Smart Technology Services for Flood Resilience Project Sponge Catchments For People and Nature

Description

The Smart Sponge Catchments project aims to increase local flood resilience by implementing a sponge catchment method in Salt Hill Stream and Chalvey Ditches, in Slough and South Buckinghamshire. Local communities will be empowered to co-design flood measures that work for them, resulting in improved public spaces with greater flood resilience. A smart water monitoring network will provide data to an online community hub. We will combine traditional flood risk interventions with innovation in the collaborative catchment-based approach and use of Smart Technology in both engagement and benefits framework evidence gathering. Tender evaluation criteria will require appropriate weighting to innovation to encourage potential suppliers to maximise innovation potential.Technical consultancy and smart technology goods and services will be procured following an open day in for potential suppliers to find out more about our project, discuss ideas and demonstrate proposed solutions. Lot 1: The Council is seeking services to support a key work stream of our Smart Sponge Catchment Project. Our project is one of 25 Local Flood Authorities selected to take part in the DEFRA funded Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme. Slough Borough Council is the Lead Authority on the project, but the supplier will also need to collaborate with other project partners including Buckinghamshire Council, National Flood Forum and Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Our aim is to create a smart catchment using emerging remote sensor monitoring technology to gather evidence on the effectiveness of resilience measures implemented, particularly in relation to Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and Natural Flood Management (NFM) measures.Scope of Services:• Provide expertise in using remote sensor monitoring technology to collect and review monitoring data.• Undertake a review of existing smart technology sensors available and those being used in other relevant flood and water management projects across the UK• Develop an online platform for data sharing with stakeholders and citizen science programs.• Creation of a network of monitoring and deployment of low-cost monitoring alongside integrated water management and nature-based solutions being developed by other workstreams of the project to demonstrate solution effectiveness and benefits (flood risk and other environmental co-benefits). • Help optimise the Council's gulley and culvert trash screen maintenance program using data collected from sensors including identification and testing of predictive maintenance solutions and predictive flood warning solutions.At this stage, we are looking to design the specification of this project and therefore open to innovative ideas from suppliers to understand what is available and what is possible. The total value of this contract is £511,500 and duration will be from Summer 2023 – 31 July 2027. The way that this budget will be split will depend on the outcome of the supplier day. There is potential for a 4 year contract however we define our specification following supplier day when we hope to have fully explored the best budget split. One option would be to hold an initial trial before proceeding with the full contract. We are planning to hold a supplier day on Friday 30 June from 10am. Please register your interest by emailing sponge@slough.gov.uk to attend the supplier day. You will receive an invitation via Teams for the day.