Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
General Offices, Steelworks Road
Ebbw Vale
NP23 6AA
UK
Contact person: Lee Williams
Telephone: +44 1495311556
E-mail: lee.williams@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
NUTS: UKL16
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0278
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:
https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Proposed Wood Recycling Facility at Silent Valley, Blaenau Gwent
II.1.2) Main CPV code
90514000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to alert suppliers to a potential opportunity in relation to the Partnership’s requirements for a long-term municipal waste wood recycling solution to treat up to 30,000 tpa.
Such a long-term solution could take the form of:
1) A Design, Build Finance, Operate and Maintain scheme situated on Blaenau Gwent Council’s site at Silent Valley, which would be based on a reverting asset.
2) A Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Maintain or on a new site introduced by a tenderer; or
3) A service-based contract at an existing operational wood recycling facility that is already under the legal ownership/control of a tenderer.
4) A Design, Build, Operate and Maintain Contract, under a public sector capital funding option.
The Partnership is flexible in its approach, subject to any proposed solution that meets the required quality and recycling objectives.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
10 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
90514000
45213270
42914000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL16
Main site or place of performance:
Silent Valley, Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Proposed Wood Recycling Facility at Silent Valley, Blaenau Gwent.
Short description of nature and quantity or value of supplies or services:
The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to alert suppliers to a potential opportunity in relation to the Partnership’s requirements for a long-term municipal waste wood recycling solution to treat up to 30,000 tpa.
Such a long-term solution could take the form of:
1) A Design, Build Finance, Operate and Maintain scheme situated on Blaenau Gwent Council’s site at Silent Valley, which would be based on a reverting asset.
2) A Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Maintain or on a new site introduced by a tenderer; or
3) A service-based contract at an existing operational wood recycling facility that is already under the legal ownership/control of a tenderer.
4) A Design, Build, Operate and Maintain Contract, under a public sector capital funding option.
The Partnership is flexible in its approach, subject to any proposed solution that meets the required quality and recycling objectives.
1. The wider site at Silent Valley, Blaenau Gwent is currently used for waste treatment and recycling activities. It has a weighbridge, excellent transport and drainage infrastructure. Feasibility studies and early concept design work indicates there is sufficient space on site to allow the development and delivery of a c.30,000 tpa wood recycling facility.
2. We have engaged with several Local Authorities across South Wales in the past year to provide waste wood “feedstock” from their respective civic amenity sites and bulky waste collections.
3. The site at Silent Valley can accommodate a [94m x 20m] steel framed processing hall on a reinforced concrete slab to cover the site (c.11,000 sqm), and a facility that is compliant with all fire and operating permit regulations for waste wood reprocessing plants. We have estimated that the facility would require 26 (external) storage bays, traffic management system and a new [1.5MW] power supply and sustainable drainage solution.
4. The services, however supplied, must deliver a product capable of acceptance by 1) panel-board manufacturers and 2) biomass operators for the MDF product. Any processing plant, whether as part of a merchant or a design and build solution, will need to include shredder(s), telehandlers, picking station, conveyor system, screens, magnets, and other plant and equipment necessary to maximise recycling, minimise carbon emissions and achieve compliance with the Environmental and Fire Prevention Permits.
5. The scope under the above procurement models will include the management of offtake contracts. Such off-takers will primarily include panel-board manufacturers for the majority of wood chip output, together with other recycling outlets and associated haulage services.
6. The overall objective of the project is to procure a modern, environmentally sustainable wood reprocessing facility that will produce high quality outcomes such as high recycling and contributing to the Net Zero agenda.
Actual dates are yet to be determined, as will depend on the procurement and contractual route selected, so at this stage this timetable is for indicative purposes only.
OJEU notice and Suppliers’ Questionnaire published. [September 23]
ITT’s issued to pre-qualified bidders [November 23]
ITT’s Submitted. [February 2024]
Contract Award [April 24]
Contract Commencement [July 2024]
Completion of Facility Construction [July 2025]
Commissioning of Facility [July 2025]
Service Commencement [August 2025]
Potential suppliers will not be prejudiced by any response to this PIN, or failure to respond. This PIN does not formally signify the beginning of a procurement and does not constitute a commitment by the Authority to undertake any procurement exercise. Once the Authority decides to formally commence the procurement, a separate contract notice will be issued.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
11/09/2023
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
Blaenau Gwent Council is facilitating this PIN market engagement exercise via its E-Procurement portal, which can be accessed via the following link:
https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk
Project Ref:44127 PQQ Ref:33431
Interested parties should register their details on the portal in order to gain direct access to project and the ability to confirm their Expressions of Interest and to respond to the market engagement question set.
Responses should be submitted via the portal by no later than 17:00hrs Monday 19th June 2023
Request for Information
Under Regulation 40 of the Procurement and Contracting Regulations 2015, Blaenau Gwent CBC acting as the lead Contracting Authority for the Partnership, wishes to seek information and advice from interested parties who may wish to participate in the forthcoming procurement process. The purpose of this Request for Information is to invite interested parties to express and register their interest in this opportunity and assist the Authority in finalising the project’s scope of works and the contract. To this extent, the Authority is now seeking responses from the market in relation to the following questions.
1. Given the outline scope for the New Build option at Silent Valley alluded to, do you believe that a [10-15 year] operating period would also be compatible with a DBFO or merchant contract? Provide rationale to support your answer.
2. The Partnership is keen to ensure that the Solution chosen represents Value for Money for the public sector, so would be interested to hear your views on how the various models mentioned above could deliver this.
3. We have prepared a draft risk allocation matrix for a DBFO or service-based “merchant” contract. We would be interested in your views on how the main contract risks should be apportioned between the Parties.
4. The Unitary Charge for the DBFO or PSP Solution would have to be economically attractive for Local Authorities, for the Lead Authority to secure long term feedstock contracts. We would be interested to hear any comments you may have on this.
5. How would a DBFO type of contract for this type of facility deliver contracting arrangements that incentivise better outcomes for the Client, for example compared to other procurement models.
6. Securing high recycling performance is one of the core objectives underpinning this project like other waste recycling contracts in Wales, the proposed Contract will invariably include a minimum % recycling performance guarantee. Do you have any thoughts on how such a contractual mechanism might operate to incentivise recycling performance?
7. How long would a typical programme time be to deliver a DBFO project, from Contract Award through to Service Commencement?
8. In the case of a reverting asset DBFO Solution at Silent Valley, what form and duration of guarantees could you potentially offer on the built and mobile assets? Please expand on your answer where possible.
Responses should be submitted via the Etenderwales portal by no later than 5pm, Monday June 19th 2023.
(WA Ref:131517)
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
12/05/2023