Planning

Birkenhead Heat Network - Preliminary Market Engagement

WIRRAL BOROUGH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

01 Nov 2024 at 12:51

Summary of the contracting process

Wirral Borough Council is planning to initiate a competitive tender for the "Birkenhead Heat Network - Preliminary Market Engagement" project, aimed at developing a new heat network for various types of buildings in Birkenhead, UK. This falls under the public utilities category, specifically district heating services, and is part of the Birkenhead 2040 Regeneration Framework. The project will be launched under the Competitive Flexible Procedure from February 2025, with relevant stakeholders invited to an online project information session on 26 November 2024. Interested parties must respond by 18 November 2024. The project promises extensive investment, with an estimated value of up to £250 million, and is expected to generate revenue between £200 million and £250 million over 40 years.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in public utilities, district heating, and renewable energy solutions. Companies experienced in the design, build, finance, operation, and maintenance of heat networks would find this a valuable opportunity to secure a long-term concession contract. The project aligns with regional policy initiatives and offers potential for growth through mandated future connections under heat network zoning regulations. Businesses that can provide robust and deliverable funding plans, and those capable of handling most project risks, stand a good chance of succeeding in this procurement process. Detailed engagement with Wirral Borough Council during the preliminary market engagement phase will help in formulating a competitive bid.

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Notice Title

Birkenhead Heat Network - Preliminary Market Engagement

Notice Description

The project comprises development of a new heat network serving a mix of buildings including new build residential, existing residential, new build commercial and existing commercial. The project forms an integral part of Birkenhead 2040 Regeneration Framework; one of the biggest brownfield redevelopment sites in the UK. This regeneration of Birkenhead will take place across nine areas providing 21,000 new homes and almost 1,000,000m2 square metres of employment space over the next 20 years. Wirral Council will be procuring a private sector partner to develop a heat network in Birkenhead on a concession basis whereby the private sector partner is expected to take most risk regarding the design, build, finance, operation and maintenance of the network. As network operator the private sector partner will be required to connect and supply heat to specified controlled buildings. The area to be served by the BHN has been identified as a 'priority district heating zone' in Wirral's Local Plan. It will make a significant contribution to reducing the carbon impact of new / existing development in the Borough and provide opportunities to residents and businesses for lower cost heating. The project is well-aligned with regional policy objectives and initiatives. It also fits into the Government's introduction of 'heat network zoning', which, through implementation, will mandate certain types of buildings in identified urban areas such as Birkenhead to connect to district heating within a prescribed timeframe. It is envisaged that, once HN zoning is in place, BHN could benefit from zoning 'incumbency' rules - meaning that nearby eligible buildings will be mandated to connect, further securing demand. The network is intended to supply heat to: * New Build Residential buildings * Existing Residential buildings * New Build Commercial buildings * Existing Commercial buildings The project will be delivered through Wirral Council procuring an ESCo. The Council and private sector partner will be shareholders in the ESCo albeit that the Council's shareholding will be limited to a "Golden Share". The Council will not be investing in the project, the Golden Share will simply allow the Council to exercise control in relation to a limited number of reserved matters including carbon intensity, reporting and tariffs. It is anticipated that there will be a concession agreement between the Council and the ESCo which will provide the ESCo with the right to design, install, operate and maintain the network. As part of the concession agreement, the ESCo will take most of the risk and benefits from the building and running of the network. The ESCo will be required to source ALL capital funding for the project. Potential private sector partners will be required to set out their funding plan and the robustness and deliverability of this funding plan will be an important bidder evaluation measure. The revenue derived over the 40 years of the network is estimated to be in the region of PS200m - PS250m. This includes all phases and connected buildings in the core scheme and allowing for further expansion with the wider geographic area.

Lot Information

Lot 1

It is anticipated that the project will be procured under the Competitive Flexible Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. The process will be developed so that it follows a structure similar to the current Competitive Dialogue Procedure with the process being initiated from February 2025. Additional information: Wirral Council are undertaking this preliminary market engagement to consult with potential Partners to inform a delivery strategy. This will not be defined as negotiation and any future tender process will remain a competitive process. The preliminary market engagement is being carried out under the provisions of Regulations 40 and 41 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/102). Prior to formally launching the procurement process, we would like to invite interested parties who may wish to tender to attend an online project information session on the morning of 26 November 2024 to find out more about this opportunity and ask questions. If you wish to attend this session, please respond via the Chest portal https://procontract.due north.com - Project Ref: DN747924 confirming your desire to attend together with providing the information requested in Appendix 1 of the published Preliminary Market Engagement Information Pack, no later than 18 November 12 Noon.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04b347
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035474-2024
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

09 - Petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy

65 - Public utilities


CPV Codes

09323000 - District heating

65000000 - Public utilities

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£250,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Nov 20241 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
28 Feb 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
WIRRAL BOROUGH COUNCIL
Contact Name
Mr Dan Cheetham
Contact Email
dancheetham@wirral.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRKENHEAD
Postcode
CH41 2AB
Post Town
Chester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD7 Merseyside
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD74 Wirral
Delivery Location
TLD74 Wirral

Local Authority
Wirral
Electoral Ward
Birkenhead and Tranmere
Westminster Constituency
Birkenhead

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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