Blade Test Facility 3 - ORE/22/089

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.