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Summary

OCID:: ocds-kuma6s-128224
Published by:: GCRE Ltd
Authority ID:: AA81204
Publication date:: 19 January 2023
Deadline date:: 28 February 2023
Notice type:: 02 Contract Notice
Has documents:: Yes
Has SPD:: No
Has Carbon Reduction Plan:: No

Abstract

GCRE Ltd (the "Company") is seeking a strategic investor to fund the Company. This is an investment and commercialisation opportunity in relation to the Global Centre of Rail Excellence ("GCRE"), a planned railway infrastructure and rolling stock testing, proving, demonstration and storage facility in South Wales, on a site of 700 hectares located within the Powys and Neath Port Talbot local authorities. GCRE is being developed by the Company, which is currently wholly owned by the Welsh Government. The strategic investor, which could be a single investor or a consortium of investors, will acquire a majority shareholding in and control of the Company (being a minimum of 51%). CPV: 71541000, 09310000, 09330000, 31121110, 32500000, 32552420, 34632300, 34940000, 45111291, 45200000, 45213000, 45213313, 45213320, 45230000, 45234000, 45234112, 45234115, 50220000, 50222000, 50224000, 65300000, 66120000, 70112000, 71311230, 71314000, 71314100, 71314200, 71540000, 71541000, 79420000, 79421000, 79421100.

Full notice text

Contract notice

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1) Name and addresses

GCRE Ltd

Onllwyn

Neath Port Talbot

SA10 9HN

Contact person: Tamara Evans

Telephone: +44 7590603692

E-mail: Strategicinvestment@gcre.wales

NUTS: UKL

Internet address(es)

Main address: http://www.gcre.wales/

Address of the buyer profile: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA81204

I.2) Joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

I.3) Communication

Access to the procurement documents is restricted. Further information can be obtained at:

https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/home.html

Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:

https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/home.html

Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:

https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/home.html

I.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

I.5) Main activity

Other: Railway Technology Testing Facility

Section II: Object

II.1) Scope of the procurement

II.1.1) Title

Selection of an Investment Partner for the Global Centre of Rail Excellence

Reference number: GCRE_Proc_00005

II.1.2) Main CPV code

71541000

II.1.3) Type of contract

Services

II.1.4) Short description

The strategic investor, which could be a single investor or a consortium of investors, will acquire a majority shareholding in and control of the Company (being a minimum of 51%).

II.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

II.2) Description

II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

09310000

09330000

31121110

32500000

32552420

34632300

34940000

45111291

45200000

45213000

45213313

45213320

45230000

45234000

45234112

45234115

50220000

50222000

50224000

65300000

66120000

70112000

71311230

71314000

71314100

71314200

71540000

71541000

79420000

79421000

79421100

II.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS code:

UKL

Main site or place of performance:

South Wales

II.2.4) Description of the procurement

This is a procurement to acquire a controlling interest in GCRE Ltd (the "Company"). The Global Centre of Rail Excellence ("GCRE") is a planned railway infrastructure and rolling stock testing, proving, demonstration and storage facility in South Wales, on a site of 700 hectares located within the Powys and Neath Port Talbot local authorities.

For the rail industry and its supply chain, GCRE will provide a single site that brings people and ideas together, enabling world class research, testing and innovation. GCRE will be net zero in operation and will be the first purpose built large scale rail testing facility in the UK.

The capital deployment needed will occur over a period of 3 years with the aim to achieve full commercial operations in FY25/26.

GCRE's core revenues will be derived from the assets delivered by Investment Phases 1 and 2, which are described as follows:

1. Investment Phase 1: ground works, site preparation, outline design and the development of storage facilities.

2. Investment Phase 2: development of the rail infrastructure, including construction of a rolling stock testing track (outer loop with track length of 6.9km), an infrastructure testing track (inner loop with track length of 4km), additional storage and maintenance facilities, and the required building and civil works to make the site fully operational, including:

(a) assuring supply of cost effective, sustainable, and reliable energy to the site to support 24/7 operations; and

(b) working with local stakeholders to get access to relevant utilities and access infrastructure.

The total estimated capital cost to deliver Investment Phases 1 and 2 is c.GBP400m. Investment Phase 1 is already underway using public funding. Investment Phase 2 requires private funding.

There is also an opportunity to commercially exploit and develop the renewable energy opportunities available at the site in line with GCRE’s energy strategy (which opportunity would be beyond the initial c.GBP400m investment).

The initial c.GBP400m investment is proposed to be funded through:

i) Public funding of GBP70m already committed and partially drawn down: Welsh Government equity investment of GBP50m and a GBP20m grant from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

ii) Private funding of c.GBP330m. The strategic investor selected through this procurement process will take majority ownership and control of the Company.

Please note that this is a current estimate and work is underway to determine more precise value of the total capital cost. It should also be noted that site works (including award of the contract for earthworks) and relevant studies have already commenced.

There is also the opportunity to develop, over the course of time, other commercial / revenue opportunities related to land / real estate development on the site.

Potential returns will depend on many commercial factors including (but not limited to) market conditions.

Details about the requirements and the scope can be found in the Selection Questionnaire ("SQ") and the Memorandum of Information ("MOI") with a more detailed description of the Company, its business plan and investment requirements to be provided at the tender stage of the procurement process.

Access to procurement documentation:

The MOI will be provided by GCRE Ltd to the applicant following signing by the applicant of a non-disclosure agreement ("NDA") and returning it to GCRE Ltd at the email address above.

Access to the SQ and the NDA is unrestricted and you can access the SQ and the NDA in the Additional Documents section of Sell2Wales.

Bidders should seek independent legal and commercial advice in relation to the opportunity.

II.2.5) Award criteria

Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months: 36

This contract is subject to renewal: No

II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited

Envisaged minimum number: 3

Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates:

Please see the section 'Description of the process being undertaken' in the SQ – see section II.2.4 above for instructions on how to access the SQ.

II.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

II.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

II.2.13) Information about European Union funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No

II.2.14) Additional information

The duration is an estimate only, provided on the basis of the estimated time periods required to deliver Investment Phases 1 and 2.

Any queries and responses and circulars that may be issued during the tender period will be communicated exclusively via eTenderWales.

See section II.2.4 above for instructions on how to access the procurement documentation.

Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information

III.1) Conditions for participation

III.1.2) Economic and financial standing

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents

III.1.3) Technical and professional ability

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents

III.2) Conditions related to the contract

III.2.2) Contract performance conditions

As detailed in the procurement documents

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1) Description

IV.1.1) Type of procedure

Competitive dialogue

IV.1.4) Information about reduction of the number of solutions or tenders during negotiation or dialogue

Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated

IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

IV.2) Administrative information

IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number in the OJ S:

2022/S 000-033185

IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date: 28/02/2023

Local time: 17:00

IV.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates

Date: 03/04/2023

IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: No

VI.3) Additional information

The contracting authority intends to conduct a multi-stage procurement procedure with the option of reducing the number of tenderers to continue dialogue at each stage. Award criteria and further procurement documents will be provided by the commencement of the tender stage to bidders shortlisted to participate.

Expressions of interest must be by way of completion and return of the SQ (in accordance with the requirements set out in the SQ by the time limit in Section IV.2.2 above).

See section II.2.4 above for instructions on accessing the procurement documents.

Any queries and responses and circulars that may be issued during the tender period will be communicated exclusively via eTenderWales. All queries and responses will be shared with all tenderers unless the query is deemed confidential or commercially sensitive. Please ensure that any confidential enquiries/clarifications are marked appropriately.

NOTE: The authority is using eTenderWales to carry out this procurement process.

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at http://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=128224.

(WA Ref:128224)

The buyer considers that this contract is suitable for consortia.

VI.4) Procedures for review

VI.4.1) Review body

High Court

Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Telephone: +44 2079477501

VI.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:

This procedure is being run in accordance with Regulation 55 (Informing candidates and tenderers), Regulation 87 (Standstill period) and Regulation 88 to 104 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (‘PCR 2015’).

Following any decision to award the contract the contracting authority will be providing debriefing information to unsuccessful bidders in accordance with Regulation 86 PCR 2015 and observe a minimum 10 day standstill period (in accordance with Regulation 87 PCR 2015) before the contract is entered into.

Bidders should note that the procurement documents provide indicative information of the contracting authority's intended approach in the procurement process at this stage and are for general information only.

The contracting authority reserves the right to vary, amend and update any aspects of the procurement documents and final details and versions of the procurement documents will be confirmed to applicants successful in being selected to participate in the relevant tender stages of the procurement procedure.

The contracting authority reserves the right not to award the opportunity or to award only part (or a different arrangement) of the opportunity described in this Contract Notice.

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice

19/01/2023

Coding

Commodity categories

ID	Title	Parent category
71540000	Construction management services	Construction-related services
71541000	Construction project management services	Construction management services
45213320	Construction work for buildings relating to railway transport	Construction work for commercial buildings, warehouses and industrial buildings, buildings relating to transport
45213000	Construction work for commercial buildings, warehouses and industrial buildings, buildings relating to transport	Building construction work
45230000	Construction work for pipelines, communication and power lines, for highways, roads, airfields and railways; flatwork	Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work
45234000	Construction work for railways and cable transport systems	Construction work for pipelines, communication and power lines, for highways, roads, airfields and railways; flatwork
70112000	Development of non-residential real estate	Development services of real estate
34632300	Electrical installations for railways	Railways traffic-control equipment
71314100	Electrical services	Energy and related services
09310000	Electricity	Electricity, heating, solar and nuclear energy
65300000	Electricity distribution and related services	Public utilities
71314000	Energy and related services	Consultative engineering and construction services
71314200	Energy-management services	Energy and related services
32552420	Frequency converter	Electrical apparatus for line telephony or line telegraphy
66120000	Investment banking services and related services	Banking and investment services
79420000	Management-related services	Business and management consultancy and related services
31121110	Power converters	Generating sets
79421000	Project-management services other than for construction work	Management-related services
79421100	Project-supervision services other than for construction work	Project-management services other than for construction work
45234112	Railway depot construction work	Construction work for railways and cable transport systems
71311230	Railway engineering services	Civil engineering consultancy services
34940000	Railway equipment	Miscellaneous transport equipment and spare parts
45234115	Railway signalling works	Construction work for railways and cable transport systems
50224000	Reconditioning services of rolling stock	Repair, maintenance and associated services related to railways and other equipment
50222000	Repair and maintenance services of rolling stock	Repair, maintenance and associated services related to railways and other equipment
50220000	Repair, maintenance and associated services related to railways and other equipment	Repair, maintenance and associated services related to aircraft, railways, roads and marine equipment
45213313	Service-area building construction work	Construction work for commercial buildings, warehouses and industrial buildings, buildings relating to transport
45111291	Site-development work	Demolition, site preparation and clearance work
09330000	Solar energy	Electricity, heating, solar and nuclear energy
32500000	Telecommunications equipment and supplies	Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
45200000	Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work	Construction work

Delivery locations

ID	Description
1017	Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot

Alert region restrictions

The buyer has restricted the alert for this notice to suppliers based in the following regions.

ID	Description
There are no alert restrictions for this notice.

About the buyer

Main contact:: Strategicinvestment@gcre.wales
Admin contact:: N/a
Technical contact:: N/a
Other contact:: N/a

Further information

Date	Details
20/01/2023 16:29	ADDED FILE: GCRE-PQQ Clarifications V1.0_20JAN23 GCRE-PQQ Clarifications V1.0_20JAN23
27/01/2023 10:06	ADDED FILE: GCRE_PQQ Clarifications V2.0_27JAN23 GCRE_PQQ Clarifications V2.0_27JAN23
17/02/2023 18:15	ADDED FILE: GCRE_PQQ Clarifications V3.0_17FEB23 GCRE_PQQ Clarifications V3.0_17FEB23

Additional Documents

The following additional documents have been attached to this notice. To obtain these documents please select the individual file names below.