Appointment of an Operating Partner for a Leisure Services Contract

Ards and North Down Borough Council (the Council) is currently preparing to initiate a procurement process to appoint an Operating Partner for a Leisure Services contract. Prior to initiating the procurement, the Council is undertaking a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) Exercise.

The Council is currently preparing a scope of requirements for the appointment of an Operator to manage and operate its leisure facilities, principally the Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex (AULC) and Queens Leisure Complex (QLC) (excluding the community centre footprint at QLC), together with the delivery of an Active Communities Programme encompassing sport and physical activity development and community outreach.

The project aims to deliver six core Strategic Objectives spanning Active and Healthy Communities, Inclusive and Accessible Leisure for All, Active Opportunities Across the Life Course, Strong and Effective Partnerships, Enhanced Customer Experience and Engagement, and Environmental Sustainability and Net Zero Contribution. Prior to initiating any procurement, the Council wishes to involve suppliers in a preliminary market engagement.

Revenue

The scope of the arrangement includes but is not limited to the operation, maintenance and management of the specified sport and leisure facilities.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Operator will include, but not be limited to:

• Operating and maintaining the Facilities to a high standard in accordance with the Services Specification and Minimum Opening Hours;
• Employing, training and managing sufficient suitably qualified staff, including safeguarding, health and safety and customer service compliance across all roles;
• Delivering the Active Communities Programme in partnership with the Council, targeting inactive and under-represented groups, and employing a dedicated Active Communities officer to lead its outreach work as a minimum requirement;
• Funding and delivering reactive maintenance and planned preventative maintenance (including statutory compliance and testing) under an agreed annual schedule, with the Council retaining funding and strategic control of lifecycle and capital maintenance works;
• Proposing and delivering capital investment over the contract term, aligned to the condition and lifecycle requirements of the Facilities, which may include fitness equipment replacement and upgrades, ICT and digital systems, energy efficiency improvements, minor facility improvements and refurbishments, customer experience enhancements and programme-enabling infrastructure;
• Supporting delivery of the Council's carbon reduction targets and sustainability objectives, including proposing energy efficiency investments where identified.

Costs

Subject to commercial terms to be agreed between the parties, the Operator will fund and/or contribute to: (i) staffing, training and accreditation costs; (ii) reactive maintenance and planned preventative maintenance, excluding lifecycle and capital maintenance works which will be funded by the Council; (iii) ICT, booking and data management systems; and (iv) capital investment proposals as set out in the Operator's Capital Investment Plan.

This preliminary market engagement is being conducted pursuant to section 16 of the Procurement Act 2023 for the purposes of: (a) developing the Council's requirements and approach to the procurement; (b) designing conditions of participation and award criteria; (c) preparing the tender notice and associated tender documents; and (d) identifying suppliers capable of performing the proposed contract.