Main Works Contractor — Whipps Cross Redevelopment Programme

Descriptions

The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to initiate a market engagement exercise for the procurement of a main works contractor to deliver the construction of a new purpose built hospital on the redeveloped Whipps Cross University Hospital site in east London (E11). A Strategic Outline Case (SOC) for the Whipps Cross Redevelopment has been approved by the Barts Health NHS Trust Board and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The programme has therefore acquired funding to commence design and develop an Outline Business Case (OBC). The SOC identifies the preferred way forward which is for a new hospital to be built in a single phase on the site of the disused former nurses’ accommodation. The location is an area that is large enough to accommodate all the new facilities in a mid-rise purpose-built structure and enables construction to take place without disrupting services in the existing hospital. The remainder of the existing estate could then be sold, primarily for housing but with some space retained for other healthcare and community facilities. The Whipps Cross Redevelopment has been prioritised by DHSC in the Health Infrastructure Plan (HIP) published in September 2019, where it is included in the HIP1 new hospital list. The Trust has appointed a client advisory team including an architect led design team to progress the design of the hospital to RIBA Stage 2 and complete the Outline Business Case (OBC). The demolition of existing structures and enabling works will be completed under a separate workstream allowing the main works contractor to commence construction on a clear site. The hospital construction is anticipated to commence in 2022 and be delivered over a 4 year period completing in 2026. It is the preference of the Trust to appoint a main works contractor following OBC approval to commence pre-construction services from RIBA Stage 3/4. Further information on the scope of the main works is included in the memorandum of information available here: [LINK] The Trust wishes to assess the interest and capability of the market to manage and deliver the scope of the intended works and what its views are on how a commercial opportunity of this kind might be packaged and delivered. This will be your opportunity to discuss the Programme and inform the Trust's approach to the procurement process. To make further enquiries, obtain further information and provide feedback, please visit [LINK]. Potential contractors expressing interest are invited to complete an online questionnaire by 12.00 (BST) on 15 September 2020 [LINK] The Trust may invite some or all respondents to the questionnaire to further discuss the potential scope and commercial approach during 1-1 interview sessions (dates to be confirmed). We hope that the feedback offered by the questionnaire will help shape the interviews and subsequently the overall procurement strategy. Anonymised and summarised results and key emerging themes from the interviews will be made available via the portal at the conclusion of the interview process. Information obtained as part of this market engagement may be used to inform a subsequent specification and call for competition by competitive tender in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015. Information obtained shall be managed in a commercially sensitive manner. Potential Contractors are also reminded that the Trust is subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Potential Contractors who wish to take part in the market engagement exercise should highlight any information they are willing to provide which they consider to be commercially confidential. However, they should be aware that the Trust is bound by the legislation and does not have the ultimate authority to refuse a decision to disclose information which it holds. The start date for the procurement is likely to be early 2021 but is subject to further planning.