The Mining Remediation Authority (MRA) has gone out to tender with a framework contract for Construction, Environmental & Technical Professional Services with a total estimated value of £11.28 million including VAT.

The MRA is looking to appoint consultants onto the framework for the provision of professional services relating to addressing the impacts of past mining activities.

These services include civil, structural and geotechnical engineering; mining and environmental assessment and management; specialist technical consultancy; professional secondment support; investigations into infrastructure and land damage; and environmental remediation, including mine water management and treatment solutions.

The Authority requires the Framework to deliver the following outcomes:

• Support the Authority's statutory responsibilities and strategic objectives by providing timely access to high-quality specialist construction, environmental and technical professional services.
• Protect and enhance the environment through the provision of expert advice, design, assessment, investigation, monitoring and remediation services that address the impacts of historic mining activities and associated environmental risks.
• Provide access to specialist expertise and capacity where internal resources, skills or capability are limited, ensuring the Authority can effectively deliver its programmes and projects.
• Deliver value for money through innovative, proportionate and commercially sustainable solutions that achieve the required outcomes while making effective use of public funds.
• Promote collaboration and continuous improvement, working with the Authority to share knowledge, identify efficiencies, introduce innovation and support framework development throughout its duration.
• Support sustainable and responsible delivery, including environmental stewardship, social value commitments, ethical business practices and SME participation where appropriate.
• Provide reliable and high-quality service delivery, ensuring outputs are delivered to agreed timescales, quality standards and project requirements.

The contract is being tendered in the following Lots:

Lot 1. Mine Water Treatment Schemes and Civil & Structural Engineering (£7.2 million including VAT)

Scoping, feasibility, design, supervision and project management services for mine water treatment schemes, civil and structural engineering interventions, existing assets and associated investigations.

Lot 2. Ecology and Wider Environmental Services (£1.68 million including VAT)

Multidisciplinary ecological and environmental consultancy services, including surveys, assessment, environmental impact work, monitoring, management and regulatory compliance.

Sub-Lot 2a: Specialist Ecology Surveys, Assessments and Reporting

Targeted ecological consultancy, surveys, assessments, technical reporting, mitigation strategies, licensing support and ecological supervision.

Sub-Lot 2b: Specialist Environmental Monitoring, Compliance and Advisory

Specialist environmental monitoring, audits, compliance assessments, environmental management, mine gas and water investigations and associated technical advice

Lot 3. Lot 3: Treatability Services (£1.08 million including VAT)

Multidisciplinary assessment, testing, optioneering and development of passive, semi-passive and active mine water treatment solutions, including laboratory, field and pilot-scale trials.

Sub-Lot 3a: Passive and Semi-Passive Treatment for Mine Waters

Specialist advice, assessment, testing and design relating to nature-based, biological, geochemical or gravity-driven mine water treatment processes.

Sub-Lot 3b: Active Treatment for Mine Waters

Specialist advice, assessment, testing and design relating to operated chemical, mechanical, electrical and process-based mine water treatment systems.

Lot 4. Consultancy: Planning and Delivery Oversight (£1.32 million including VAT)

Lot 4a: Planning and Consents

Planning strategy and advice, feasibility studies, preparation and submission of planning applications, stakeholder engagement and management of planning and regulatory approvals.

Lot 4b: Economic Assessment, including Cost-Benefit Analysis

Cost-benefit assessment and economic analysis, including environmental and social valuation, to support decision-making and business cases

Lot 4c: Project and Programme Management and Commercial Advisory

Project and programme management, NEC contract management, construction oversight, delivery assurance, cost management, programme controls and commercial advisory services.

The MRA is looking to appoint an unlimited number of suppliers to the open framework scheme which will run until 20 June 2031.

The MRA may award a call-off contract under the framework using one of the following routes:

• Award without further competition using the Selection Procedure, where the requirement satisfies the applicable Award without further competition conditions;
• Request for Quotation, where the Client seeks a proportionate written quotation from the Consultant s appointed to the relevant Lot or Sub-lot; or
• Competitive Selection Process, where Consultants appointed to the relevant Lot or Sub-lot are invited to submit tenders that are evaluated against the award criteria and weightings stated in the invitation.

Deadline for submission of enquiries about the tender is 3:00pm on 26 October 2026 and tender submission deadline is 4:00pm on 6 November 2026.

Click here to register for the opportunity, submission address, associated tender documents and any special instructions.

Once a bidder is registered and have been notified of their log in details, suppliers will be able to log into the system and review the documentation for the project.

Estimated framework award decision date is 18 March 2027. Current estimated start and end contract dates are 21 June 2027 to 20 June 2031.