Crawley Borough Council — District Heat Network: Operation, Maintenance, Metering and Billing Services

Description

Crawley Borough Council (CBC) is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified contractor to carry out the operation and maintenance of a district heat network in Crawley (DHN) and provide metering and billing services to the end users. CBC proposes to award a single contract for 10 years with potential options to capture subsequent phases of the DHN (subject to value for money considerations and confirmation of timings for such phases). Lot 1: CBC is in the process of constructing a multi-phased town centre district heat network (DHN) which is being delivered via a phased approach over an estimated 5-year period. The first phase includes the design and build of the energy centre on the re-developed Town Hall site, along with the DHN which will service the re-developed Town Hall site, a combination of civic and commercial offices along with residential apartments located adjacent to the Town Hall and at the nearby Kilnmead Residential Development site. In all, Phase 1 will supply approximately 310 residential units and 10 887 m of civic/commercial space. Following completion of Phase 1, the Council intends to construct the second phase of the DHN to serve the nearby Police station, residential development on Crawley College Car Park, Crawley College, Library and other connections around the town, encompassing at full potential build-out in excess of 60 000 m commercial space and over 700 residential units. The design and installation of the DHN is being delivered by the CBC's development partner Westrock as part of the wider town centre development works. Following completion, CBC will adopt the DHN and take responsibility for the supply of heat to the various customers. CBC will be the heat supplier and, to deliver this function, CBC wishes to appoint a suitably qualified contractor to carry out the operation and maintenance of the DHN and provide metering and billing services to the end users. The contractor will be required to: • carry out a full O&M service, including providing all services required to operate, maintain, test, inspect, repair and replace the relevant components of the DHN; • undertake all scheduled and reactive repair works as part of the services; • provide a full billing and metering service including: managing and collecting charges under the Council's Heat Supply Agreements with the end-users; processing and taking meter readings; and setting up and operating individual customer accounts. Prior to commencing the formal procurement process, CBC engaged with potential suppliers via a soft market testing exercise to discuss this opportunity (see PIN reference 2019/S 042-095375). A pre-market engagement event took place on 21 March 2019 in which organisations were given the opportunity to attend a 1-to-1 meeting with CBC and its representatives to discuss the optimum contracting approach. CBC is now inviting suitably qualified organisations to submit a response to the pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) for this contract opportunity. Details of where to obtain the PQQ can be found in Section I of this contract notice.