Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2020-09-01
Buyer: Natural Resources Wales
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Open procedure
CPV classification: 45111220 | 45111240 | 70332100
Estimated value: 10000000 GBP
Submission deadline: 2020-10-01
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Framework for National Peatland Action Programme and Pen y Cymoedd Habitat Management Plan Restoration Works
Natural Resources Wales is planning to undertake a pan-Wales programme of peatland management, focusing initially on the hydrological restoration of damaged, degraded lowland and upland and post-felling bogs, this requirements will be largely delivered by low ground pressure excavators undertaking operations such as ditch-blocking, gully blocking, low elevation bunding and ground smoothing. Vegetation management is also required to achieve the anticipated outcomes which will include felling of trees using chainsaws/clearing saws and strimming or mowing other target species.
NRW is looking to establish a 4-year framework with suppliers to provide the above services. The tender will be split into four lots:
Each lot will be split into four, smaller sublots based on NRW operational boundaries across Wales. These geographical sublots will cover: North Wales, Mid-Wales, South Wales and Pen y Cymoedd in Neath Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taff.
Bidders may bid for any number of regional sublots within each lot, but will only be appointed for a maximum of two. Bidders will be asked which two regional sublots they prefer. If a supplier is successful under their two preferred regional sublots, they will not be appointed under further ones. If a supplier is unsuccessful under one or both of their preferred regional sublots, they may still be successful under others. NRW may make an exception to this rule in the instance that it is not possible to appoint the full number of suppliers under a regional sublot without appointing suppliers who are also appointed under two others.
These works are required to reinstate the hydrological function of the remnant bog features on the sites to which they will be applied. Bogs are essentially low-flow hydrological systems, so any drainage infrastructure installed for afforestation or erosion features naturally occurring or man-made, increase water flow off the bog and therefore lead to degradation of the underlying peat. Restoration of the natural hydrological conditions will reinstate blanket bog functionality and reverse the processes of erosion and re-establish peat forming conditions. Techniques and operations for restoring other native habitats included in the Pen-y-Cymoedd Habitat Management Plan will be undertaken off this FWA using the same machinery types as required to deliver the above works.
This lot is split into four regional sublots: North Wales, Mid Wales, South Wales and Pen-y-Cymoedd (which is located in the Neath Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taff local authority areas).
This lot is for the skilful manipulation of peat and other wetland soil types with tracked excavators for a range of restoration techniques, including raising and stabilising water levels, re-vegetating of bare peat, stopping peat erosion and cutting of dominant vegetation on Welsh Peatlands. The methods proposed primarily relate to unforested upland blanket bog and lowland bogs and fens.
This framework will cover physical removal of scrub and unwanted vegetation from peatland site across Wales. Works may be required on all the project sites that are environmentally sensitive and are legally protected at a National and European level for their wildlife interest. These sites may include, but are not limited to: National Nature Reserves, Welsh Government Woodland Estate, third sector and local authority land and privately owned land (with access and permissions agreed by NRW).
This lot is split into three regional areas (excluding Pen-y-Cymoedd, which has slightly different work outlined in lot 4): North, Mid and South Wales.
Pen-y-Cymoedd, which covers an area centred on Pen-y-Cymoedd wind farm, close to the Rhigos and incorporates areas in Neath Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taff.
These restoration works are part of a Section 106 Planning Condition as mitigation for the development of the Pen-y-Cymoedd windfarm.
Lot 4 is focused on the delivery of tree felling, strimming and general, manual vegetation management on restoration sites either prior to or following the hydrological restoration operations detailed in lot 2.
(iii) Once you have expressed interest, the ITT will move to ‘My ITTs,’ where you can view the opportunity and download the documentation and where you can construct your reply as instructed. You must then publish your reply using the publish button.
(iv) For any support in submitting your expression of interest, please contact the eTendering helpdesk on 08000112470 or at help@bravosolution.co.uk.

Eligibility requirements: Please refer to tender documents.

Award value: 10000000