NRW intends to award a Framework Agreement to support the maintenance of over 500km official NRW mountain bike trails across Wales. The Framework contains two separate Lots, each divided further into geographical sub-Lots.
Lot 1 – Mountain Bike Trail Maintenance Works
Lot 1 covers the preventative and reactive maintenance activities identified through the regular trail inspection programme. The specification of works includes, but is not limited to:
- Maintenance of mountain bike trail tread, trail chassis and trailside features, including de-berming, culvert repairs, ditch clearance, grade dip repairs, and repairs to trail tread and chassis using hand tools, whacker plates, powered wheelbarrows and other plant and equipment as required. This also includes clearance of fall zones and maintenance of the wider trail corridor.
- Maintenance of trail corridors and sightlines through vegetation management, including cutting back encroaching vegetation and brashing trailside trees flush to the trunk.
- Small-scale installation, maintenance and repair of fencing and motorcycle barriers. Detailed specifications for all works will be agreed in advance between the Contractor and the Lot Manager.
- Installation, maintenance and replacement of waymarker posts, interpretation panels, signage and other associated trailside infrastructure.
- Small-scale chemical treatment and manual control of weeds and invasive species within car parks and along trail networks. Chemical use must be kept to a minimum, with manual clearance being the preferred method wherever practicable. Written approval from the Project Manager must be obtained prior to any chemical application, including approval of the products to be used and the proposed application method. Chemical usage records and data sheets must be provided by the Contractor following completion of spraying activities.
- Emergency call-out works, including outside normal working hours (09:00–17:00, Monday to Friday), for repairs, maintenance activities, route diversions and other urgent operational requirements.
Lot 2 – Mountain Bike Trail Design and Construction
Lot 2 covers the design and construction of new mountain bike trails and trail sections to the grades specified by the Client. Detailed project-specific requirements will be provided for each commission; however, the scope is expected to include:
- Detailed trail design.
- Securing all necessary permissions, approvals, consents and licences required for project delivery.
- Corridor clearance and construction of trails to the specification and grading requirements defined by the Client.