Design Build Operate Contract for FASTER Project NI

The FASTER Project is a joint cross border project across Scotland, the border Counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland to support the overarching ambition to transition to low carbon transport systems and to demonstrate how each of the three jurisdictions can provide early systems learning in relation to the electrification of transport.

The FASTER Project aims to ensure that the availability of public charging stations is not a major obstacle to Electric Vehicle (EV) market penetration.

Further information about the FASTER Project can be found at www.fasterevcharge.com ↗

The FASTER Project has been awarded funding for the Project’s costs from the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

The partnership will implement the physical rollout of 73 rapid charging stations in the programme area. The Project aims to ensure that the availability of charging stations is not a major obstacle to Electric Vehicle (EV) market penetration with the proposal to carry out the design, analysis, procurement, installation, and operation of 73 Rapid Chargers across the three programme jurisdictions. There must be cross compatibility between the three jurisdictions which may be achieved using contactless card payments or other methods.

The FASTER Project is led by East Border Region Ltd. There are a total of seven project partners and 13 associate partners from across the three jurisdictions.

The following Project Partners will be directly involved in the planning and delivery of the overall Project:

1. East Border Region Ltd (EBR) (Lead partner)
2. Louth County Council (Procurement lead in R.O.I)
3. Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT)
4. Ulster University (Procurement lead in N.I.)
5. South West College
6. Highlands & Islands Transport Partnership (HiTRANS) (Procurement lead in Western Scotland)
7. University of Strathclyde

Other Associate Partners essential to the delivery of the overall project are:

1. Monaghan County Council
2. Cavan County Council
3. Leitrim County Council
4. Sligo County Council
5. Donegal County Council
6. Meath County Council
7. Sustainable Authority of Ireland (SEAI)
8. IT Sligo
9. Ards and North Down Borough Council
10. Newry Mourne and Down District Council
11. Fermanagh and Omagh Council
12. Derry and Strabane Council
13. Belfast City Council
14. Mid Ulster District Council

The University, as the Client for the design and build phase of the Project, is seeking a suitably qualified and experienced Economic Operator to design, construct and install up to 24, 50 kW rapid chargers (or equivalent output) (Singles or Doubles) for public use before handing over to the Councils, as the Clients on the operational phase. Ulster University is the Client for the Design and Build component of the FASTER (Facilitating a Sustainable Transition to EV’s in the Region) Project. At Works Completion, each Local Council will then assume the role of the Client for the EV Charge points within their own jurisdiction. The programme for the charger installation must be agreed with the Client. Once the Economic Operator has started on an agreed series of installations these must be completed prior to the next series beginning. A Sub-meter must be installed at each site and the sites left commissioned and fully functional before moving to the next series of installations. The operational phase must also be agreed with the Client (Councils).

Twenty Four (24) site locations have been identified by a vigorous methodology. All sites have sufficient electrical capacity for a behind the meter connection (confirmed by Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIEN). In this Competition the University is seeking to appoint on behalf of itself and the Clients a suitably qualified and experienced Design Build Operate Economic Operator for the complete design, construction and operation of up to 24 EV Chargers on separate sub-meters at locations across NI.