RTS announces construction partner opportunity

The Environment Agency and Surrey County Council have alerted suppliers to a future opportunity to be construction partner on the River Thames Scheme (RTS).

Before officially commencing procurement for the construction partner, the RTS is carrying out additional market engagement to seek feedback on its procurement programme and proposed commercial model.

The scheme is asking for opinions on areas such as tender timescales, contract clauses, incentivisation mechanism and risk allocation to help it finalise its procurement strategy.

Focused on an area between Teddington in Greater London and Egham in Surrey, the RTS will deliver more than five miles (8km) of new flood channels to protect more than 11,000 homes and 1,600 businesses. It will also improve existing river structures and create new public green spaces, wildlife habitats, and cycle and footpaths.

The selected partner will lead the construction of the two new channel sections, the first at Runnymede, between Egham Hythe and Chertsey, and the second in Spelthorne, running from Laleham to Shepperton.

Other works include improving the existing weirs at Molesey, Teddington and Sunbury, increasing capacity near the Desborough Cut (an engineered channel dug near Shepperton in the 1930s), utility diversion works, landscaping and earthworks including excavation, logistics and disposal of material.

The estimated date of the contract notice is 29 September.

For more details, please go to the Gov.UK Find a Tender announcement.

Organisations interested in taking part in the market engagement exercise should email the RTS Commercial team at RTS_Commercial@environment-agency.gov.uk by 16 August 2023.