Whiteknights Reservoir - Works in the Interest of Safety

Reading Borough Council is seeking an experienced contractor to undertake safety works to the reservoir embankment crest and downstream slope along Whiteknights Road on the allotment side, to withstand the probable maximum flood (PMF). The existing highway drainage which discharges into the existing ditch at the toe of the existing embankment is to be diverted through new pipework and connected to the reservoir culvert outlet further downstream in the Care Home grounds.

The existing allotment embankment is to be stabilised using gabion baskets and then filled and re-graded to new levels before a masonry clad reinforced concrete wall is constructed along the crest. The wall, which also acts as a vehicle restraint system, will channel any probable flood water towards the existing auxiliary spillway through the Care Home grounds at the west end.

The Contractor will be required to undertake the following elements of work: Allotment Embankment – Activities associated with excavation and filling of the existing ditch, construction of 46m length of gabion baskets along the toe from the Care Home boundary in an easterly direction and the subsequent filling / re-grading of the allotment embankment to a new slope profile, including cutting in benches. Flood wall – Activities associated with the construction of a 73m long reinforced concrete flood wall, with masonry cladding, following the back of the footpath alignment, to help direct flood water towards the existing Care Home auxiliary spillway.

Thi s wall also acts as a vehicle restraint at the top of the embankment. Upgrade drainage system – Activities associated with the connection of existing highway gullies to a new positively drained system connecting to the reservoir culvert outlet.

Improvements to toe drain –Activities associated with infilling the existing drainage ditch and installation of a new toe drain to the full length of the embankment, to be connected to the improved highway drainage system Footpath reinstatement –Activities associated with the reconstruction and widening of the existing footpath to 2m adjacent to the flood wall, tapered at either end. The contract value is expected to be in the region of £350k - £450k Additional information: The procurement exercise will be conducted in accordance with the information contained in the procurement documents.

The contracting authority does not bind itself to enter into any contract as a result of the publication of this notice and will not, under any circumstances, have any liability for any costs any person responding to this notice incurs in any part of the tender process. The services are to be procured under an open procedure and organisations interested in expressing an interest should download the procurement documents which are available on the Council's e-tendering system at: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/readingbc (Project Reference No. RBC 00000048 refers), and complete as instructed.

The Portal is free of charge - to register please follow the supplier registration guidance which is available on the Portal. The deadline for return of the tender is Monday 11 April 2016 at 12.00 hours.

Please note: you must register your interest via the Council's e-tendering portal if you intend to submit a tender. Interested parties must log onto the Council's e-tendering portal at: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/readingbc, to express an interest and download the procurement documents.

All communications regarding this procurement exercise will be conducted through the Council's e-tendering portal including requests for clarifications or general enquiries. The procurement documents will be available for download up until the closing time and date for tender submissions, it is the organisation's responsibility to ensure that they download the documents in ample time to ensure that they can be completed and returned electronically, along with supporting documents, prior to the closing time and date stipulated.

Before completing the tender, potential providers/suppliers should ensure that the e-mail address that has been used to register their organisation will be checked regularly as the Council's e-tendering system will generate automatic notifications to this e-mail address when there are updates, changes or messages sent relating to the project. Potential bidders should also check that their organisation's details are correct and kept up to date. Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No https://in-tendhost.co.uk/readingbc/aspx/