Highways consultancy services

Tender description

Appointment of suitably qualified and experienced organisation(s) by TfW to act as the authority's site representative (ASR) and to monitor and report on the construction of the A465 (Sections 5 and 6) upgrade which is being undertaken via a mutual investment model (MIM). The highways project will complete the dualling of the A465 between Abergavenny and Hirwaun by upgrading the 17.7 km length of the A465 between Dowlais Top and Hirwaun (Sections 5 and 6) and providing a number of grade separated junctions. The A465 will, primarily, be dualled by widening the existing A465 trunk road, except for a 2 km length at the western end of the scheme between Trewaun roundabout and Rhigos roundabout where a new length of the A465 will be built to the south of the existing road. TfW wishes to procure the services for the authority's site representative (ASR) Team for the Welsh Government highways improvement project covering Sections 5 and 6 of the A465 trunk road, a 17.7 km length of the route between Dowlais Top and Hirwaun. The existing three-lane single carriageway will be upgraded to a 70 mph dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction and grade-separated junctions. This will complete the dualling of the entire A465 from Abergavenny to Hirwaun. The efficient and effective contract management of a mutual investment model (MIM) standard form contract by the public sector is a crucial element to the success of a MIM ensuring that the public interest is maintained and best value secured. The scope of the ASR is to provide sufficient technical and management resource to oversee, monitor and review the preferred bidder’s early detailed design output, to monitor early works/services output in relation to environmental statement, made orders, agree variations that may be required as part of the proposed technical solution to the delivery of the A465 Section 5 and 6 scheme and generally to lead on the provision of professional advice as required in briefing ministers, assembly members, senior Management, government business and other divisions on matters related to the MIM project. The ASR roles encompass a number of commercial, highways, technical, structures and design roles, some of which will be full-time and commence prior to anticipated financial close with the preferred bidder, whilst other roles will be phased in, be a mixture of full- and part-time and be a mixture of site and off-site roles. Post-financial close the ASR will provide assurance to the Welsh Government that the Project is being delivered in accordance with the MIM contract requirements by monitoring the design and construction works on site and report to TfW/Welsh Government Transport on progress of the project, issue non-conformance reports monitor and review the same. The ASR will also be required to recommend actions in relation to management and supervision of the works and restricted services that the authority’s representative is required to undertake in accordance with the project agreement, provide reports to WG to enable payment to be made against the annual service payment, noting any financial adjustments to be made according to the MIM contract payment mechanism and other price adjustment measures and review key design data on behalf of the Welsh Government as Highways Authority for trunk roads. It is anticipated that approximately 15.0 FTE ASR resources and specialists will be required for an estimated period of 5 years commencing in Sept 2020 (as close to preferred bidder stage as possible) and, subsequently, for the whole duration of the construction period which is currently anticipated to be four and a half years.