23 Jun Seeking a specialist provider to deliver the end-to-end design, installation, and educational integration of Sustainable Urban Drainage interventions at Torbay schools

Tender Proposal: Delivery of Sustainable Urban Drainage (SuDS) Interventions and Educational Programme in Torbay Schools

Project Title:
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) Implementation and Climate Education Programme

Issued by:
Torbay Communities & Partners

Delivery Partner Sought:
End-to-end SuDS service provider with expertise in rainwater harvesting, data-led modelling, and youth engagement.

Project Overview:
As part of Torbay’s climate resilience strategy and in alignment with the DfE’s “SuDS in Schools” framework, Torbay Communities seeks a specialist provider to deliver the end-to-end design, installation, and educational integration of Sustainable Urban Drainage interventions at Watcombe Primary School, Sherwell Valley Primary School, and St Cuthbert Mayne School.

Objectives:

• Reduce surface water flood risk and combined sewer overflows locally through roof-water disconnection.
• Enhance school environments with low-maintenance rainwater attenuation tanks and/or planters.
• Provide educational engagement for students on climate resilience and water systems.
• Enable schools to engage with live monitoring data and climate learning resources.
• Contribute to wider community adaptation and awareness of rainwater management challenges and solutions.

Scope of Work:

Phase 1: Scoping, Modelling, and Installation

• Survey and assess impermeable roof area and drainage connections at each school.
• Use hydraulic modelling (including 1:30-year return-period design storms) to identify optimal downpipe disconnection interventions.
• Select and source above-ground attenuation systems, such as planters and passive attenuation tanks, tailored to the schools’ site constraints and needs.
• Install selected interventions, with priority given to those that deliver high cost-benefit ratios in terms of flow reduction, biodiversity and education potential.

Phase 2: Monitoring and Data Integration

• Deliver and install performance monitoring equipment on 2 interventions per school.
• Maintain systems and monitor data for a 2-year period, including up to quarterly site visits where necessary.
• Provide near real-time access to monitoring data for schools, for educational use.
• Offer live case-study dashboards for schools, supporting in-school learning and transparency.
• Establish data sharing agreements and ensure GDPR compliance.

Phase 3: Education and Community Engagement

• Deliver in-person workshops per school to introduce the rainwater systems and plant rain planters with students.
• Provide tailored teaching resources and interactive activities focused on the water cycle, climate change, and flood mitigation.
• Ensure that interventions are supported long-term with minimal school maintenance burden. Planter contents and system selection will be adapted to staffing capacity.

Anticipated Outcomes:

• Disconnection of significant roof area from drainage networks, reducing peak flow and downstream flood risk.
• Increased biodiversity and green space in school grounds, supporting health and wellbeing.
• Engaged young learners through meaningful, hands-on environmental education.
• Data-rich case studies showcasing climate adaptation in action.
• Enhanced community awareness and intergenerational impact.

Budget Breakdown:

Please note: These costs are in accordance with DfE “Category A Small Schemes” and subject to final school confirmation and installation needs.

Additional Notes:

• Interventions are designed to function passively, with overflow routed into existing drainage, ensuring no exacerbation of local or downstream flooding.
• While rainwater reuse is not the project’s primary aim, stored water may be used by schools for planting if desired.
• Systems will not significantly affect school operational costs but will support long-term environmental stewardship and flood resilience.
• Letters of support from all three participating schools confirming commitment and need for intervention are included.

Who we are looking for:

Are you a national leader in SuDS innovation and data-driven rainwater management, combining technical expertise with community-based climate engagement? We are looking for systems that are built to last, an education team that brings science to life, and monitoring that ensures long-term impact.

Here at Torbay Communities, we believe that these small, highly visible and educationally-rich interventions are essential tools in tackling the complex challenge of climate adaptation at a community level.

Contact:
Davina Luther

[email protected]

Submit by:

30/06/2025