Five mutually reinforcing parties will provide engineering services over the next four years.
They usually operate in the background, but are indispensable for virtually every Rijkswaterstaat project: engineering and consultancy firms. Over the next four years, Delta Pi, in a mix of five complementary partners, will implement the Collaborative Framework Agreement for Engineering Services (SROK ID).
The engineering services sector is a key partner for Rijkswaterstaat in realizing projects, for every phase, at every stage. Every year, it purchases hundreds of different engineering services. These are tendered through a special framework agreement: the Collaborative Framework Agreement for Engineering Services (SROK ID).
Actively involve the market
With the joining of the Boorsma consortium, A-Quin, RPS, DGMR, and Delta Pi to the new framework agreement, the SME sector will be explicitly involved in Rijkswaterstaat's construction and maintenance projects. This was also what the government organization intended in the previous agreement, SO3, but ultimately was not always able to achieve.
"We are pleased with this framework agreement, in which we actively involved the market during the tender process. This gave us the freedom to submit bids and form partnerships with, and with, relatively smaller players. This not only boosts collaboration with the engineering market, but also contributes to the further professionalization of the sector. Quality, collaboration, innovation, a sustainable living environment, and knowledge are central to this," says Marian Vrolijk, supplier manager for engineering firms at Rijkswaterstaat. "Now it's time to put this new partnership into practice, for example, through the collaboration platform.".
Highest score
Within the consortium, Delta Pi provides support for performance contracts and asset management, while RPS provides specialist services in surveying, ecology, geotechnics, and hydraulic engineering. Engineering firm Boorsma is responsible for the structural aspects. A-Quin handles the electrical and mechanical inspections. DGMR is responsible for noise, vibration, and air quality research.
The consortium thus meets Rijkswaterstaat's desire to consolidate expertise areas for common engineering services, asset management, integrated plan development, and contract preparation. For this approach, the consortium achieved the highest score in the tender process.
Learning from each other
"We opted for a complementary partnership with minimal overlap. As a result, we believe we can address virtually all requirements. This allows us to strengthen and learn from each other, for example, in the areas of sustainability and safety," says Reinout van Oosten, Operational Director of Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure at RPS, who serves as the lead partner for the partnership.
Boorsma Director Jan Wessels adds: "Thanks to the efforts Rijkswaterstaat made to prepare for the tender and engage with the market, we gained a good understanding of their wishes and needs. This also enabled us to approach this tender together. In short, the formula Rijkswaterstaat wanted to see worked.".
