Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Basildon University Hospital, Nethermayne
Basildon
SS16 5NL
Contact
Tracey Leforte
Telephone
+44 1702508120
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKH3 - Essex
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Basildon Hospital main entrance and retail facility
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 45000000 - Construction work
two.1.3) Type of contract
Works
two.1.4) Short description
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust ("MSE") intends to enter into a series of leasing arrangements with Noviniti Dev Co 8 Ltd ("Noviniti") and WHSmith ("WHS") in respect of a retail development ("the Development") at Basildon Hospital, Essex ("the Hospital") with WHS as Noviniti's initial tenant and retail operator. MSE has structured the contractual arrangement as a land transaction exempt from the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR) and the Concession Contracts Regulations 2015 (CCR).
Noviniti has an option to draw down a 35-year ground lease ("GL") of the site in exercise of an option agreement ("OA") with MSE. The GL has break clauses in favour of MSE after 2 years (so MSE can recover the site if the Development is not commenced) and 30 years from practical completion of the Development.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £10,650,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 45214710 - Entrance hall construction work
- 45215100 - Construction work for buildings relating to health
- 45215140 - Hospital facilities construction work
- 55900000 - Retail trade services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH37 - Essex Thames Gateway
Main site or place of performance
Basildon Hospital main entrance and retail facility
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
MSE now intends to enter into a tripartite Agreement for Underlease with Noviniti and WHS. In this agreement WHS commits to accepting the grant of a 15-year underlease (with rent obligations to Noviniti) on practical completion of the retail facilities. MSE (as head landlord) will have insurance obligations owed to WHS and a repairing covenant for the retail facilities. MSE may step-in to take the underlease if WHS fails to enter the underlease at practical completion. MSE may enter an Overriding Lease (to become WHS's landlord) if WHS becomes insolvent or defaults on its Underlease, in order to maintain the rental payments to Noviniti. MSE may enter a 15-year Reversionary Lease (with rent obligations to Noviniti) to take effect from the expiry of WHS's underlease. MSE may instead direct these leases be granted to an alternate operator if MSE guarantees rent.
There will be some office space and common parts delivered as part of the scheme.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.14) Additional information
Please see Voluntary Transparency Notice of 22.3.2021 for details of option agreement and ground lease https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005723-2021
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
MSE considers that the arrangements fall within the land exemption under Regulation 10(1)(a) Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and/or Regulation 10(11)(a) Concessions Contracts Regulations 2015.
The GL can only be drawn down by Noviniti when acceptable planning permission is secured. As the planning application is an agreed document under the OA and defines the permitted alterations under the Licence for Alterations the Trust has had input to the details of the Development.
On execution of the GL Noviniti is not obliged to undertake the Development. Once Noviniti serves notice electing to carry out the Development this engages enforceable obligations for Noviniti to carry out and complete the Development for MSE under the terms of the Agreement for Lease and the Licence for Alterations.
Under a separate 15 year lease between MSE and WHS of additional space at the Hospital, MSE secures an annual income of rent from the separate lease and a turnover share from retail carried out in the additional space and at the Development.
At practical completion MSE guarantees to meet the payment and performance obligations of WHS for the 15-year term of the Operator Lease; any alternate tenant it nominates to take the Reversionary Lease; any other costs which Noviniti may incur in relation to the Development for 30 years. The guarantee protects Noviniti's investment where MSE does not itself enter the Reversionary Lease, Step-In Lease and/or Overriding Lease.
MSE holds that there is no works contract for lack of an enforceable obligation and Noviniti is able to "walk away" from having to deliver the Development and/or MSE is able to award the Development on the basis that Noviniti has an exclusive right to the land conferred under the GL pursuant to Regulation 32(2)(b)(iii) Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
To the extent that the overall scheme could be considered a mixed contract of works and a land transaction, MSE holds that the land element is the main object of the arrangement
MSE holds that there is no works concession contract as there is insufficient transfer of operating risk to Noviniti in exploiting the works.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
15 July 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Noviniti Dev Co 8 Ltd
The Stables, Churchfield Farm, Harley Way, Oundle
Peterborough
PE8 5AU
jonathan.houlston@noviniti.co.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £10,650,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £10,650,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The estimated value in II.1.7 and V.2.4 represents the estimated rental returns to Noviniti.
V.2.1) Date of contract award decision: The Trust Investment Group recommended approval of the scheme on 15 July subject to a further approval on 29 July 2021 with documents to be signed immediately after that.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Royal Courts of Justice
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
In accordance with Chapter 6 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) (Regulations 88 to 104) or Chapter 2 of the Concession Contracts Regulations 2016 (Regulation 49 to 64).