SC19051 - Winter Weather Forecasting

The requirement for Winter Service Weather Forecasting Services is within the Highways, Transportation & Waste (HT&W) division of Kent County Council who have a duty to ensure the effective discharge of the Council's statutory duties and powers as Local Transport & Highway Authority, in particular its duty of care to help ensure safe passage for road users.. HT&W are not responsible for motorways and trunk roads which are maintained by Highways England A bespoke winter road weather forecast is required to enable decision makers to have accurate information to instruct salting action around the county.

Daily forecasts delivered electronically are needed during the winter service period. Winter service activities are costly, but efficiencies can be gained with accurate and timely weather information.

If ice, frost or snow is predicted salting will take place on about 30% of the maintainable network (approximately 2,500Km). More roads will be treated if severe winter weather is expected.

The Winter Service Weather Forecasting Contract is for a daily weather forecasting service during the winter service forecast periods, comprising text and graphical forecasts issued to Vaisala Ltd, together with access to this data via the internet directly to the Provider's web site. All data to be available 24 hours a day during the winter service periods.

Additionally, electronic information is to be compatible to enable the use of appropriate web-based applications used by the County Council as part of its mobile and out of hours working arrangements. The weather forecasting service will be tailored to meet the needs of HT&W over seven climatic domains, plus an additional domain for Medway Council, these domains are shown in the ITT.

Each domain has at least one dedicated weather station forecast site provided and maintained by Vaisala Ltd. The Consultant will also have access to other weather stations in Kent owned and maintained by Highways England. These and the other Kent weather stations are shown in the ITT HT&W are currently conducting a trial of 120 road surface temperature sensors and will be using this information to assist in redefining its domains.

The new domains may be operational by the start of this contract and the Council reserves the right to include these in the contract. The service includes forecasts for Medway The Contract will be the New Engineering Contract (NEC3) Professional Services Contract The Contract is anticipated to commence in June 2020 for 3 years with an option to extend for a further 2 x 12-month period.