Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Service Manager Commercial & Procurement
General Offices, Steelworks Road
Ebbw Vale
NP23 6DB
Contact
Lee Williams
lee.williams@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 1495311556
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKL16 - Gwent Valleys
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/
Buyer's address
https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0278
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned 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
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Operation and Maintenance of a Proposed Regional Wood Reprocessing Facility at Silent Valley, Blaenau Gwent.
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 90514000 - Refuse recycling services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
1. The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to alert potential suppliers to an opportunity in relation to the Local Authorities’ requirements for the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of a proposed regional wood reprocessing facility at the Silent Valley waste management site near Ebbw Vale in Blaenau Gwent.
2. The Authority is keen to explore the commercial viability of outsourcing the O&M of the facility over a term of up to 10 years, as opposed to the option of delivering the operations “in-house” as a public sector partnership.
3. The outsourced O&M scope may indicatively consist of the following services:
- Day-to-day processing of the waste wood feedstock into a specification wood chip suitable for panel board.
- Operation of a process-line configuration of plant and machinery;
- Manning the picking station (to extract contaminants from the feedstock).
- Responsibility for meeting required Performance Outputs.
- Responsibility for meeting prescribed Quality thresholds.
- Responsibility for the management of all Health and Safety aspects.
- Management of Site personnel.
- Traffic Management and vehicle loading/unloading operations.
- Procurement of Fuel and other consumables to operate the plant and equipment.
- Responsibility for managing the Environmental Permit and Fire Prevention Plan Permits;
- Interface management with adjacent permit holder(s) on the site at Silent Valley.
4. The overall objective is to create a modern and environmentally sustainable wood reprocessing facility that will contribute towards the net zero carbon agenda.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 90514000 - Refuse recycling services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKL16 - Gwent Valleys
Main site or place of performance
Silent Valley, Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
1. The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to alert potential suppliers to an opportunity in relation to the Local Authorities’ requirements for the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of a proposed regional wood reprocessing facility at the Silent Valley waste management site near Ebbw Vale in Blaenau Gwent.
2. The wider site is currently used for waste treatment and recycling activities, and has a weighbridge, excellent transport and drainage infrastructure and is already in possession of various waste management consents, which will assist the development and delivery of the planned c.30,000 tpa wood reprocessing facility.
3. A partnership has been proposed that will comprise a group of local authorities in Wales who will provide waste wood “feedstock” to the facility from their respective civic amenity sites. The host Authority Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council have developed the concept design for the facility and will now procure and obtain the necessary planning and environmental permits.
4. The partnership is keen to explore the commercial viability of outsourcing the O&M of the facility over a term of up to 10 years, as opposed to the option of delivering the operations “in-house” as a public sector partnership.
5. The partnership will deliver a facility that will incorporate an [80m x 20m] steel framed processing hall, compliant with all fire and operating permit regulations for waste wood reprocessing plants. The facility will also include, inter-alia, several (external) storage bays, a new 1.5MW power supply and a sustainable drainage solution.
6. The outsourced O&M scope may indicatively consist of the following services:
- Day-to-day processing of the waste wood feedstock into a specification wood chip suitable for panel board.
- Operation of a process-line configuration of plant and machinery;
- Manning the picking station (to extract contaminants from the feedstock).
- Responsibility for meeting required Performance Outputs.
- Responsibility for meeting prescribed Quality thresholds.
- Responsibility for the management of all Health and Safety aspects.
- Management of Site personnel.
- Traffic Management and vehicle loading/unloading operations.
- Procurement of Fuel and other consumables to operate the plant and equipment.
- Responsibility for managing the Environmental Permit and Fire Prevention Plan Permits;
- Interface management with adjacent permit holder(s) on the site at Silent Valley.
- Responsible for maintaining a high quality recycling performance;
7. The overall objective is to create a modern and environmentally sustainable wood reprocessing facility that will contribute towards the net zero carbon agenda.
8. The Partnership supports early engagement of the supply chain and to consult with the market prior to commencement of the procurement.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
1 June 2022
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The Council is facilitating this Prior Information Notice / Request for Information via it's E-Procurement Portal, which can be accessed via the following link:https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk
Project Ref: pqq_33259 - Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of a Proposed Regional Wood Processing Facility at Silent Valley, Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent.
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.
Potential suppliers should register their interest to ensure they are kept informed of this opportunity, including the Industry Day, where the Authority will present and market test with suppliers the scope of the “Delivering Differently” opportunity.
Draft Timetable
Actual dates are yet to be determined, so at this stage this timetable is for indicative purposes only:
OJEU notice and Suppliers’ Questionnaire published - July 2022
Industry Day - July 2022
ITT’s issued to pre-qualified bidders - August 2022
ITT’s Submitted - November 2022
Contract Award - January 2023
Contract Commencement - January 2023
Completion of Facility Construction - January 2024
Commissioning of Facility - March 2024
Request for Information
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. Would you be interested bidding for this project, or if not, what else would be required for it to meet your organisation’s tendering criteria?
2. What form of Operation and Maintenance contract would, in your opinion, be the most consistent in terms of delivering “win-win” contracting arrangements (including the duration of the contract) that incentivise better outcomes?
3. Do you have any comments on the indicative scope of services listed above?
4. Do you have any additional comments or queries from the information provided above?
Expressions of interest and accompanying PIN responses should be submitted via the Authority's e-tendering portal (https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk) by no later than 12:00 noon Monday 25th April 2022.
NB: All future project related dialogue or request for clarifications should be communicated via the portal's messaging functionality.
NB please be advised that the Authority is simultaneously running two further project related PIN's:
1) Supply & Installation of Plant & Equipment at the proposed Regional Wood Facility at Silent Valley;
2) Construction of a proposed Regional Wood Facility at Silent Valley;
(WA Ref:119766)