Peel Ports invites bids for US$950M construction projects

Peel Ports Group, the UK’s second-largest port operator, is inviting contractors to submit bids for two new framework agreements covering a major long-term programme of construction works across its UK and Ireland sites, worth a total of £750 million (US$ 950 million).

The port operator is seeking to appoint contractors to the two framework agreements for a period of up to eight years, with one agreement covering general construction and the other covering marine construction.

The framework agreements 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 is part of Peel Ports’ long-term construction plans, including upgrading existing infrastructure and new developments.

“Our ports form a network of busy logistics hubs servicing local, national and global supply chains, and this move represents a huge step in our efforts to futureproof that network, so we can keep responding and adapting to our port users’ needs in an agile way,” Lewis McIntyre, Managing Director – Port Services at Peel Ports Group said.

“The long-term nature of these framework agreements allows us to build meaningful, commercially sustainable partnerships with our construction contractors. 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.”

The scope of the first framework agreement 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 agreement 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 RoRo infrastructure.

The call for tenders notes that bidders should be able to demonstrate first class delivery of health, safety, environmental and quality requirements, including local community engagement and supporting Peel Ports Group in the delivery of its ambition to become a net-zero port operator by 2040.

The procurement process is expected to take place throughout 2024, with contracts expected to be awarded towards the end of 2024.