Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferries Technical Support Contract

The Tamar Bridge forms a vital link across the Tamar estuary between the town of Saltash in Cornwall and the City of Plymouth in Devon. The crossing is jointly owned by Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council who operate the toll bridge.

The Tamar Bridge is managed with the Tamar Ferries crossing at Torpoint by a committee of the Joint Councils. Tolls are amended via toll revision orders and the increases in tolls are not linked to inflation.

The Tamar Bridge is a suspension bridge with a total length of 642m with a main span of 335m, the deck level being approximately 40m above the River Tamar. The bridge carries a daily average of 50,000 vehicles.

The bridge was opened in 1961 and at the time of opening was the longest suspension bridge in the UK. The bridge was strengthened and widened between 1999 and 2002.

Detailed inspections are undertaken on a quarterly basis along with inspections to comply with the requirements of BD 63/07. The Joint Councils seek to appoint a suitably and demonstrably experienced and accredited organisation to undertake annual structural bridge inspections, to undertake bespoke inspection activities as required, to advise on the occasional passage of abnormal loads and to provide design and other technical advice and support related to the ongoing maintenance of the Bridge, including the preparation of maintenance works contracts and assisting in the preparation of tender documentation, providing impartial evaluation of tendered bids and providing ongoing contract management support, as may be necessary, in relation to key maintenance and repair contracts, as may be awarded to third party contractors.

There is also a requirement to undertake the role of Principal Designer, under the 2015 CDM regulations and to carry out inspections on the counterweight towers of the Torpoint Ferries, along with more general inspections of the Torpoint Ferries Civils infrastructure. The intention is to let an initial four year contract, commencing from January, 2016, with an option for extending the contract by up to a further two years, in one year increments.

The indicative value range, over the maximum possible anticipated life of the contract of 6 years, is estimated to be between £500,000 - £1,500,000. Whilst the details of potential expenditure are given in good faith, as a guide to assist Tenderers in submitting their Tenders, they are not an undertaking on behalf of the Joint Authority to purchase the Services to this or any other particular value and shall not create a binding obligation unless specifically stated within the Contract.