---
title: "Blade Test Facility 3 - ORE/22/089"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-037d70"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-037d70"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-037d70.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-037d70.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "OFFSHORE RENEWABLE ENERGY CATAPULT"
published: "2022-10-28"
---

# Blade Test Facility 3 - ORE/22/089

Buyer: OFFSHORE RENEWABLE ENERGY CATAPULT  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-037d70

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## Summary

The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult is conducting a tender process for the construction of a Blade Test Facility 3 in Blyth, United Kingdom. The tender involves the design, procurement, construction, and commissioning of the facility capable of testing wind turbine blades up to 150m in length, with a possible extension to 180m. The project has a contract end date of 31st July 2024. The procurement process includes stages such as Selection Questionnaire, Non-Disclosure Agreement, Preliminary Design phase, Draft submissions, Negotiations, Final Tender submission, and Contract Award. The tender period ends on 29th November 2022.

This tender by the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult offers significant business growth opportunities for contractors capable of delivering construction projects in the research and development sector. Companies specialising in research, testing facilities construction, and renewable energy projects are well-suited to compete. The competitive procedure with negotiation method allows for in-depth discussions and potential variations in contract terms, offering a chance for businesses to showcase their expertise and secure a lucrative contract. Interested parties can benefit from attending the site visit/bidders conference scheduled for 8th November 2022 in order to gather essential project information and network with key stakeholders.

## Notice

ORE Catapult intends to expand its wind turbine test capabilities by constructing a new blade test facility ("BTF3"), capable of full-scale testing of blades up to 150m in length, and optionally expanding to test blades up to 180m. ORE Catapult intends to appoint a single contractor (or consortium) to design, procure, construct and commission BTF3 at its Blyth site, which may comprise of a reaction structure onto which the blades are mounted, appropriate floor structures, a building to totally or partially encompass the test site and associated hydraulics, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation & control systems.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

This tender is being issued by the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult ('ORE Catapult') as a competitive procurement exercise in accordance with the 'Competitive Procedure with Negotiation' for tendering under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended from time to time). ORE Catapult intends to expand its wind turbine test capabilities by constructing a new blade test facility ("BTF3"), capable of full-scale testing of blades up to 150m in length, and optionally expanding to test blades up to 180m. ORE Catapult intends to appoint a single contractor (or consortium) to design, procure, construct and commission BTF3 at its Blyth site, which may comprise of a reaction structure onto which the blades are mounted, appropriate floor structures, a building to totally or partially encompass the test site and associated hydraulics, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation & control systems. Due to funding arrangement this will be an aggressive build programme. Therefore, ORE Catapult reserve the right to vary the Contract term following discussion with suppliers during the Competitive Procedure with Negotiation process. ORE Catapult reserve the right to add additional requirements to the minimum Scope of the Works during the Contract life, as it is deemed appropriate within the Scope of the Works. ORE Catapult has determined that the requirement is not suitable for dividing into lots as it is not appropriate to have the various elements of the Works delivered by separate suppliers due to the complexity of the requirements. Accordingly, ORE Catapult intends to award a single contract for the requirement. Phases of the procurement process: Stage 1 -- Selection Questionnaire to a minimum of 3 (three) capable suppliers, where there are less than 3 (three) capable suppliers, all suitably qualified tenderers will be invited to proceed to Stage 2 Invitation to Participate ("ITP"). Stage 2 - Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Preferred Tenderers will enter into a NDA within two (2) weeks to facilitate full disclosure of all other relevant sensitive and proprietary Operation & Maintenance ("O&M") documentation. Tenderers unable to agree an NDA within this time period may be eliminated from further competition Stage 3 - This stage will include the preliminary design / FEED. ORE Catapult has set aside funding for this stage to allow tenderers to submit preliminary designs, together with cost estimates as part of their Initial ITP Response. Expected outputs from Preliminary Design phase shall be as follows: * Project charter including participants, roles and responsibilities * Methodology and programme for detailed design phase * Outline programme showing key dates and project completion * General arrangement drawings of WTBTF components * Outline target cost plan * List of assumptions * Clarifications required and outstanding information needed * Preliminary Risk Register Tenderers shall be required to submit an initial Tender which shall be the basis for any subsequent negotiations. Stage 4 -- Draft ITP submissions - Tenderers shall be required to submit tenders, including preliminary design, in accordance with the details / instructions set out in the ITP. Stage 5 -- Negotiations - ORE Catapult reserve the right to award a Contract on the basis of the initial tender without entering into negotiation where it is in their best interest to do so. ORE Catapult also reserve the right to carry out the Competitive procedures with Negotiation in successive stages in order to reduce the number of tenders to be negotiated. ORE Catapult will inform remaining tenderers of the common deadline to submit new or revised tenders. Stage 5 -- Final Tender submission (Best and Final Offer "BAFO") ORE Catapult verify best and final tenders to ensure they conform to minimum requirements and evaluate on the basis of the published award criteria in ITP. Stage 6 -- Contract Award / Mandatory Standstill period observed. Finally, please note that a site visit / bidders conference has been provisionally arranged for 08 November 2022 commencing at 1000 hrs. Due to capacity issues at the venue, we have to restrict attendance to a maximum of 2 (two) people from each interested company.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030574-2022 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Works |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Competitive procedure with negotiation |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 28 Oct 2022 |
| Submission deadline | 29 Nov 2022 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | OFFSHORE RENEWABLE ENERGY CATAPULT |
| Locality | BLYTH |
| Post town | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Postcode | NE24 1LZ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear |
| ITL 3 | TLC42 Northumberland |
| Local authority | Northumberland |
| Electoral ward | Croft |
| Westminster constituency | Blyth and Ashington |
| Delivery location | TLC21 Northumberland |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 45 - Construction work

### Codes

- 45214620 - Research and testing facilities construction work

## Release History

- 28 Oct 2022 at 15:26 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030574-2022

## Notice URLs

- https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=8822b81d-f155-ed11-811a-005056b64545
- https://www.ore.catapult.org.uk

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-037d70. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-037d70.json.