Mobile Harbour Cranes · UK public procurement notice

CPV: Cranes · Harbour cranes · Quayside cranes

Procedure method

Negotiated without publication of a contract notice

Legal basis

CELEX · 32014L0025 Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 (Directive 2014/25/EU)

Procurement category

Goods

Notice status

Awarded

Procurement threshold

Unspecified in notice

Regulatory regime

Standard

Commercial structure

Stand-alone contract (no framework)

Competition type

Competitive procedure

GPA / WTO covered

Unspecified in notice

Recurring procurement

Unspecified in notice

First published

28 Apr 2021, 21:05 BST

Last source update

28 Apr 2021, 21:05 BST

FTS notice number

2021/S 000-009199

Classification (CPV)

CranesHarbour cranesQuayside cranes

Delivery area

South East (UKJ44)

Official registry OCID

ocds-h6vhtk-02ab60 Find a Tender

Why no open competition

Extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable for the contracting authority/entity and in accordance with the strict conditions stated in the directive

Published justification

Dover Harbour Board (DHB) is a Utility as defined in the Regulations, and through its wholly owned subsidiary Port of Dover Cargo Ltd (PoDCL), it operates a Refrigerated Cargo Terminal in the Western Docks at the Port of Dover. PoDCL handles weekly cargo of fresh fruit for the UK market as well as handling break bulk, steel, grain, aggregates and project cargo that directly supports UK supply chains.

In 2017 DHB tendered the procurement of two Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs) that were brought into operation in late 2019. However, both cranes suffered significant and unforeseeable structural failures in 2020 which resulted in them having to be removed from service. Only one crane has been brought back in to service with a reduced lifting capacity, but it is subject to monthly inspections which means it is out of service for several days a month. Based on previous experience, there are concerns that the crane could cease working which does not provide DHB and PoDCL with a reliable solution for the short to medium term.

For resilience in recent months, DHB made its two older cranes available to PoDCL to maintain port cargo operations until both older cranes had to be taken out of service in early 2021 due to unforeseeable mechanical problems. The Port cannot undertake cargo operations safely without reliable MHCs having due regard to the welfare of DHB and PoDCL operatives and other port users.

MHCs are highly specialized large complex assets. The exceptionally long lead-time necessary to procure, design, manufacture, deliver and commission two new replacement cranes is not compatible with the extreme urgency of the unforeseeable circumstances that DHB has experienced even if an accelerated procedure were to be followed.

Only three suppliers submitted tenders to meet DHB requirements in the 2017 procurement and so DHB has approached the second ranked tenderer, Liebherr Great Britain Limited, who have two MHCs available immediately, one second-hand and one fully manufactured, which meet the specification requirements of DHB.

Procedures with a prior call for competition could not be complied with (even on the basis of an accelerated procurement process) as Liebherr only have these two MHCs currently available for purchase with immediate delivery.

The contract has not been entered in to at the date of publication of this notice and it is not intended to enter in to contract until 30 days after the publication date of this notice.

• Liebherr - Great Britain LimitedAwarded supplier Biggleswade, East of England

No document links were published on the notice.