The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator is seeking Proposals for Panel Refresh to support Phase 3 of SLGAAP.

Scope of Services

For Phase 3 of the SLGAAP the NHVR will assist local government road managers to undertake capacity assessments of bridges and culverts on key routes for heavy vehicles in South Australia and Victoria.

In particular, the NHVR will undertake the collection of local government asset data in South Australia (SA) and Victoria (VIC) suitable for a future National Automated Access System (NAAS).

In addition, the NHVR will undertake the collection of local government asset data in New South Wales to support the Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) Automated Access Assessment

Program (AAAP).

The data collection activities will be supplemented by numerical assessments (including Tier 1 and Tier 2 assessments) to support local government road managers with access decision-making in the near-term.

The local government areas and routes to be included in the program will be identified in collaboration with the respective State transport agencies and Local Government Associations. It is expected that most local governments have an asset register containing asset names, unique identifiers, geolocation data (coordinates) and basic inventory information. It is expected that suppliers will then work collaboratively with the NHVR and the local government, undertaking a combination of desktop and field inspections to expand the asset inventory information to cover all the necessary data suitable for the National Automated Access System (NAAS).

The data to be obtained will include:

- Location data

- Traffic lane arrangements

- Structural form and articulation, including any evidence of widening or strengthening

- Key structural dimensions

- Condition information including the type, severity and location of any defects that affect load-carrying capacity.

- Likely design and construction era

- Assessed capacity if available

- Current access information including ‘as-of-rights’ vehicles, posted mass limits etc

It is expected that this information will be obtained through a combination of any of the following:

- Desktop reviews of design/construction drawings, standard drawings and other historical information related to the type of structure.

- Electronic mapping and imaging tools

- Reviews of information held by councils and/or state governments to obtain any of the above data.

- Reviews of existing assessment reports.

- Reviews of existing condition inspection reports.

- Site inspection of the asset.

- Knowledge of historical codes and forms of construction.

- National Network Maps and NHVR-supplied access information

Information obtained during the data collection is to be provided to the NHVR in a prescribed format .csv or .xlsx file for import into the NHVR asset capability module. It is expected that the information will be provided on a council-by-council basis. An example of a proforma for data collection in NSW is included for reference. It is expected that a similar template will be developed for data collection activities in VIC and SA.

Data collection activities are anticipated to make up in excess of 75% of the Phase 3 work by value.

If engagement with a local government identifies a need to provide near-term support for access decision-making, the supplier will work collaboratively with the NHVR the local government to confirm the asset nominations, establish the desired capability for the route (when applicable) and commence the assessment process. Assets identified for numerical assessment will be subject to an assessment commensurate with the:

• level of information available for the asset,

• need for assessments to inform near-term access decisions and

• likely cost/benefit of the assessment.

Tier 1 (line beam) assessments will be the default approach for assessing permit application vehicles or groups of reference vehicle (e.g. VIC/SA PBS reference vehicles). Bridge capability for the Tier 1 assessment will be determined from a combination of the following as appropriate:

Design vehicle(s); As-of-rights vehicles; Tier 1-2d assessments; Tier 2 (or higher) assessments. Tier 1-2d assessments will typically only be employed where in-lane capability is known but no documented straddling lane capability is available. Tier 1-2d assessments will examine a limited number of straddling vehicles to establish capability that can be used in a Tier 1 assessment.

Tier 2 (and higher) assessments will be used to establish capacity in terms of a limited number of vehicles (up to 10) that, when combined with assessment ratios, represent in-lane and straddling lane capability.

Briefing

A briefing session will be held at Gasworks, Level 3, 76 Skyring Terrace, Newstead at 16 Dec, 2024 2:00 PM . As stated in ITO documentation, request via Tenders@nhvr.gov.au if you wish to participate. Will be via Teams and is NOT mandatory