals and reactive interventions across the asset lifecycle. The final scope and structure of the Framework will be refined following market engagement and internal governance processes.

Description of the Procurement

The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (UK2) is to notify the market of ABP’s intention to explore the future procurement of a Lock Gates Framework and to engage with capable suppliers at an early stage.

The engagement is intended to support the informed development of the proposed procurement by:

• Increasing market awareness of the anticipated framework opportunity.
• Understanding supplier capability, capacity, and delivery constraints.
• Ensuring the proposed procurement approach is proportionate, accessible, and capable of attracting effective competition, including from SMEs.

Supplier input will be used to help shape ABP’s procurement and commercial strategy ahead of any decision to proceed with a formal procurement process.