Government project promoter High Speed 2 Ltd will select a framework of firms to cover architectural and engineering services, urban planning and landscape engineering, technical testing and analysis services.
Professional fees for the front end of the project have been estimated to cost anywhere from £250m to £350m.
Transport secretary Philip Hammond is considering the findings of the consultation into the controversial railway project and is due to decide whether to move forward with plans before the end of the year.
If, as expected, he decides to go ahead, the next stage would be to introduce a Hybrid Bill into Parliament by October 2013 and seek to obtain Royal Assent by 2015.
In preparation, HS2 Ltd has already started the search for a development partner to provide support the Hybrid Bill and the manage the parliamentary process.
The new framework agreement for the professional services consultants will be used to develop the design of the HS2 project, if it moves to the next stage.
The framework will be split into four clear disciplines.
- Package 1a; Euston Station
- Package 1b; London metropolitan section to the north of Euston
- Package 2; the southern rural section running through Buckinghamshire Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire
- Package 3; the northern rural section running through Warwickshire, Solihull and Staffordshire
- Package 4; the West Midlands metropolitan section through Solihull and Birmingham including the Birmingham stations
- For design purposes the railway systems for the HS2 route section between London and the West Midlands would be undertaken in a single main package.
- Package 1: environmental impact assessments for the London metropolitan section of HS2, including Euston
- Package 2: environmental impact assessments for the HS2 southern rural section running through Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire
- Package 3: environmental impact assessments for the HS2 northern rural section running through Warwickshire, Solihull and Staffordshire
- Package 4: environmental impact assessments for the HS2 West Midlands metropolitan section through Solihull and Birmingham
- Produce the land plans and schedules required for the purposes of the HS2 Parliamentary Bill procedures
HS2 professional framework lots
Civil engineering and structural design
Cost: £160m-£200m
Railway systems design services
Cost £25-£45m
Environmental services
Cost: £50-£75m
Land referencing services
Cost: £15m-£30m
Consultants and architects have until 3 November to register an interest. email: HS2procurement@hs2.gsi.gov.uk or contact Nick Seaward, tel: 02079440769.
