Fire Consultants Framework 2021

Description

NHG is seeking expert fire professionals to provide consultancy services on fire safety & compliance matters. These services will be in respect of new-build residential & mixed use developments, existing residential & mixed use buildings. The services will pertain to the design, construction, refurbishment, maintenance, &/or management of these developments &existing buildings. The framework will be divided into 5 Lots with the intention that these will primarily be used by two different departments - Lots 1a, 1b &1c will primarily be used by the Building Safety Team & will primarily be for fire consultancy services for existing residential buildings. - Lots 2a & 2b will primarily be used by the Development Team & will primarily be for fire consultancy services for new developments. For the avoidance of doubt, any department or team within NHG may call off from any lot. The framework may also be used by other contracting authorities, as further described at section VI.3 Lot 1a: Lot 1 a - Building Safety Fire Engineering Consultancy Services It is intended that this lot would be for Chartered Fire Engineers to undertake technical risk assessments of building elements and systems for regulatory compliance and fire safety (e.g., internal compartment walls, external walls, mechanical systems); remedial advice relating to fire safety defects with building elements and systems (e.g., external walls); expert witness services; advice about interim measures (e.g. fire detection systems, waking watch) and; the production of EWS1 forms to support residential lending activity. Full Service Specification and use of the lots can be found in the 'Information Document' which forms part of the procurement documents. Lot 1b: 1b - Building Safety General Fire Consultants This lot will be delivered by consultants that can meet the competency requirements established by Government and NHG (e.g., members of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), and Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE)). These consultants would be employed to undertake observational and invasive surveys of building components and systems (e.g., internal compartment walls, external walls); provide remedial advice relating to fire safety defects with building elements and systems (e.g., external walls); expert witness services; design guardian services to oversee remedial works to meet quality requirements; site inspection services to meet quality requirements; and support with resident engagement related to fire safety remedial works. Consultants will also need to be qualified to issue the EWS1 forms. This includes both parts a and b. Additional information on these requirements can be found in the ITT documents Lot 1c: 1c - Building Safety Consultants providing Ancillary Services As a supplement to lots one and two, NHG will also look to create a lot for ancillary services. This lot will support the process of evaluating and managing the ongoing fire safety of buildings through laser scanning, 3d model authoring (Computer Aided Design) and drawing services to build a digital record; project documentation (photographic evidence of deconstruction and reconstruction works); and consultancy services for the production of safety case reviews that will support ongoing regulatory compliance. Lot 2a: 2a - Development Fire Consultants (complex) This lot is intended to deliver the full range of the NHG Development team’s fire consultant requirements – an end-to-end solution for our new build development projects. This covers both Fire Engineer services (expert fire engineers forming an integral part of the multi-disciplinary consultant team at design stage for RIBA Stages 0-4), and Fire Guardian services (a role we have established in recent years for monitoring the quality, compliance and safety of the design and construction executed by developers/contractors, primarily at RIBA Stages 4-6). First and foremost we require consultants who can provide the Fire Engineer service, and therefore we are seeking expert fire engineers with appropriate qualifications. Preferably these consultants will also be able to provide the Fire Guardian service, or be willing to develop this service in future. For NHG-led projects, preferably the fire consultant appointed as Fire Engineer at design stage will be retained as our Fire Guardian during technical design and construction once a design & build contract has been let. However we recognise that not all fire consultants are able to provide the Fire Guardian service, and therefore we will welcome bids from Tenderers offering only the Fire Engineer service. This lot description represents NHG’s current intentions for the use of Lot 2a, however NHG reserves the right to select from the most suitable lot for each fire consultant appointment on a case-by-case basis. We also may utilise this lot for work on existing buildings where appropriate, in addition to new-build developments. See the procurement documents for more information about Lot 2a, including the full set of services which may be procured through this lot. Lot 2b: 2b - Development Fire Consultants (simple) This lot is intended to deliver the Fire Guardian service portion of the NHG Development team’s fire consultant requirements. The Fire Guardian is a role we have established in recent years for monitoring the quality, compliance and safety of the design and construction executed by developers/contractors, primarily at RIBA Stages 4-6. We are seeking built environment professionals who have appropriate qualifications and sufficient fire safety knowledge to review designs and inspect fire safety aspects of buildings during construction. Unlike Lot 2a, the consultants’ personnel do not necessarily have to be qualified fire engineers. Our intention is to use Lot 2b for Fire Guardian services in less complex circumstances, such as simple low-rise buildings or S106 acquisitions where NHG is not the developer. This lot description represents NHG’s current intentions for the use of Lot 2b, however NHG reserves the right to select from the most suitable lot for each fire consultant appointment on a case-by-case basis. We also may utilise this lot for work on existing buildings where appropriate, in addition to new-build developments. See the procurement documents for more information about Lot 2b, including the full set of services which may be procured through this lot.