£485m Thames flood defence contract shortlisted to two bidders

Only two firms are left in the running for the Environment Agency’s £485m contract to improve flood defences along the River Thames.

Colorado-based CH2MHill and California-Jacobs Engineering have been named as potential delivery partners for phase one of the Environment Agency’s Thames Estuary major flood defence programme. Firms whose bids have been rejected include Mace-Atkins, Costain-Capita-URS and Morgan Sindall-Grontmij.

Whilst the Environment Agency confirmed it had cut its shortlist down to two American firms, it said the project would still involve UK firms in the supply chain.

The contract is the first phase of the Thames Estuary Plan which sets out plans and recommendations for managing floods across the Thames Estuary. The ten-year deal  - initially for seven years with an option of a three year extension - involves a serious of major flood protection work, covering the area from Teddington in west London to Sheerness and Shoeburyness in Kent and Essex. To drive down costs, the Environment Agency will work with just one firm over the ten-year period.

The work will involve building and improving flood protection walls and embankments, flood barriers, moveable gates, outfalls and pumping stations.

The Thames Barrier and current flood risk management structures protect 1.25m people and approximately £200bn worth of property. The job is currently one of the government’s 40 high priority national infrastructure projects