Appointment of a Project Manager led ICT for BRCD - The Gobbins

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council wish to appoint an Economic Operator to provide a Project Manager led Integrated Consultant Team (ICT) for the design and delivery of “The Gobbins Phase 2”, in Islandmagee, Larne.

The Gobbins is an internationally unique coastal path located in Islandmagee, Larne, it was a Victorian engineering feat when it first opened to the public in 1902. In its heyday, claims to have provided some 3km of pathway and it was reported to have attracted more visitors than the Giant’s Causeway, but in subsequent years fell into disuse, The Gobbins closed in 1954. The restoration of The Gobbins in 2015 saw The Gobbins Coastal and Cliff Path Phase I project complete works that opened just over 1km of the cliff face coastal path and a similar length of cliff top path and a Visitor Centre.

The Gobbins Phase II project aims to address capacity issues, principally by introducing a looped walk that connects the coastal path to the cliff top path, meaning that visitors do not have to return along the same path by creating a loped route. The development will unlock the potential of The Gobbins, significantly increasing.

The proposal for the project will include the following key elements;

• Element 1 - Ingress Structure

• Element 2 - Welcome Hub

• Element 3 - Virtual Reality Digital Enhancement at the existing Visitor Centre

• Element 4 - Refurbishment of Cliff Top Path Network

• Element 5 - Visitor Servicing

The Economic Operator will be appointed under the NEC4 Professional Service Contract and shall provide the professional services applicable to RIBA Plan of Work (2020) Stages 1 to 7 and as specified in the PQQ and ITT documents. The chosen route for the procurement of the IST is a traditional route, with fully designed and specified package, prior to issuing of the construction Phase tender package. Following the procurement and appointment of the IST the Economic Operator shall undertake the management of the IST on behalf of the Employer.