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Background

In 2020/21 Perth and Kinross Council went out to tender for a works contract for the detailed design and construction of the Cross Tay Link Road (CTLR). This road will link the A9 over the highland mainline railway and River Tay to the A93 and A94 north of Scone. This will help to alleviate traffic congestion in the City Centre and Bridgend, creating capacity in the city’s road network that will enable a shift to greener modes of travel, and facilitate the sustainable economic development of Perth and the surrounding area.

Reducing embodied carbon was identified at the pre-tender stage as a priority for the contract award, and carbon management was therefore included as a selection criteria question within the technical envelope. Tenderers were asked to demonstrate how they would achieve a minimum saving of 14,000 tCO2e (30% of total embodied carbon of the Specimen Design). The successful tenderer submitted a proposal that exceeded this target. The contract has been awarded and is currently underway. It is anticipated that the tenderer’s approach to design and construction will equal or exceed this saving. Additionally, a suite of biodiversity benefits will be delivered through this contract, including restoration and improvement works along Perth Lade, creation of a wetland area and compensatory planting. Further archaeological investigations works are also required in the contract which includes a requirement to inform and involve the local communities with regard to the local cultural heritage.  

The requirement

The CTLR is Phase 2 of the Perth Transport Futures Project (PTFP) and is a much needed new road linking the A9 over the River Tay to the A93 and A94 north of Scone. It includes realignment of a section of the A9, provision of a new bridge over the River Tay and railway and provision of a new grade separated junction on the A9 north of Inveralmond Roundabout. This project will help to alleviate traffic congestion in the City Centre and Bridgend, creating capacity in the city’s road network that will enable a shift to greener modes of travel as part of Phase 4 of the PTFP. The CTLR scheme will also facilitate sustainable economic development of Perth and the surrounding area as envisaged in the Council’s Local Development Plan.

The scheme includes:

  • The realignment of a section of the A9 dual carriageway (approximately 2km) between Perth and Luncarty;
  • The creation of a new grade separated junction on the A9 including an overbridge;
  • The construction of a new bridge crossing both the highland mainline railway and River Tay;
  • The construction of a new link road (approximately 6km) connecting the A9 with Stormontfield Road, the A93, the track at Highfield and the A94 (4No. roundabouts);
  • The construction of a green bridge to maintain ecological and pedestrian connectivity;
  • Extensive landscaping in a sensitive area, including a wetland;
  • Forestry planting (including some remote from the site); and
  • The creation of new footways and cycle paths including links to existing routes and a Park & Cycle facility.

Procurement Process

In 2019 Perth and Kinross Council prepared a Procurement Strategy for the contract and sought to determine the optimum procurement route, taking into consideration programme, market interest and conditions, contract objectives, quality and best value.

A significant amount of work was undertaken to inform the strategy and included the following:

  1. Phase 1 (A9/A85 Project) End of Project Review (including lessons learned);
  2. Market Engagement Event (March 2019);
  3. Site Visits and Meetings with Contractors and other Clients;
  4. Experience and training by project team in using NEC;
  5. Engagement of a NEC specialist consultant to advise on the procurement and contract strategies and assist with the preparation of the contract clauses and tender preparation and evaluation;
  6. Liaison and engagement with local people and user groups to maximise community benefits from this procurement; and
  7. Appraisal of procurement route options.

The contract value is between £90million and £100million.

Taking account of the above and given the size and complexity of the contract and the analysis of feedback the market, the route to market was a Competitive Procedure with Negotiation (CPN). The Award Criteria was split into Quality / Price Weighting of 20% Price / 80% Quality.

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