Visual Asset Inspector Accreditation for Flood, Coastal and Environmental Assets

This contract relates to three departments who help us fulfil our responsibilities across England. The three departments are Flood & Coastal Risk Management (FCRM), Water, Land & Biodiversity (WLB) and Navigation. They each use a wide variety of operational assets, which are described in more detail below.

To be an effective and efficient asset manager we require staff working for, or on behalf of, us to have suitable skills, knowledge and experience. A key role contributing to the management of our ‘fixed’, not Mechanical, Electrical Instrumentation, Control and Automation (MEICA), assets is undertaken by externally accredited, Asset Inspectors (AIs). AIs visit our assets and visually assess their condition.

Background to existing contract

The current/existing contract (Ref: C12962) with JBA for the T98 & T98a Visual Asset Inspection (New accreditation and Reaccreditation- Area Health check) training ends 21/10/2026.

We have used the last of the extensions (4 +1+1) so we needed to undertake a procurement.

To ensure continuation of service, we have completed a compliant procurement exercise in time to commence the new contract on 22/10/2026. Additionally, there is the potential for further work to assist the EA in developing the course and providing technical advice.

Objective

The overarching objective of this procurement is to ensure that Asset Inspectors (AIs) working for, or on behalf of, the Environment Agency (EA) are able to carry out visual inspections of EA assets competently, consistently, and safely.

To achieve this, all AIs must successfully complete and pass the T98 Visual Asset Accreditation course, which serves as the recognised standard for assessing inspector capability. The appointed Contractor will be responsible for:

• Assessing competence: Evaluating whether candidates have achieved the required level of knowledge, technical understanding, and practical capability to undertake inspections to EA standards.
• Accreditation decision-making: Determining whether individuals meet the pass criteria and can be formally accredited as Asset Inspectors.
• Quality and consistency assurance: Ensuring assessments are applied consistently and in line with agreed standards, maintaining credibility and reliability across the EA estate.

Accreditation is valid for a maximum of five years, after which inspectors must undergo a reaccreditation process to confirm ongoing competence and alignment with current standards and practices.

The high-level specification therefore requires a solution that:

• Delivers robust, standardised assessment and accreditation processes
• Ensures consistency and quality across all assessments and assessors
• Supports safe inspection practices and risk awareness
• Provides a sustainable accreditation lifecycle, including refresher/reaccreditation provision
• Maintains appropriate records, auditability, and reporting to evidence compliance and performance

This defined outcome and specification form the foundation for the subsequent procurement strategy, including delivery model options, commercial approach, and evaluation criteria.