Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) design and build project - Lancashire Renewables

The engagement deadline above is for initial expressions of interest to this PME via our e-tender portal only. Project engagement will continue beyond that date.

Interested organisations are invited to submit a short expression of interest, normally no more than 3-5 pages excluding a cover page and brief case study sheets. The purpose of this initial response is to allow LRL to understand market interest, relevant capability and the potential value of further engagement. LRL recognises that respondents will not yet have access to sufficient site, layout, waste, utilities or operating information to develop a reliable solution or estimate.

EOIs should contain the following:

1. Organisation and proposed role: a brief description of the respondent, its relevant UK capability and whether it would expect to participate as a MRF designer or builder, process-equipment supplier, systems integrator, principal contractor, turnkey provider, EPC or EPCM provider, consortium member or in another role.
2. Relevant experience: up to three concise examples of comparable municipal MRF projects, identifying the respondent's role, broad facility scale, scope delivered and current status.
3. Interest and capacity: confirmation of interest in the potential project, capacity to participate in site engagement around November 2026 and the disciplines or proposed attendees that would be represented.
4. Indicative range, if reasonably available: respondents may provide a broad, non-binding view of potential total project cost and overall delivery duration, together with the most important assumptions or caveats. This is optional, and responses will not be disadvantaged where the respondent considers that additional information or a site visit is required before offering a meaningful view.
5. Information requirements: the key information and documents the respondent would ideally need to provide useful feedback following the next stage of the engagement process.

Interested organisations are invited to:

• Register on LRL's e-tender portal, www.the-chest.org.uk ↗;
• Locate the market engagement project under current opportunities by Lancashire Renewables Limited and express interest;
• Submit the short expression of interest described above through the portal by the engagement deadline.

LRL anticipates holding site visits and structured engagement meetings around November 2026. Subject to the level of interest and practical capacity, LRL may invite a nominal number of suitably experienced respondents to participate. Invitations are expected to take account of relevant experience, the respondent's proposed role, capacity to engage and the range of useful market perspectives represented. Any invitation will be for market-engagement purposes only; it will not constitute a procurement shortlist or confer an advantage in any future competition.

At the site visits, LRL expects to provide a presentation on the current operation, the feasibility study's key outputs, forecast requirements, the business-case challenge, and a walk around site to the relevant buildings where a future MRF could be built. LRL expects to provide a consistent, proportionate information pack, potentially including relevant site and building-layout drawings, available utilities information, current process and operating data, indicative waste composition, known site constraints and selected feasibility-study information. Information may be subject to confidentiality restrictions.

Following the visits, LRL intends to invite participating organisations to formalise their observations through a short, structured feedback return. This is expected to seek proportionate, non-binding views on: the respondent's indicative preferred solution; total capital cost range and major cost headings; indicative staffing and principal operating-cost drivers; likely throughput, recovery, quality and availability; a high-level programme; preferred delivery and contract model; principal risks and assumptions; and any further surveys or information required. Regarding estimated costs, respondents are encouraged to provide their own independent, evidence-based ranges and assumptions rather than align with the estimates provided by LRL or its feasibility study.

LRL will not seek a tender-level price, developed process design, detailed equipment schedule, full mass balance or activity-level programme.

LRL may use a standard agenda and feedback template to improve comparability. It may publish or otherwise share an anonymised summary of material market feedback to support transparency and ensure that participation does not create an unfair advantage in any future procurement.

This engagement is particularly suited to organisations with demonstrable experience in the design, integration, construction, refurbishment, commissioning or turnkey delivery of MRFs processing municipal dry mixed recyclables. LRL also welcomes responses from integrated teams or consortia capable of addressing process, civil, structural, electrical, controls and project-delivery interfaces.

Please note:

• Participation is voluntary and at each organisation's own cost. LRL will not pay fees, expenses or other compensation for preparing a response or attending a site visit.
• LRL does not require respondents to undertake material design development or disclose proprietary know-how. Respondents should clearly identify commercially sensitive information.
• This notice does not commit LRL to undertake a procurement, select any option, use any delivery model, invite any respondent to tender or award a contract.
• Participation or non-participation will not of itself advantage or disadvantage an organisation in any future procurement.
• LRL may use information received to develop its requirements, business case, procurement strategy, contract terms and evaluation approach. Any future procurement will be conducted separately and in accordance with applicable law.
• LRL may contact respondents for clarification and may amend or cancel the engagement process.