Geotechnical engineering services

Description

Transport Scotland has identified a continuing need to appoint a Consultant for the provision of geotechnical certification services to assist in the development of Scottish transport infrastructure projects (“Schemes”). The principal services shall comprise the provision of an independent geotechnical consultancy service for the certification of ground investigations, geotechnical design and other geotechnical activities related to the Scottish Trunk Road network. This shall include both the performance of the service and the provision of advice in relation to the service. In addition the services shall comprise providing advice in relation to technical specifications or publications. Other geotechnical-related services may be required to be undertaken from time to time, including similar services related to railway and other transport infrastructure. Transport Scotland has identified a continuing need to appoint Consultants for the provision of geotechnical certification services to assist in the development of Scottish transport infrastructure projects. This need is best met through the use of a multi-supplier framework agreement which can provide the required flexibility to cover situations where potential conflicts of interest or capacity issues arise. It is intended that services shall be called off from the framework agreement on the basis of supplier ranking (generally to first-ranked, failing whom second, then third), which will be determined as part of the tender evaluation and award process. However, for services of a particular complexity or value Transport Scotland will have the option to run mini-competitions. The framework participants will be procured through a competitive tender procedure, in accordance with the restricted procedure as stated in the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. This is a specialist requirement and as such it is not feasible to divide this requirement into lots. To be considered for this contract, economic operators are required to complete the European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) in accordance with this Contract Notice. Economic operators shall be evaluated in accordance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, on the basis of information they have provided within the ESPD. The services shall comprise the provision of an independent geotechnical consultancy service for the certification of ground investigations, geotechnical design and other geotechnical activities related to the Scottish Trunk Road network. This shall include both the performance of the service and the provision of advice in relation to the service. In addition the services shall comprise providing advice in relation to technical specifications or publications. Other geotechnical-related services may be required to be undertaken from time to time, including similar services related to railway and other transport infrastructure. The principal service of geotechnical certification is defined in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) Technical Memorandum SH 4/89 (DMRB 4.1.7) or any successor thereof. The duties it requires of the appointed Consultants include: liaison with the design organisation; examination of reports and other relevant documentation; familiarisation with the site, site operations and laboratory facilities as appropriate; and when satisfied signing off the specified geotechnical certificates. The following standards apply to geotechnical activities undertaken for Transport Scotland: UK Standards for Highways, specifically: — Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB), — Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW), — Transport Scotland Interim Amendments (TSIA). Eurocodes, specifically: — Eurocode 7 (including UK National Annex), — Eurocode 8 to the extent applicable in the UK, — other Eurocodes to the extent necessary for the understanding and implementation of Eurocodes 7 and 8. BS EN and BS EN ISO standards relating to geotechnical investigation and execution of geotechnical works including earthworks. BS Codes of Practice relating to geotechnical investigation and the design and execution of geotechnical works including earthworks. Other Non-Conflicting Complementary Information (NCCI) relating to geotechnical investigation and the design and execution of geotechnical works including earthworks. It is intended as part of the framework agreement to seek the provision of advice on DMRB Technical Memorandum SH 4/89 itself, potentially leading to the development and issue of a revised procedure during the duration of the framework agreement. It is intended that, if awarded a call-off contract, the Consultant shall be required to perform the duties of a designer under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.