TENDER BRIEF Tender Brief Issued by: Regional Development Australia Townsville and North West Queensland Inc (RDA) Project Name: Development of an Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan (IQRAP) Tender Deadline: 5:00pm, Friday 16 th January 2015 Submission format: Tender address: (1) Email or (2) hard copy + a soft copy on flash drive or DVD info@rdanwq.org.au To confirm receipt: 07 4410 3655 Project Completion: 31 August 2015 Regional Development Australia Townsville and North West Queensland Inc. Level 1, 6 The Strand, Townsville QLD 4810 Issued by: Glenys Schuntner Chief Executive Officer Regional Development Australia Townsville and North West Queensland Inc. If you have any questions, can you please direct them by email to Ms Glenys Schuntner, CEO, RDA Townsville and North West Queensland Committee at ceo@rdanwq.org.au and responses will be provided by email to all tendering organisations. Enquiries can be accepted up to noon on Monday 22 nd December and again from 9am on Monday 29 th December up until 5:00pm Thursday, 15 th January, 2015. G:\Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan\Documentation\Brief for Tender - Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan FINAL 141216.doc 1
Introduction to the Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan (IQRAP) Working Group Regional, rural and remote roads across inland Queensland carry a significant portion of the export and domestic freight task and the drive tourism market, and connect communities for emergency and day-to-day requirements, but have attracted less than their fair share of funding for productivity and safety upgrades and maintenance. The Bruce Highway however, has secured $8.9 billion in cofunding by the Australian and Queensland Governments following the development of the Bruce Highway Crisis Action Plan and significant stakeholder advocacy. A collaboration of four Regional Development Australia Committees (Townsville & North West Queensland, Far North Queensland & Torres Strait, Fitzroy & Central West, and Mackay-Isaac- Whitsunday) identified the importance of investment into inland Queensland roads in the North Queensland Strategy (NQS), which identifies priorities where there are common issues across the regions. In partnership with RDA Darling Downs & South West, the NQS group engaged with regional, rural and remote stakeholders and convened meetings in Longreach in December 2013 and in Mount Isa in August 2014 to discuss ways to develop stronger cases for regional road infrastructure investment. Stakeholders consider the Action Plan as the model to follow to develop a pathway forward for future funding of roads west of the Bruce Highway and outside the South East Queensland corner. A Working Group has been formed, which includes representatives from each of the participating Regional Roads and Transport Groups (RRTGs) as detailed in Table 1 below, the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ), RACQ and RDA. The Secretariat role will be undertaken by RDA Townsville and North West Queensland. The Secretariat RDA Townsville and North West Queensland Regional Development Australia is an established network of 55 Committees across Australia made up of local community leaders who are volunteers to champion the development of long-term sustainable communities. For more information on the national network, visit www.rda.gov.au The Regional Development Australia Townsville and North West Queensland (RDA) Committee operates as an incorporated association with funding from the Australian Government through the Department of Industry and Regional Development (www.rdanwq.org.au). G:\Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan\Documentation\Brief for Tender - Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan FINAL 141216.doc 2
The Regional Road & Transport Groups The following RRTGs have agreed to participate in the IQRAP Working Group. Table 1 Participating RRTGs RRTG Councils Represented Interest in IQRAP Bowen Basin Far North Qld Banana, Central Highlands, Isaac, Woorabinda Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Cook, Croydon, Douglas, Etheridge, Mareeba, Tablelands, Wujal Wujal Capricorn Highway, Gregory Developmental Road Peninsula Developmental Road, Inland Way (including the Hann Highway), Savannah Way Northern Qld Charters Towers* Flinders Highway, Gregory Developmental Road, Burdekin Falls Dam Road, Hervey s Range Road North West Burke, Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Doomadgee, Flinders, McKinlay, Mount Isa, Richmond Outback Barcaldine, Barcoo, Blackall- Tambo, Longreach, Winton, Diamantina, Boulia Flinders Highway, Savannah Way (Gulf Developmental Road from Kennedy Developmental Road to the Burke Developmental Road, then Doomadgee Road East and West through to the NT border), Kennedy Developmental Road (incorporating the Hann Highway), Landsborough Highway (Winton to Cloncurry) and Barkly Highway (Cloncurry to the NT border) Landsborough Highway (Winton to Cloncurry), Capricorn Highway, Mitchell Highway, Outback Way (including the Hann Highway from Hughenden to The Lynd and the Kennedy Developmental Road from Boulia to Winton) Rockhampton Rockhampton, Livingstone Capricorn Highway South West Bulloo, Balonne, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie, Maranoa Carnarvon Highway, Balonne Highway, Castlereagh Highway, Mitchell Highway, Diamantina Developmental Road Western Downs Western Downs Warrego Highway, Leichhardt Highway Whitsunday Mackay, Whitsunday Stock Route Road realignment, Bowen Developmental Road * The Northern Qld RRTG also includes Townsville City and the Hinchinbrook and Burdekin Shires. Charters Towers is the only Inland Queensland shire from that RRTG and was invited to participate independently. G:\Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan\Documentation\Brief for Tender - Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan FINAL 141216.doc 3
Project Details The WG and Secretariat will engage a consultant to prepare an Action Plan, which will prioritise key transport routes and projects to improve productivity and safety in the target area, which will empower stakeholders to advocate for required funds to undertake the works. The consultant will liaise with the participating RRTGs, local governments, the Department of Transport and Main Roads, and other stakeholders as appropriate, to gather information required to undertake the prioritisation task. It is expected that each of the RRTGs will provide appropriate technical and engineering data for inclusion in the Action Plan. The Action Plan will: 1) focus on the road networks in two distinct areas (see attached map), namely: Western Inland Zone including the areas covered by the North West Qld, Outback and South West RRTGs Eastern Inland Zone including the areas covered by the Far North Qld, Bowen Basin, Rockhampton, and Whitsunday RRTGs and Charters Towers Regional Council 2) provide an overview of key road infrastructure across Inland Queensland, particularly within the areas covered by the participating RRTGs, including collation of relevant, available data, such as traffic volumes, flood and incident-related closure statistics, accident data, and any other relevant data; 3) develop a methodology for prioritisation of road construction and maintenance works for each of the Western and Eastern Inland Zones that focuses on the five criteria identified at the Longreach forum and any others that may arise during the project. The Longreach criteria were: a. economic value (including productivity on supply chains), b. safety, c. strategic intent, d. access, and e. social value. 4) Identify 5, 10, and 15-year priorities. Reference should be made to the Working Group Terms of Reference (see Appendix 1) and the Regional Roads Update (see Appendix 2). The Regional Roads Update, collated by RDA, provides G:\Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan\Documentation\Brief for Tender - Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan FINAL 141216.doc 4
significant supporting information for this project, including the structures and roles of relevant stakeholder groups, details of roads of local and regional significance, and reference material. RDA has engaged with all members of the Working Group and has contact details readily available. Expected Project Outcomes/Benefits Short Term 1) Stakeholders have a high level understanding of the current road infrastructure in the region; 2) Identification of a priority road network within each of the two identified zones of Inland Queensland and an associated list of priority road projects to be undertaken in 5, 10, and 15-year horizons; and 3) Stakeholders to have a clear understanding of the future road transport priorities for Inland Queensland; Medium Term 1) New investment into regional road infrastructure; 2) Enhancements to the productivity, safety, access, and efficiency of the Inland Queensland road transport network. G:\Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan\Documentation\Brief for Tender - Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan FINAL 141216.doc 5
Expected Project Deliverables The key deliverable of this project is an Action Plan, focusing on key transport routes west of the Bruce Highway and outside of South East Queensland, which will identify priorities for future funding and provide business cases to support the prioritisation. Summary of the multistage process to deliver an Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan Stage Tasks involved 1. Define a strategic network, vision and objectives 2. Level of Service (LOS) Framework 3. Performance and Data Gap Analysis 4. Prioritisation and Funding Scenarios 5. Developing the Program of Works 6. Presentation of the plan Stakeholders meetings (industry and government) Community consultation Some data collation Technical assessment of desired future standards using existing data Collation of existing data and priorities from TMR, RRTGs, and local governments, then using that to undertake: o o Technical assessment of current standards Estimation of quantum of investment and capital/maintenance needs Identification of additional data required to complete performance analysis for all RRTG regions Development of the business case for investment into each zone based on the above criteria Collating funding data and establishing scenarios Prioritising the identified needs and associated works Packaging and scheduling of works for each zone Assessing deliverability of the program for each zone Establishing arguments for funding Alignment of program with Australian/Queensland agenda Maps, Visuals Photos Communications/Press Kits Publishing G:\Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan\Documentation\Brief for Tender - Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan FINAL 141216.doc 6
Timeframe for deliverables Item Proposed Milestone Dates Tenders close 16 January 2015 Contract awarded 31 January 2015 Stage 1 Report Strategic Network, Vision & Objectives 27 February 2015 Stage 2 Report Level of Service Framework 20 March 2015 Stage 3 Report Gap Analysis 15 May 2015 Stage 4 Report Prioritisation & Funding Scenarios 5 June 2015 Stage 5 Report Program of Works 3 July 2015 Stage 6 Report Plan Presentation 31 July 2015 Stakeholder comment period 31 July - 14 August 2015 Final Action Plan completed 21 August 2015 Final Action Plan approved and adopted 31 August 2015 Selection Criteria and weighting 1) Value for money 40% 2) Demonstrated ability to deliver the outputs and meet the deadlines 20% 3) Experience and skills associated with the industry; particularly multi-criteria analysis and knowledge and experience in dealing with the Department of Transport an Main Roads 20% 4) Inland Queensland knowledge and experience, particularly in relation to Council engagement and/or the road transport sector in the region 20% G:\Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan\Documentation\Brief for Tender - Inland Queensland Roads Action Plan FINAL 141216.doc 7
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