Peel Ports Group, the UK’s second-largest port operator, is inviting contractors to submit bids for two new frameworks covering a major long-term programme of construction works across its UK and Ireland sites, worth a total of £750 million.
The port operator is seeking to appoint contractors for two frameworks for a period of up to eight years, with one framework covering general construction and the other marine construction.
The frameworks cover construction projects across the group’s entire portfolio of UK and Ireland ports, including the Port of Liverpool, Heysham Port, Manchester Ship Canal, London Medway, its Clydeport sites, Great Yarmouth, and Dublin Port. The move underpins the operators’ delivery of its long-term construction pipeline, with the scope covering both existing infrastructure improvements, and the development of new infrastructure.
Peel Ports Group ports services managing director, Lewis McIntyre, said the ports included a network of busy logistics hubs servicing local, national and global supply chains. He said the development decision represented “a huge step” to futureproof the network and to adapt with agility to port users’ needs.
“The long-term nature of these framework agreements allows us to build meaningful, commercially sustainable partnerships with our construction contractors,” McIntyre said.
“It further allows us to appoint a collection of regional suppliers to give us breadth and depth of scope, skill, and responsiveness. The way the frameworks are structured provides invaluable opportunities for the successful partners to design and build sustainable solutions for our various projects, in what will be a truly collaborative approach as we aim for net zero by 2040,” he said.
The first framework’s scope covers general construction works including drainage; the construction and maintenance of new and existing roads and carparks; earthworks and ground remediation; foundations and piling; the construction, maintenance and refurbishment of new and existing warehouses; paving, surfacing and concrete works; rail construction; bridge construction and refurbishment; and demolition.
The second framework covers specialist marine construction works including piling; asset renewal and refurbishment; berthing furniture and bollards; quay walls; lock and sluice gate maintenance and replacement and roll-on roll-off facilities.
The procurement process is expected to take place throughout 2024, with contracts expected to be awarded towards the end of 2024.
