The bidders have been invited to submit documents by 27 March. They are:
- Carillion
- May Gurney
- Hochtief / Vinci joint venture
- Costain / BAM Nuttall joint venture, and
- Interserve.
In May the 'preferred bidder' will be selected and we'll use early contractor involvement – a practice that allows us to work in partnership with the preferred bidder right from the start of the process on design, planning, assessing buildability and estimating cost.
It means we can access the contractor's expertise and knowledge in planning the construction works, provide better quality and value for money and reduce over-runs in time and budget.
The contract will be awarded to the most economically favourable tender, using technical, qualitative, financial, social and environmental criteria. Bids will be evaluated on quality and price in the ratio 70% / 30%.
Work on the road is planned to start in summer 2010, with the road open to traffic by the end of 2012.
Detailed studies have shown the new road will provide the transport conditions needed to help regenerate the area, including:
- access to new business space that will provide jobs and help companies thrive
- major economic benefits by helping businesses operate more efficiently by tackling problems of journey reliability, and
- access for developers to build much-needed housing and business development that will help Hastings and Bexhill grow as communities.
Close to the link road a separate traffic-free 'greenway' will allow cyclists, walkers and horse riders to enjoy the proposed Pebsham Countryside Park and wildlife area.
Lead Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, Councillor Matthew Lock, said: "The link road is essential for the future regeneration of Hastings and Bexhill. It'll bring real benefits to the two towns, including better access to jobs; fewer cars using roads that aren't suitable for them; opportunities for housing and business development; access to education and a reduction in the number of accidents on local roads."
Further information
On 7 August 2008 a notice was placed in the European Journal (OJEU) calling for expressions of interest for the ECI contractor to design and construct the Bexhill to Hastings link road. The closing date for applications was 17 September 2008.
Following expressions of interest from a number of companies a pre-qualification assessment was carried out to arrive at the shortlist of five companies to invite to tender. The assessment consisted of two parts – a financial appraisal and a quality assessment focusing on the companies' experience and ability to carry out works of this size and complexity.
Financial appraisals of all the companies where carried out to assess their financial status and their suitability for inclusion in the tendering process.
A pre-qualification questionnaire was sent to all of the companies who responded to the OJEU notice. The questionnaire was designed to give a general overview of each company's resources and level of experience in the field of highway design and construction and their associated environmental expertise.
All the quality submissions were assessed by a quality review panel with the five highest scoring invited to tender.
For more information about the link road, visit our Bexhill to Hastings link road pages.
Reference:
PR 2330
Contact the press team
East Sussex County Council