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The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is preparing to engage the market on a major construction opportunity in Harlow, Essex. The opportunity sits within the UK Health Security Campus Programme: a once-in-a-generation investment to create a modern, purpose-built national health security and biosecurity campus.
The new campus will bring together UKHSA’s specialist scientific facilities from Porton Down and Colindale and its London headquarters functions onto a single integrated site in Harlow. The campus is intended to provide modern laboratories, office accommodation and supporting infrastructure to strengthen the UK’s ability to detect, assess and respond to serious public health and biosecurity threats.
This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice relates to the procurement of a Tier 1 construction contractor for the design and build of the campus facilities and infrastructure outside the separately managed high-containment laboratory building. In practical terms, the potential requirement is expected to include a new science and headquarters building, medium-containment laboratory capability, office accommodation, energy centre, logistics and support facilities, arrivals and education facilities, external works, utilities, site infrastructure and associated campus-wide integration.
The separately managed high-containment laboratory building, which will contain the most specialist Containment Level 4 capability, will be delivered through a separate agreement and is not the focus of this engagement activity.
UKHSA is using this engagement to test and develop the core commercial considerations, such as; whether the remaining campus works should ideally be delivered through a single Tier 1 design and build model, or whether alternative delivery models would improve deliverability, competition and value for money.
The potential requirement would include:
• a new science and headquarters building providing modern laboratory, technical and office accommodation for around 2400 FTE ;
• containment Level 2 and Containment Level 3 laboratory areas and associated technical environments;
• office space and shared facilities to support the relocation and co-location of UKHSA staff;
• logistics, warehousing, support and campus operations facilities;
• arrivals, reception, security, education, training and outreach facilities;
• site-wide infrastructure, a dedicated energy centre, utilities, external works, access, parking and enabling works;
• coordination with the separately managed high-containment laboratory project and other programme workstreams;
• construction logistics, phasing, mobilisation, commissioning support and handover planning;
• health, safety, environmental, quality, security and regulatory coordination requirements;
• sustainability, carbon reduction, energy efficiency, materials reuse and social value outcomes.
The opportunity is part of a wider programme targeting full campus operational readiness by 2038. Key programme activities include advanced works and main construction during the late 2020s and early 2030s, followed by transition, commissioning, validation and relocation activity through the mid-to-late 2030s. Further detail on the programme timings will be available via the engagement process and may be subject to change as work progresses.
The final scope, procurement route, contract model, packaging strategy, value and timetable remain subject to approval and are likely to change following market engagement and further project development. The estimated costs within this notice represent the anticipated cost of the construction work associated with this opportunity. Through the market engagement process, the Agency will be able to provide additional detail on expected value vs potential value.
This notice is for preliminary market engagement only. It is not a call for competition and does not commit UKHSA to commence a procurement or award a contract.
Related professional services opportunity
UKHSA is also progressing related professional services procurement activity to support the wider UK Health Security Campus Programme. This activity is expected to support the development, assurance, design, commercial, technical and delivery readiness of the programme.
The professional services opportunity and this preliminary market engagement for the proposed Harlow science, headquarters and supporting campus infrastructure works are separate but related elements of the wider programme. Suppliers should note that the professional services activity is intended to support the development and delivery of the programme, while this notice relates to market engagement with organisations interested in the future construction delivery opportunity.
UKHSA is referencing the related professional services activity in this notice to provide market context and to help suppliers understand the broader programme landscape. Interested suppliers should review any separately published notices for the professional services opportunity where relevant.