Lisanelly Shared Educational Campus Phase 2 (Strule) – Services Contract for an Integrated Consultant Team DE

Description

Department of Education (DE), the Contracting Authority is delivering what was known as the Lisanelly (and now known as the Strule) Shared Education Campus. This is a landmark project providing a bespoke state of the art facility to deliver post primary school education in Omagh. The Strule Programme involves the relocation of 5 post primary schools and 1 special school in Omagh onto one purpose built campus site with shared facilities incorporating sports, the arts, media, home economics, design and technology. The programme has a complex stakeholder matrix which requires a comprehensive stakeholder management plan. Phase 1 of Strule entailed the delivery of the Arvalee Special School. Phase 2 will encompass the relocation of the 5 post primary schools onto the campus, the provision of sports/leisure facilities, the provision of a shared educational centre and other associated facilities and site development works over c.140 acres. The estimated construction works value at the outset was in the order of GBP 150 000 000. DE sought to appoint (and did appoint) an Economic Operator to provide the services of a Project Management led Integrated Consultancy Team (ICT) for Phase 2 of Strule to include, architecture, cost management, engineering and other associated construction professionals in related disciplines. The ICT was required to develop the existing exemplar design for the campus to RIBA plan of work 2013 Stage 3, to undertake associated studies and surveys and to acquire necessary planning permissions. The ICT was to provide a Technical Advisory role for the development of the Employer's Requirements, procurement and contract management of an Integrated Supply Team (IST) for number of separate construction packages. Lot 1: Department of Education (DE), the Contracting Authority is delivering what was known as the Lisanelly (and now known as the Strule) Shared Education Campus. This is a landmark project providing a bespoke state of the art facility to deliver post primary school education in Omagh. The Strule Programme involves the relocation of 5 post primary schools and 1 special school in Omagh onto one purpose built campus site with shared facilities incorporating sports, the arts, media, home economics, design and technology. During the course of this contact it has been necessary to administer a number of separate variations associated with (1) design development, (2) statutory planning approvals, (3) contamination land (4) the presence of ordnance on the site and (5) unforeseen ground conditions. Given the complex stakeholder arrangements, the programme for the agreement and approvals of the developed design was prolonged. Significant statutory consultation was also required in completing the reserved matters planning application. Areas of unforeseen contamination on the site had to be addressed in a controlled manner to render the site fit for use which included the management of a significant amount of concealed ordnance. These matters required the ICT to carry out additional investigations and supervision of all the necessary works and over a longer period than originally anticipated. The unforeseen ground conditions also called for further investigations and supervision of works over an extended period. The procurement exercise for the Main Works Contract has also experienced unprecedented issues. These resulted in the Contracting Authority suspending the Main Works Contract procurement in February 2018. It then undertook a reappraisal of the business case and procurement strategy, which required Executive and Ministerial consideration prior to implementation. This process was prolonged due to the collapse of the Stormont Executive, and later the impact of Covid-19. The Contracting Authority commenced a new competition in December 2021, to identify a suitable contractor to carry out the construction works. Although assisting the Contracting Authority to procure an IST was part of the ICT’s original contract, the need to commence a second IST procurement resulted in the ICT having to provide additional services. Due to the lack of an acceptable tender submissions the Contracting Authority exercised the option to use the competitive procedure with negotiation which occasioned further work and delay. The Main Works Contract has now been entered into and the ICT will be required to manage and supervise the works to completion. The scope of ICT services for management of the Main Works Contract is largely as per the ICT’s original contract, although some adjustment will be necessary to accommodate the time shift from the initial programme for delivery of the project. All modifications to date are considered to be permitted by reg.72 PCR. If further information is required, please submit all queries to construct.info@finance-ni.gov.uk