Solent Gateway 2 - ECI and Works Contractor

Solent Gateway 2 – Preliminary Market Engagement

• Overview of ABP

Associated British Ports (ABP) is the UK’s largest ports group providing essential gateways for trade and enabling the green infrastructure essential for the UK’s energy transition.

Ideally located on the south coast close to major shipping lanes linking the UK to European and global markets, Southampton is Britain’s Gateway to the World. The port is the UK’s number one hub for deep sea trade and a critical link in supply chains serving businesses and manufacturers throughout the nation.

• Broad Insight into the Project

Following sustained work over many years to make the most of our current space and infrastructure, the existing port is now nearing capacity. We are setting out our emerging proposals for a considered expansion – one that we believe brings real benefits to our local communities, the environment and the wider nation.

Solent Gateway is already an important part of the wider Port of Southampton – playing a key role in supporting jobs, trade and industry, both locally and across the UK.

Our emerging proposals for Solent Gateway 2 would enable ABP to meet future demand and improve resilience through the delivery of a world-leading, sustainable automotive terminal, new marine facilities and improved road access to the existing Solent Gateway. They would also deliver environmental enhancements and a major new country park - improving the landscape and environment at the same time as we improve our port infrastructure.

• The Supplier Engagement Process

Alongside ongoing public consultation, ABP wishes to consult with the marketplace about the emerging proposals. Regulated under the Procurement Regulations 2024, this notice is a voluntary process to provide early information about how ABP will be engaging with suppliers and therefore does not constitute commencement of any formal procurement process. Consultation with the market at this early stage will – alongside consultation feedback, ongoing studies, assessments and surveys - inform ABP about the best possible ways to progress the design of the project. It will also help ABP identify how to achieve best value, including the consideration of social and economic benefits for the community.

Information about the public consultation can be found here: solentgateway2.co.uk ↗

ABP expects to engage further with the supply chain as the emerging proposals progress, with the potential for both one-to-one sessions and broader supplier engagement events. In the first instance if you wish to register your interest in the project, be notified directly about further consultation, and share your initial views on the material provided as part of the current non-statutory consultation, please complete the following MS Forms link: forms.office.com/e/10Mab2eSQC ↗

Any further information and communications will be issued to the supply chain via the ABP supplier portal. It is essential to register and express an interest to receive updates. Please ensure your organisation is registered at in-tendhost.co.uk/abp/ ↗ and www.find-tender.service.gov.uk ↗, and in case of queries please email: [email protected]. Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to this early engagement notice, nor shall a response to this Preliminary Market Engagement notice guarantee an invitation to participate in any future procurement process that ABP conducts. This Early engagement Notice does not constitute a call for competition to procure any works or services and is not published to reduce time limits for the receipt of tenders. ABP is not liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party responding to the Early Engagement Notice or any party who may participated in any future procurement process.