Published in the Official Journal: January 1995
UK-Newcastle upon Tyne: construction work for buildings
(94/S 1-95613/EN)
Awarding authority: The Contributions Agency (CA) an Executive Agency of the Department of Social Security (DSS), Room A3335, Newcastle Estate Development Project Team, DSS Buildings, Benton Park Road, UK-Newcastle upon Tyne NE98 1YX. Tel (0191) 225 9214
Award procedure: Negotiated procedure pursuant to Regulation 10(2)(c) of the Public Works Contracts Regulations (1991), because the nature of the works and risks attached to the project are such as not to permit prior overall pricing.
Contract type: Building and civil engineering works contract for provision of office accommodation under Group 501 as described in schedule 1 of the Pubic Works Contract Regulations (1991).
Site: A site or sites to be provided which shall be within 10 miles (approximately) of the centre of UK-Newcastle upon Tyne and may include an existing building, a greenfield site or any of the 11 UK-government-owned or -leased sites in the vicinity of UK-Newcastle upon Tyne including the 64-acre site at UK-Longbenton currently occupied by the DSS. There is the possibility that freehold sites may be transferred to private-sector ownership or be available for alternative private-sector use. Long leases may also be available. Details of the various sites will be provided in the initial briefing document to be sent to respondents.
Works: To provide a suitable secure site(s) capable of 24-hour operation, which may involve developing or constructing a site or building or otherwise providing modern office accommodation for approximately 14,000 staff.
The development could also include the subsequent management or operation of the new facility or even involve the grant of a concession of the service provider. The development must satisfy the business needs of the DSS, but need not necessarily be on a single site and it may be combined with other users provided that the DSS's security requirements are met, details of which will be in the initial briefing document.
The development is to be financed by the private sector through the UK Government's Private Finance Initiative (PFI). The purpose of the PFI is to encourage the involvement of the private sector projects requiring substantial financial investment of their own resources in innovative schemes together with an acceptance of risk by the private sector.
Division into lots: Potential for subdivision into lots.
Completion deadline: The Contributions Agency requires the facilities to be available as soon as possible. If a solution involving the use of government-leased sites is forwarded, these various UK-government-leased sites may be available from 1999 onward through lease-breaks which will be detailed in the initial briefing document.
Legal form in case of group bidders: No special legal form is required of a group of works providers/contractors, but the awarding authority will require that a suitable prime contractor is provided prior to any award of contract where a group bid is made. In the case of a consortium, it will be treated as a joint bid on the basis of the consortium as a whole.
Deadline for receipt of applications: 7.2. 1995 (16.00)
Address: As in 1, Room A3335, Mr S. Baggaley.
Language(s): English.
Deposits and guarantees: Deposits are not required but guarantees may be, and will be detailed in the tender documents.
Financing and payment: The chosen service provider will be required to obtain the private sector the initial capital investment. Proposals are sought on potential methods of remuneration to the provider of the office accommodation.
Qualification: Respondents to this notice will be issued a questionnaire to provide the Contributions Agency with information as to the rejection criteria, economic and financial standing and their technical capability under Regulations 16 of the Public Works Contracts Regulations (1991). In addition an initial briefing document will be issued to respondents which will give details of the Contribution Agency's requirements. The potential service providers with whom the Contributions Agency will enter into negotiations will be chosen on the basis of their responses to the questionnaire.
Variants: The new office accommodation must be provided within an approximate 10-mile radius of UK-Newcastle upon Tyne city centre. As stated in 3 (a), consideration will be given to development of existing UK-government-owned sites, greenfield sites or any combination of locations. Tenderers will be able to propose suboptions to the main proposals provided they are separately identified and costed.
The constructing authority recognises that it may be possible to forward a solution to this proposal without the undertaking of works. However, at this stage a works contract seems most likely and the Works Directive procedure has, therefore, been utilised.
Other information: An initial briefing document will be issued with the questionnaire.
Notice postmarked: 22. 12. 1994
Notice received on: 22. 12. 1994