HS2 Main Works S1 & S2 - WP148.4_Noise Barriers (Acoustic absorbers)

The scope for this package is the supply (and preferably installation) of c.4100m2 of acoustic absorbing panels and associated fixing system to be fixed to precast reinforced-concrete noise barrier panels on the inside face, within 4.5m of the track centreline. The precast reinforced-concrete noise barrier panels will make up the proposed noise barrier structure to be constructed by SCS JV as part of the works it is undertaking on behalf of HS2 for the S1 and S2 sectors of the main civil engineering tranche of HS2 Phase One. The proposed noise barrier structure is to be installed either side of the HS2 trace (north and south) along the West Ruislip Retained Embankment and the Gatemead Embankment.

The system must have a minimum 60-year life, be fixed in a suitable way to resist the dynamic loads imposed by high-speed trains and be compliant with all acoustic requirements detailed in the 'Specification and SCEW Appendices' document attached to this CompeteFor opportunity. It must also be relatively simple to remove and install in the case of damage, or at the 60-year end-of-life point. A small number of acoustic absorbing panels will need to be provided at an early stage for acoustic laboratory testing of the system (from mid-2022), and then the full order is to be fulfilled as the construction of the proposed noise barrier structure is complete (between mid-2023 and mid-2024). Fixings for the acoustic absorbing panels will be post-drilled into the precast reinforced-concrete noise barrier panels and to the sides of the torsion beam where required for acoustic performance reasons. The fixings to attach the acoustic absorbing panels to the precast reinforced-concrete noise barrier panels shall be part of a proprietary product that is already used and demonstrated successful on high-speed lines for at least 5 years of use.

To assist you in determining whether or not this opportunity is of interest to your company, please find attached the following:

- Ruislip Noise Barriers Architectural Drawing Sections, axonometrics and visualisation (1MC04-SCJ_SDH-AR-DPH-SS05_SL07-869000). - Ruislip Noise Barriers Engineering Structural Drawing Reference Design Acoustic Cladding North and South (1MC04-SCJ_SDH-ST-DGA-SS05_SL07-860661). - Technical Note - Testing Specifications - Noise Barriers S2 (1MC04-SDH-DS-NOT-SS05_SL07-000003). - Specification and SCEW Appendices - Noise Barriers S2 (1MC04-SCJ_SDH-DS-SPE-SS05_SL07-000008). Following responses to this opportunity, the supply chain will be shortlisted accordingly. Those that are successful will be invited to prequalify in order to receive a tender enquiry for this package. Prequalification will consist of 'business assurance', which will focus on the supply chain's capability, competence and capacity to work with SCS JV, and (potentially) technical assurance, which provides an opportunity to assess the supply chain's ability to provide the goods and services for the package in question. It is likely that this has been classified as a 'low- to medium-risk' package (to be confirmed), whereby the 'business assurance' element of prequalification may be satisfied if the supply chain partner holds one of the Common Assessment Standard (CAS) accreditations, namely:

- Achilles Building Confidence (with Desktop Audit), - Constructionline Gold, or - CHAS Elite.

Further to a tender process, final selection will be based upon a balanced-scorecard evaluation. The criteria of this evaluation will consider commercial, technical and qualitative (e.g. health & safety, quality, environment & sustainability, etc.) evidence provided by the tenderers as part of their respective tender bids. SCS JV is an unincorporated joint venture between Skanska Construction UK Limited ("Skanska"), Costain Limited ("Costain") and STRABAG AG ("STRABAG") working on behalf of HS2 to deliver the main civil engineering works for the S1 and S2 sectors of HS2 Phase One. The Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) stage of the contract, where SCS JV was developing a scheme design, programme and target cost to deliver the detailed design and construction phase of the project, is now complete, whereby a Notice to Proceed to Stage Two (detailed design and construction) was issued on 15th April 2020. Not only have the individual companies delivered high-speed rail, major infrastructure and some of the most iconic structures internationally, SCS JV also has a proven record of working together. Skanska and Costain have a long history of successfully delivering civil engineering projects together in the UK, dating back 30 years. In joint venture they have delivered many major infrastructure projects, including the M25 in the 1980s, High Speed 1 in the early 2000s and the current Crossrail endeavour, shortly coming to completion under the streets of London. STRABAG and Skanska have worked together for over 15 years on European projects in Switzerland, Slovakia and Norway. As a joint venture, we are bringing together our collective strength to deliver world-class engineering, contributing to the long-term economic growth of local and international markets. This is perfectly encapsulated in our mission; to draw everyone together to create a strong foundation from which to launch a transformative legacy. Key points of contact, quality assurance and site management will be required. Site staff will also need to have the full CSCS and HS2/SCS JV on-boarding requirements. There will also need to be an element of design assurance that the fixings are suitable to fix the acoustic absorbing panels to the precast reinforced-concrete noise barrier panels for the required lifetime and number of load cycles.

Additional information: Key points of contact, quality assurance and site management will be required. Site staff will also need to have the full CSCS and HS2/SCS JV on-boarding requirements. There will also need to be an element of design assurance that the fixings are suitable to fix the acoustic absorbing panels to the precast reinforced-concrete noise barrier panels for the required lifetime and number of load cycles.