Creation of new Natural Municipal Park at Bridgefield, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent

Contract No. BRG/16/2

Scope:

Ashford Borough Council (ABC) is looking to appoint a Principal Contractor to provide and project manage works to deliver a new natural municipal park in South Ashford 7.25 hectare landscape scheme positioned between Rutledge Avenue and Cheeseman’s Green Lane in South Ashford.

The scheme comprises of major earthworks, a new bridge, new paths, a large play area, street furniture, signage, parking spaces, wetland scrapes, viewing decks, amenity grassland, wildflower meadows, fencing, gates, art features, tree planting and a community orchard. The land is located at the edge of a residential development and borders low lying agricultural land which is crossed by a dyke with seasonal wetland. Given that the site is in the floodplain, a considerable amount of the site is wet from late November – April/May. The soil is a fine and fertile silty clay which drains reasonably well during dry spells but often lies wet in winter due to a high water table. It was former arable land, now reverted to rough grass with trees and hedges around some of the periphery.

Ashford Borough Council have appointed BDP (a major international practice of architects, designers, engineers and urbanists) to design the park and play area, produce the specification and tender documents, in conjunction with ABC and to oversee the Principal Contractor on site.
It is understood that in areas of specialist work the Principal Contractor will look to subcontract those works as required. It envisaged that the Principal Contractor will have the capacity to deliver this project by October 2017 with the play area, footbridge and path works completed by the end of July 2017 in time for the school summer holidays.

Note: the area sits within a flood plain and on a high water table. Delivering the project whilst ensuring quality of work and materials are fit for purpose will be key to the success of this project.

Description of works:

(Please refer to the Design and Access statements in the first instance to understand the full scope of the project within the red line area submitted to Planning at ABC. Please note the growing area outside the red area but shown in the drawings is not included in these works)

The works will include the following items:

• Supply and installation of a new large play area. It is expected that the main focal multi-play unit will be of bespoke design to complement the core themes of iron age, water and nature to run through the play area design.
• Landscaping to consist of earth movements to change levels. Construction of new water features including scrapes, a back water and formation of new secondary water channel.
• Supply and installation of new porous pathways in asphalt and hoggin
• Supply and installation of a new footbridge to include earthworks to the bank to secure the footbridge
• Supply and installation of fencing and gates
• Supply and installation of car parking spaces
• Supply and installation of a new community orchard
• Formation of a new conservation area to include grazing
• Tree planting including the supply of the trees
• Please note this list is not exhaustive – please refer to the Design and Access statement for full details.

Note: ABC works with various different partner organisations including Kent Wildlife Trust, Kentish Stour Countryside Partnership, The Environment Agency and Kingsnorth Parish Council. These agencies plus other stakeholders are integral to this particular project as the management of the park will be delivered by stakeholders and partners once the main infrastructural work is completed.

Expressions of Interest:

The attention of interested parties is drawn to the aim of this notice, namely to compile a shortlist of candidates (5 No.) selected on the basis of the information provided in response to the attached Suitability Assessment Questionnaire. It does not guarantee an invitation to tender.
Suitability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ):

Constructionline registered;
If you are already a member of Constructionline (a register of pre-qualified contractors and consultants) or become Constructionline registered prior to the SAQ deadline, you can provide us with your registration number and brief company details (Section 1.1 on the SAQ attached) then skip the core questions and go straight to the project specific supplementary questions at the end of PS-Q1 to PS-Q6. Please ensure that your supplier profile contains the relevant work category of Civil Engineering 45200000-9 or Landscape Sport Facilities and Playgrounds (Partnering) 45112720-8

Not Constructionline registered;
Contractors who are not Constructionline registered, and do not wish to do so, will be required to complete the attached SAQ in fully and supply all requested supporting information.

ALL CONTRACTORS WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE Section 1.1 - Constructionline Registration Status and Section PS-Q1 to PS-Q6 Project Specific Questions in the attached SAQ and return as part of your expression of interest by the date detailed below.

SAQ Evaluation:
Constructionline's selection process and responses to the questionnaires will be used to draw up a shortlist of no less than 5 potential suppliers who will then be invited to tender. Potential suppliers will need to achieve a minimum score of 60% for the Project Specific Questions to be considered further. The suppliers who attain the five highest scores will be shortlisted for tender. Other questions within the SAQ may be marked on a PASS/FAIL basis and a supplier maybe excluded for the process if a fail is scored. A credit check will be undertaken on company accounts, and additional checks on Health and Safety Policies, etc. as detailed in the SAQ will also be undertaken

Contract Award:
The work will be awarded to the supplier who submits the Most Economically Advantageous Tender. The tender will be evaluated 50%/50% Price/Quality

Form of Contract:
NEC3: Engineering and Construction Contract Option A: Priced contract with activity schedule

Documents attached;
- Design and Access statement for full details.
- Suitability Assessment Questionnaire
- Suitability Assessment Questionnaire Guidance

Suitability Assessment Questionnaire Return:
In order to be considered please ensure your completed SAQ along with any supporting documentation is returned by e:mail to procurement@ashford.gov.uk by 12 Noon on Friday 16th December 2016

Timetable:
Advert placed: 2nd December 2016
Suitability Assessment Questionnaire Return: 12 Noon on 16th December 2016
Evaluation of submissions: 16th December 2016 onwards
Issue of Tender documents: Mid January 2017
Contract Award: Mid/End February 2017
Start date: Mid March 2017
End Date: End August 2017

Notes:
1) Please register your interest through the South East Business Portal - we will use these registration details to inform you of any amendments, or items of clarifications.
2) Please be aware that you need to download the documents attached to this advert and submit your SAQ by the due date. Your registration of interest will NOT be used to issue you the SAQ
3) When submitting your SAQ, please keep additional marketing materials to a minimum
4) The "Last Date for Expressing Interest" detailed at the beginning of this notice, is the last date for submitting your SAQ.
5) The start/end dates in this notice are indicative only, and will be agreed with the successful contractor

Further Information:
If you have any queries please contact Simon Harris on (01233) 330232 or by e:mail simon.harris@ashford.gov.uk