Defra Technical Adisor (DTA) for the Thames Tideway Tunnel

Defra is seeking to procure the services of a Technical Advisor to provide Defra and Government with expertise from an engineering, commissioning and major construction project perspective in order to protect Government’s interests in the Thames Tideway Tunnel (TTT) project.

Despite the impact of Covid-19, the project is almost 60% complete. The tunnelling phase is expected to be complete in 2022 when the testing and commissioning stage will commence.

The Defra Technical Adviser (DTA) will provide Defra’s Thames Tideway Tunnel Team (TTT Team) with technical expertise from an engineering and major construction project perspective in order to protect Government’s interests in the project. Over the next year or so the project will be moving from the tunnelling to commissioning phase and so we will require a DTA that can also provide expertise on the commissioning of major construction projects.

The DTA will need to assess the data and information being provided by Tideway and the project’s Independent Technical Adviser (ITA) and report back to Defra. Examples of what the DTA would need to do are:

• Analyse and interpret information and data on project progress, including cost and schedule;
• Identify risks and issues relevant to Government, including construction delays and issues and commissioning that could lead to claims under the GSP;
• Advise Defra on steps that should be taken to better understand and mitigate risks;
• Advise on other adhoc issues Defra may need technical advice on such as project variations;

Provide advice, reports and brief the team in preparation for key quarterly governance meetings with regular attendance at some of these meetings;

• Provide input to briefings and submissions and to attend meetings with senior Defra officials if required.