Principal and General Bridge Inspections 2026 - 2031

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (The Customer) requires a Supplier for provision of bridge inspections including, but not limited to, principal and general inspections.

Bridge inspections are systematic, legally mandated, and safety-critical evaluations of bridge structures to identify defects, monitor deterioration (such as corrosion or cracks), and assess structural integrity. For example, if a problem in a bridge is not detected early, it could eventually lead to a catastrophic incident, such as a bridge failure or a complete collapse of the bridge, resulting in serious injury or even death.

The prime focus of all bridge inspection is public safety and prolonging economic life of structure. The assessment includes an assessment of the load carrying capacity of all bridges which is required to determine if fire services can use bridges in an emergency, for example.

The purpose of the contract is to assess the load carrying capability of bridges at the Customer's Premises and Locations to enable it to satisfy relevant statutory requirement. The objective is to ensure its bridges are safe for use by the Customer's staff, patients and members of the public.

Principal inspections are required every 6 years. This level of inspection requires a close examination (within touching distance) of all necessary parts of structure, including access equipment and non-destructible testing.

The scope of the contract may increase to include bridges at additional Premises and Locations throughout the Term.

The contract has been procured via Lot 8d (Health and Safety) of the ESPO 664_25 (Consultancy Services) Framework: https://www.espo.org/consultancy-services-664-25.html