Highways England has launched its search for a Delivery Assurance Partner (DAP) to support the delivery of the £1.7bn A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down scheme.
The project includes putting the road in a tunnel within the Stonehenge World Heritage Site.
The government-owned company said the DAP will support it in managing the delivery of the main works contract by mobilising the main works contractor, assuring the detailed design, overseeing construction and assisting in the discharge of consent requirements.
The DAP will join the project team and will:
- provide construction management and delivery expertise to maximise efficiency throughout the scheme
- identify opportunities and innovation, as well as ensuring quality management processes
- ensure stakeholder relationships are maintained and enhanced, and that objectives and duties are met.
Highways England project director Derek Parody said: ‘Our Delivery Assurance Partner will help us to successfully co-ordinate and oversee the development of the scheme moving forward.
‘This collaborative team will continue to work with local stakeholders, heritage bodies and local communities to deliver a successful and exceptional project for the area.’
The £60m contract is due to be awarded late this year. The scheme was given Development Planning Order consent by transport secretary Grant Shapps last November, against the advice of the Planning Inspectorate.
Highways England said it has been progressing the procurement process for the main works contract for the scheme, and is participating in dialogue with three bidders before they submit their final tenders.
The preferred bidder is expected to be announced in early 2022.
Highways England has already awarded contracts for archaeological mitigation work (Wessex Archaeology Ltd) and preliminary works (Osborne Ltd) ahead of main construction.
Archaeological fieldwork and preliminary work is due to start later this year, with the five-year main construction phase expected to start by late 2022, or early 2023.
