20212406 Scaffolding of HMS Victory

INTRODUCTION The next decade is a key period in the 260 year - long story of HMS Victory’s service and survival. Over the next decade the National Museum of the Royal Navy are undertaking a programme of conservation work to ensure the long-term preservation of a World - Class Historic Vessel and an exemplar of a Royal Navy capital warship from the Age of Sail. This programme will commence in late 2021. The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) is leading the conservation programme and acts as Principal Designer and Principal Consultant under CDM 2015 regulations. The conservation work includes removal and replacement of all external and some internal planking in a staged programme; it is intended that the ship remains open to the public throughout the planned work, with visitor routes adapted as necessary. OUTLINE REQUIREMENTS The scaffolding is to fulfil the following high - level indicative aims. It is intended that full requirements are established during the tendering process by adopting a competitive dialogue procurement process in line with public procurement regulations and procedures. To provide a multi-level (or variable level) tented access and work platform to support the removal and replacement of planking and a weather-tight enclosure for essential conservation work to be undertaken, and for site/office welfare facilities for scaffolding construction personnel within a secure area to allow public access to the museum and ship. NMRN wishes to explore both rental and purchase options for scaffolding. In either instance, all design, assurance and ongoing maintenance, support and adaptation of the scaffolding is to be provided by the Prime Contractor for Scaffolding. The NMRN is seeking scaffolding companies that ideally have experience in working with heritage/conservation projects, and in incorporating and working alongside visitor access to the ship. The work is anticipated in four stages, each of approximately 3 years: Stage 1 (Stbd /Midships) Stage 2 (Bow) Stage 3 (Port Side/Midships) Stage 4 (Stern) Currently work is underway to establish the feasibility of combining Stages 1 and 3 into a single scaffolded programme, to be followed by separate scaffolded Stages for 2 and 4, which may also be conducted concurrently. The design of scaffolding must incorporate provision for internal and external visitor experience/interpretation (fixing points for displays, audio-visual / multimedia, etc. including power and lighting for 24 hr access), a secure reception area for visitors for controlled access to the scaffolding, and hanging of external cladding/interpretation. Provision of actual materials, media and equipment for the visitor experience is outside the scope of this anticipated contract The design of the scaffolding must also include provision of fire detection and suppression e.g. fire curtains to enable the scaffolded structure to be isolated from the ship outside of work hours, and water mist/sprinkler system. The scaffolding will need a ventilation /air circulation system (but not heating (to maintain ambient temperatures) and avoid overheating in Summer. The scaffolding is to be supported from the dockside, and not from the ship itself. As work on each side extends inboard to the centreline of the ship, it is anticipated that the scaffolding of the port and starboard midships sections will need to be supported simultaneously from port and starboard docksides at each stage (1 and 3). Work below the level of the Orlop deck is not within the scope of the conservation programme; but the scaffolding will need to be adapted to enable additional scaffolding to be provided down into the dock at each stage should emergent work dictate.