Archaeological services

Tender description

The appointment of a suitably experienced economic operator (e.g. an archaeological contractor) to carry out advanced archaeological works for the A9 Dualling – Luncarty to Pass of Birnam scheme. The main objective to be delivered by the appointed economic operator will be to evaluate or mitigate the effect of the scheme on cultural heritage assets. This will include non-invasive and invasive archaeological investigations, mitigation excavations if required, and post-excavation assessment and reporting. Transport Scotland is an agency of the Scottish Government and contracts in the name of and on behalf of the Scottish Ministers. Transport Scotland has identified the requirement to appoint a suitably experienced economic operator to conduct advanced archaeological works for the A9 Dualling – Luncarty to Pass of Birnam scheme. It is intended that the contract will be in place for a period of 26 months. Transport Scotland managed the procurement process for the advanced archaeological works contract (the “Contract”) on behalf of the Scottish Ministers. The contract has been entered into between the Scottish Ministers and the successful tenderer (the “Contractor”). The contract terms and conditions are based on ICC Infrastructure Conditions of Contract for Archaeological Investigation (2011). Each selected economic operator was invited to submit a Tender on the same contract terms. The economic operator was procured through a competitive tender procedure, in accordance with the restricted procedure as stated in the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Due to the specialist archaeological expertise required for this project, it is to be performed by a single contractor and as such was not divided into lots. To be considered for this contract economic operators were required to complete the European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) in accordance with the Contract Notice. Economic operators were evaluated in accordance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, on the basis of information they provided within their ESPD. Requirement. The requirement for advanced archaeological works is evaluated in the Environmental Statement (ES) for Scottish Trunk Road schemes. It was identified in the cultural heritage chapter and the Schedule of Environmental Commitments in the A9 Dualling — Luncarty to Pass of Birnam Environmental Statement (ES) that advanced archaeological works would be required for the scheme. These works are required to investigate, evaluate, and mitigate the effect of the scheme on cultural heritage assets and are to be carried out prior to construction of the main works. The services shall include, but shall not be limited to, non-invasive and invasive archaeological investigations, and post-excavation assessment, analysis, reporting and publication. The non-invasive archaeological investigations shall include; Historic Building Photographic Surveys, and Earthwork Surveys (including photographic earthwork survey). The invasive archaeological investigations shall include; trial trenching, post-fieldwork assessment, analysis, reporting, and mitigation works if required (likely to be set-piece excavation).