Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
University of Ulster
Block X Room X031, Cromore Road
Coleraine
BT52 1SA
Telephone
+44 2870123013
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKN - Northern Ireland
National registration number
NIC100166
Internet address(es)
Main address
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
Design Build Operate Contract for FASTER Project NI
Reference number
project_27676
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 45230000 - Construction work for pipelines, communication and power lines, for highways, roads, airfields and railways; flatwork
two.1.3) Type of contract
Works
two.1.4) Short description
Design Build Operate for FASTER Project NI
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: £515,264.34
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 45000000 - Construction work
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Main site or place of performance
Design Build and Operate EV Chargers at or near sites across Northern Ireland. Sites outlined in Procurement Documents.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The FASTER Project is a joint cross border project across Scotland, the border Counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland to support the overarching ambition to transition to low carbon transport systems and to demonstrate how each of the three jurisdictions can provide early systems learning in relation to the electrification of transport.
The FASTER Project aims to ensure that the availability of public charging stations is not a major obstacle to Electric Vehicle (EV) market penetration.
Further information about the FASTER Project can be found at www.fasterevcharge.com
The FASTER Project has been awarded funding for the Project’s costs from the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
The partnership will implement the physical rollout of 73 rapid charging stations in the programme area. The Project aims to ensure that the availability of charging stations is not a major obstacle to Electric Vehicle (EV) market penetration with the proposal to carry out the design, analysis, procurement, installation, and operation of 73 Rapid Chargers across the three programme jurisdictions. There must be cross compatibility between the three jurisdictions which may be achieved using contactless card payments or other methods.
The FASTER Project is led by East Border Region Ltd. There are a total of seven project partners and 13 associate partners from across the three jurisdictions.
The following Project Partners will be directly involved in the planning and delivery of the overall Project:
1. East Border Region Ltd (EBR) (Lead partner)
2. Louth County Council (Procurement lead in R.O.I)
3. Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT)
4. Ulster University (Procurement lead in N.I.)
5. South West College
6. Highlands & Islands Transport Partnership (HiTRANS) (Procurement lead in Western Scotland)
7. University of Strathclyde
Other Associate Partners essential to the delivery of the overall project are:
1. Monaghan County Council
2. Cavan County Council
3. Leitrim County Council
4. Sligo County Council
5. Donegal County Council
6. Meath County Council
7. Sustainable Authority of Ireland (SEAI)
8. IT Sligo
10. Ards and North Down Borough Council
11. Newry Mourne and Down District Council
13. Fermanagh and Omagh Council
14. Derry and Strabane Council
15. Belfast City Council
16. Mid Ulster District Council
The University, as the Client for the design and build phase of the Project, is seeking a suitably qualified and experienced Economic Operator to design, construct and install up to 24, 50 kW rapid chargers (or equivalent output) (Singles or Doubles) for public use before handing over to the Councils, as the Clients on the operational phase. Ulster University is the Client for the Design and Build component of the FASTER (Facilitating a Sustainable Transition to EV’s in the Region) Project. At Works Completion, each Local Council will then assume the role of the Client for the EV Charge points within their own jurisdiction. The programme for the charger installation must be agreed with the Client. Once the Economic Operator has started on an agreed series of installations these must be completed prior to the next series beginning. A Sub-meter must be installed at each site and the sites left commissioned and fully functional before moving to the next series of installations. The operational phase must also be agreed with the Client (Councils).
Twenty Four (24) site locations have been identified by a vigorous methodology. All sites have sufficient electrical capacity for a behind the meter connection (confirmed by Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIEN). In this Competition the University is seeking to appoint on behalf of itself and the Clients a suitably qualified and experienced Design Build Operate Economic Operator for the complete design, construction and operation of up to 24 EV Chargers on separate sub-meters at locations across NI.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
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: Yes
Identification of the project
Faster Project: A project supported by the European Union's INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)
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 000-019283
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
23 August 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 3
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Carcharger EV Limited
1 McElwain Terrace
Newbridge
W12V434
Country
Ireland
NUTS code
- IE - Ireland
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £515,264.34
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland
Royal Courts of Justice, Chichester Street
Belfast
BT1 3JY
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The University incorporated a minimum 10 calendar days standstill period at the point information on award of the contract was communicated to all tenderers. The standstill period provided time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract was entered into. The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (Northern Ireland).