Council to be asked to approve contracts for Trams to Newhaven project

It may not be until 14th March that the final decision will be made on whether to progress with extending Edinburgh Trams to Newhaven but another key milestone will be reached before then with a meeting of the Finance and Resources Committee on 7th March being asked to approve the awarding of two contracts for the projects. This will very much be on the proviso that the project is approved as without this approval the contracts won’t be formally signed.

The two contracts due to be awarded are a Swept Path Contract (going to Morrison Utility Services Ltd (MUS Ltd)) and an Infrastructure and Systems Contract (to Sacyr Farrans Neopul Joint Venture (SFNJV)).

The Swept Path Contract is for a specialist contractor, to be managed directly by the client team, to work ahead of the Infrastructure and Systems contractor to identify and clear any below ground obstructions along the route of the extension. The Infrastructure and Systems contract meanwhile covers the design and construction, systems integration, testing, commissioning and bringing into operational service of the extension.

The procurement process for these two contracts has been carried out by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Commercial and Procurement Services Unit – in discussion with both the Trams to Newhaven team and advisors – and has been done as part of standard procedures. Finding the contractors during the formation of the Final Business Case has helped this to be more accurate as the costs are already known up front rather than waiting and seeing what bids may be received.

Cllr Alasdair Rankin, Finance and Resources Convener, said: “The Trams to Newhaven project team has completed a comprehensive and rigorous procurement exercise to select preferred contractors for both elements of the project. This process has been exhaustive in its approach, taking on board substantial lessons learned from the previous projects and following best industry practice. The Finance and Resources Committee will carefully assess and scrutinise the outcome of this procurement process before arriving at a decision. Awarding the contracts will be subject to a final vote on the project by Council on 14 March.”

If the project does get the final go-ahead a six month Early Contractor Involvement period will commence during which the targeted cost will be fully developed with SFN JV working closely with the Project Team to test buildability, undertake surveys, value engineer and develop further innovation into their design.