Awarded contract

Contract Award of Flying Lessons Provider for Aerospace Engineering Students

  • Swansea University

F03: Contract award notice

Notice reference: 2024/S 000-014581

Published 7 May 2024, 4:50pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Swansea University

Procurement Office, Swansea University, Singleton Park

Swansea

SA2 8PP

Contact

Sue Davies

Email

procurement@swansea.ac.uk

Telephone

+44 1792295890

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKL18 - Swansea

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.swansea.ac.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0345

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Education


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Contract Award of Flying Lessons Provider for Aerospace Engineering Students

Reference number

SU246(23)

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 80412000 - Flying-school services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

As part of the modular curriculum for Swansea University’s MEng (Hons) and BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering degrees (both accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), and the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS)), Level 4 undergraduates are required to undertake 1 light aircraft flying lesson of 30 minutes, covering ‘basic handling’ of the aircraft and ‘air experience’, as part of their first year of studies.

This amounts to approximately 267 students per academic year, experiencing one lesson each, spread across the 3 academic terms (October to June).

Since no lessons were undertaken during the past academic year, there is a backlog of an additional 267 students also needing lessons during this coming 2023/24 academic year and the first year of this contract.

The Aerospace Engineering department within the University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering has now awarded a suitably qualified, insured and equipped flying centre with the appropriate staff, aircraft, equipment and facilities in place with the capacity to service our requirements and deliver lessons to this number of students.

The contract duration will be for an initial 2 academic years as from October/November 2023, with the option to extend for a 3rd and a 4th year. This is on the basis that student numbers for the 1st academic year shall be near double that of subsequent years, due to the need to clear the 2022/23 backlog (so potentially 2 x 267 students).

The University is unable to provide insurance for the students to undertake these lessons, therefore the awarded instructor and aircraft are fully insured, not only in line with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations but also for the University students to fly safely in confidence. A reliable route of communication is in place due to changes in weather and its impact on flying conditions so booking and administration processes are important in ensuring a high level of efficiency and customer care from the appointed contractor.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Lowest offer: £139,692 / Highest offer: £605,052 taken into consideration

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKL18 - Swansea
Main site or place of performance

Swansea Airport, Fairwood Common, Gower Peninsula, Swansea

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

As part of the modular curriculum for Swansea University’s MEng (Hons) and BEng (Hons) Aerospace Engineering degrees (both accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), and the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS)), Level 4 undergraduates are required to undertake 1 light aircraft flying lesson of 30 minutes, covering ‘basic handling’ of the aircraft and ‘air experience’, as part of their first year of studies.

This amounts to approximately 267 students per academic year, experiencing one lesson each, spread across the 3 academic terms (October to June).

Since no lessons were undertaken during the past academic year, there is a backlog of an additional 267 students also needing lessons during this coming 2023/24 academic year and the first year of this contract.

The Aerospace Engineering department within the University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering has now awarded a suitably qualified, insured and equipped flying centre with the appropriate staff, aircraft, equipment and facilities in place with the capacity to service our requirements and deliver lessons to this number of students.

The contract duration will be for an initial 2 academic years as from October/November 2023, with the option to extend for a 3rd and a 4th year. This is on the basis that student numbers for the 1st academic year shall be near double that of subsequent years, due to the need to clear the 2022/23 backlog (so potentially 2 x 267 students).

The University is unable to provide insurance for the students to undertake these lessons, therefore the awarded supplier's instructor and aircraft are fully insured, not only in line with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations but also for the University students to fly safely in confidence. A reliable route of communication is in place due to changes in weather and its impact on flying conditions so booking and administration processes are important in ensuring a high level of efficiency and customer care from the appointed contractor.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Capacity Specification / Weighting: 20

Quality criterion - Name: Operational & Service Requirements / Weighting: 25

Quality criterion - Name: Safety Precautions / Weighting: 25

Price - Weighting: 30

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Open procedure

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2023/S 000-029591


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

SU246(23)

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

1 May 2024

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 2

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 2

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 2

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Cambrian Flying Club Ltd

Swansea Airport , Fairwood Common,

Swansea

SA2 7JU

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKL18 - Swansea
The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Lowest offer: £140,000 / Highest offer: £605,000 taken into consideration


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

The University has now awarded this contract to a supplier where both the instructor and aircraft are fully insured.

This procurement was undertaken using etenderwales BravoSolution under project 31525 and itt 105114.

(WA Ref:139686)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

High Court

Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Telephone

+44 2079477501

Country

United Kingdom