Black & Veatch extends its Flood Management role in UK

With the aim of managing the risk of river and sea flooding, the NEECA framework is among the principal tools of the Environment Agency’s flood management strategy. The framework encompasses identification of communities and areas at risk of flooding; assessing the most sustainable way to manage the flood risk and, if necessary, constructing flood defences.
“Securing the extension to the current NEECA framework was the result of identifying how we could best help the Environment Agency manage the impact of flooding upon communities, commerce and the environment,” according to Lise Taylor, National Framework Manager for Black & Veatch’s Environment Agency work. Taylor continued, “We showed that Black & Veatch could deliver the efficiencies the Environment Agency sought by working closely with other framework partners. This is the sign of a mature framework with partners genuinely collaborating for the benefit of the client”
The scope of Black & Veatch’s contribution to the framework includes strategic planning to determine districts under threat of flooding and appraising the suitability of proposals to best manage the risk. In addition, Black & Veatch provides design and construction supervision services for projects where flood defences need to be built or enhanced to protect people, property and land. The NEECA extension retains Black & Veatch as consultant to the Environment Agency until autumn 2011.
Taylor continued, “Delivering the flood management programme will become more efficient as NEECA partners streamline the way they share best practice and manage the supply chain.”
As examples of this Taylor cited the setting-up of cross-consultancy training and communities of practice, creating a network of site supervisor mentors, and packaging work to ensure continuity of teams.
As a consultant on the first and second NEECA frameworks Black & Veatch will have provided the Environment Agency with ten continuous years of service by the end of the two-year extension.
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Technical Notes:
• Recently completed flood management projects Black & Veatch has undertaken for the Environment Agency include the Lower Lancaster Flood Alleviation Scheme, Lancashire; and Stallingborough Sea Defence Scheme, Lincolnshire.
• The National Engineering and Environmental Consultancy Agreement framework is one of the largest consultancy frameworks in the public sector.
• The framework provides support to all aspects of a project cycle from project identification, option appraisal through detailed design and contract documentation to contract supervision and completion of projects including post project appraisals.
• The framework agreement has been extended by two years to October 2011 to allow the continuing support to the ongoing delivery of the current Comprehensive Spending Review period supported by the Environment Agency’s Engineering Procurement Strategy.
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