Vegetation Clearance - Northern Quarter Cinderford

As part of the progression of the Homes and Communities Agency's plans for the regeneration of the Cinderford Northern Quarter in Gloucestershire, a package of vegetation clearance is to be undertaken at the site. The site comprises a mixture of dense forest, open grassland and vegetated high ground. Due to the presence of Great Crested Newts (GCN) and a variety of other reptiles at the site, a trapping and translocation programme has been undertaken to facilitate the vegetation clearance works.

As part of this initial trapping and translocation contract external semi-permanent perimeter GCN exclusion fence, internal compartment GCN exclusion fence, pitfall traps, refugia tiles and steel access channels, in accordance with defined licensing agreements, have been established to facilitate the vegetation clearance works.

The work comprises the felling and clearance of mature trees and scrub vegetation over an area of approximately 8.9 Hectares, construction of 4No. mitigation ponds and the creation of log piles and hibernacula and basking bank areas on site. All works areas will require advanced detailed scrutiny by the Employer’s ecologist team to ensure the areas to be felled and cleared are free of protected species insofar as possible before the works commences. The checks will be undertaken daily.

All vegetation clearance works will be undertaken within the area cleared of protected species, and access will be through defined access points only. All work will be undertaken under the auspices of European Protected Species licences (EPSL) for GCN and Dormouse.

The Contractor will be required to provide suitably qualified persons, with examples of working under the requirements of EPSL for GCN and Dormouse, to carry out the works for the duration of the contract. The Contractor will be required to provide evidence of their proposed personnel’s qualifications to the Employer for acceptance prior to the commencement of the contract.

Additional information: The Invitation to Tender, Tender Return Label and Pricing Schedule are attached to this notice. All other supporting documentation can be found at https://upload.hca-online.org.uk/tenders/hcap16030/hcap16030.zip

Tenders must be returned by 1pm on 16th September 2015

All discussions, meetings and communications will be conducted in English.

The contract will be subject to English law. Tenders and all supporting documents must be priced in GBP and all payments under the contract will be made in GBP.

This procurement and award is subject to the transparency arrangements being adopted by the UK Government. These arrangements include the publication of tender documentation issued by the HCA and the contract between the HCA and supplier. Bidders should highlight any areas they consider commercially sensitive in order for the HCA to be able to honour our transparency obligations without undermining the bidders commercial interests.

Candidates are advised that the HCA is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ("The Act"). If a candidate considers that any of the information supplied as part of this procurement procedure should not be disclosed because of its commercial sensitivity, confidential or otherwise, they must, when providing this information, clearly identify the specific information they do not wish to be disclosed and clearly specify the reasons for its sensitivity. The HCA shall take such statements into consideration in the event that it receives a request pursuant to the Act which relates to the information provided by the interested party. Please note, it is insufficient to include a statement of confidentiality encompassing all the information provided in the response.

The HCA takes a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption and sets high standards of impartiality, integrity and objectivity in relation to the stewardship of public funds and the management of its activities. The principles contained within this policy apply to both internal and external audiences, including anyone wishing to undertake business or engage with the HCA. Please refer to our Anti-bribery and Corruption Policy by visiting https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/anti-bribery-and-corruption-policy for further information.

Candidates are advised that the estimated value of the contract given is Section 1 above is uncertain because the time for completion of the works may be prolonged in the event of unforeseen ecological or seasonal circumstances.