13 professional services firms named in Environment Agency groundwater framework
Professional services firms from across the UK have been appointed to the Environment Agency’s national groundwater modelling framework. The 13 firms will cover regional modelling, groundwater flooding and expert review services for the government agency.
The Environment Agency’s national groundwater modelling framework contract aims to ensure that all relevant suppliers are available to deliver the Environment Agency’s groundwater modelling programme. Looking to ensure an efficient and consistent procurement service across these areas, the contract provides standard specifications, KPIs and performance monitoring of suppliers, to help deliver value for money in public spending.
With an estimated value of £21.36 million – including VAT – the contract will span three lots.
Lot 1 will focus on modelling work; forming an integral part of the Environment Agency’s regulatory work to ensure sustainable management and protection of groundwater resources across England. Lot 2 will centre on a groundwater flooding forecasting modelling service, which supports the Flood Forecasting Centre’s capability to forecast groundwater flood risk at a county scale as part of the Environment Agency’s flood forecasting service. Finally, Lot 3 will include technical support for modelling, and a third-party external review service; aiming to assist the Environment Agency to confirm the project has been technically well enacted and implemented with time and financial constraints.
Selected firms
The framework also looks to address the imbalances in the supplier market which is currently over-reliant on one consultancy while under-using the capacity of others – as well as resourcing modelling work which requires scarce skills. And this process has yielded 13 professional services firms from across the UK, who will now provide specialist groundwater modelling work, alongside know-how which is essential for wider studies to strengthen flood understanding and forecasting.
The 13 winners selected for the framework are: AtkinsRéalis; Geoff Parkin Hydro; GeoSmart Information; Groundwater Modelling Solutions; Groundwater Science; INTERA Geosciences; Jeremy Benn Associates Limited (JBA Consulting); Mott MacDonald; Stantec; Stephen Buss Environmental Consulting; UKRI – British Geological Survey; Worley Europe; and WSP.
Frank Hulcoop, delivery director at WSP, commented, “Qualifying for all three lots on the Environment Agency’s National Groundwater Modelling Framework reflects the breadth of our hydrogeology and groundwater modelling expertise. We look forward to working collaboratively with the Environment Agency to strengthen groundwater models, improve flood understanding and help deliver better outcomes for communities.”
