CONTRACT NOTICE – NATIONAL

1 Authority Details

1.1

Authority Name and Address

1.2

Address from which documentation may be obtained

1.3

Completed documents must be returned to:

2 Contract Details

2.1

Title

Cartrefi Conwy/SMARTCymru Decarbonisation Feasibility Project

2.2

Description of the goods or services required

The project is to assess and develop existing methods of External Wall Insulation Systems (EWIS) and Cavity Wall Insulation for commercial supply to the North Wales market.

The aim is to evaluate the use of natural fibres (zero carbon in developing the product) to produce a zero-carbon home (zero carbon during use) using resources available in North Wales to minimise waste and the carbon footprint.

Two key areas have been determined to be investigated. Firstly, an evaluation of materials and methods in effectively installing natural materials as External Wall Insulation into existing housing stock, in order to improve energy efficiency and as a fabric first approach to reaching zero carbon targets. The research will cover a literature review of existing research and a test of methods and materials. The tests will analyse energy efficiency and take measurements of indoor temperature, humidity, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s), outside temperature and potentially nitrogen monoxide.

The second area is to look at using a natural fibre for the Internal Wall Cavity for new build zero carbon homes.

The project will cover a range of natural fibres, but the main focus will be Wool, reflecting the impact of rising Timber prices and falling Wool prices.

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=113493.

The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.

Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.

2.3

Notice Coding and Classification

2.4

Total quantity or scope of tender

An Intellectual property and technical study

3 Conditions for Participation

3.1

Minimum standards and qualification required

Cartrefi Conwy is looking for a partner to provide an Intellectual property and technical study, analysing the effectiveness of using a natural fibre for insulation. The technical study will include testing and reporting of the use of this fibre in test homes, under the ownership of Cartrefi Conwy.

Key requirements of the Intellectual property and technical study will include, but will not be limited to the following:

Prior experience of delivering research and development, the creation of intellectual property and technical desk-based studies.

Experience of research and development of wool based products, ideally published in the leading peer-reviewed journals in this field (for example this might include papers published in Journal of Materials Science and the Journal of Textile Institute).

Equipment and testing capability. Have access (not sub contracted) to testing equipment that can cover the thermal performance of products, strength, moisture levels, VOC emissions and the performance under heat and humidity.

An understanding of the build environment, both in terms of today’s new build, retrofitting existing buildings and the standards that are applied to these construction systems.

Availability. The project is grant funded and therefore time limited. The studies will need to be carried out at some point between Sep-21 and Jan-22. However, there is potential for a 3 to 6-month extension. Any quote will require the ability to start and complete the study within this time period.

Quotations will need to meet the above requirements and then will be chosen based on price and technical competence. The weighting of each criteria (price/competence) will be 50%.

In order to quote for this project, please provide the price to perform both the Intellectual property and technical studies and provide a short outline how your organisation can meet the five items highlighted in the specification (no more than one page).

4 Administrative Information

4.1

Type of Procedure

Single stage

4.2

Reference number attributed to the notice by the contracting authority

N/a

4.3

Time Limits

4.5

Language or languages in which tenders or requests to participate can be drawn up

4.6

Tender Submission Postbox

5 Other Information

5.1

Additional Information

(WA Ref:113493)

Relates to the following project/programme financed by EU Community Funds: SMARTCymru

5.2

Additional Documentation

5.3

Publication date of this notice