Concession notice
Section I: Contracting
authority/entity
I.1) Name and addresses
The Council of the City of Sunderland
Civic Centre, Burdon Road
Sunderland
SR2 7DN
UK
Contact person: Virginia Ainsley
E-mail: virginia.ainsley@sunderland.gov.uk
NUTS: UKC23
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.sunderland.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: www.sunderland.gov.uk
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
www.nepo.org
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
www.nepo.org
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Strategic Partner for the Sunderland Smart City 5G Neutral Host
II.1.2) Main CPV code
64210000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Sunderland City Council (SCC) is seeking a private sector partner (PSP) to co-invest in and form a Joint Venture (JV) to design, build and operate a 5G Neutral Host across the SCC boundary area and adjacent areas. The contract term will be for a period of 20 years. The PSP/JV will be required to recruit customers including Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to use the Neutral Host and stimulate demand for the use cases and their development. A range of street and network assets will be made available by SCC to the JV to deliver the scheme. SCC provides free public Wi-Fi in certain areas of the City Centre and Roker as well as a series of road sensors. SCC will require the JV to continue to provide and enhance this service. SCC will be able to buy back data services from the JV during the contract term and there will be opportunities for the JV to offer the provision of private networks to industry, 3rd parties and SCC.
Continues in II.2.4 below.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
80 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
64200000
72000000
32400000
32500000
48200000
48500000
48800000
48960000
72318000
72400000
72710000
72720000
79342000
79342300
79400000
79411100
79413000
79416200
79418000
79420000
79421000
80000000
80300000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKC23
Main site or place of performance:
SCC boundaries and potential neighbouring areas.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The objective of the JV is to achieve a ubiquitous 5G Neutral Host across the entire administrative area of SCC. Ubiquitous means high speed, low latency wireless communications with 99 % (by area) outdoor coverage and Low Power Wireless Access Network with 100 % coverage with indoor penetration.
The initial deployment will be for the City Centre/Riverside Sunderland development. The JV will deliver 5G and strategic network infrastructure to accelerate the regeneration of Riverside Sunderland and City Centre. There are opportunities to takeover and expand the existing network at the Nissan site in Sunderland.
Full details of SCC’s requirements are set out in the Specification, which is available via the NEPO portal at www.nepo.org (NEPO Reference: DN467791). The draft Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) will be released on the portal during the SQ return period and bidders should monitor the portal to check for its availability.
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
80 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession
Duration in months: 240
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 estimated value of the opportunity is between GBP 70 million to GBP 80 million over the 20-year term. However, potential returns will depend on many commercial factors including (but not limited to) market conditions. Bidders should seek independent legal and commercial advice in relation to the potential value of the opportunity.
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
The PSP/JV may be required to actively participate in the achievement of social and/or environmental policy objectives relating to recruitment and training and supply-chain initiatives.
The PSP/JV is expected to contribute to the delivery of social, economic and community objectives including supporting digital education and training programmes (including in collaboration with schools, Further and Higher Education institutions in Sunderland) as well as employment and enterprise support.
The primary focus of the JV will be to deliver a ubiquitous 5G Network across Sunderland over the 20-year JV term. At the end of this term the parties may decide to continue to operate the JV assets in Sunderland. The JV may also pursue other delivery and network opportunities outside of Sunderland, once the SCC area has been built out. The parties will review the future activities of the JV prior to the end of the initial 20-year term.
III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
21/12/2020
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.3) Additional information
Expressions of interest applications must be by way of completion and return of the selection questionnaire (SQ) (in accordance with the requirements set out in the SQ by the time limit in Section IV.2.2 above). Economic operators who wish to participate may obtain the SQ and the accompanying procurement documents from the NEPO portal at ‘www.nepoportal.org’, NEPO Reference DN467791. Please note that economic operators will firstly need to register for free through the NEPO portal and obtain log-in details in order to access the documents.
A virtual Market Engagement/Bidders’ Event will be held at 9.30 a.m. on 26 November 2020. Potential bidders are required to e-mail the Authority's named contact, so that a meeting invite can be issued.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Courts of Justice
The Royal Court of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
In accordance with Regulation 47 (Notice of decision to award a concession contract); Regulation 48 (Standstill period) and Regulation 52 to 63 of the Concession Contracts Regulations 2016 (‘CCR 2016’). Following any decision to award the concession contract, SCC will be providing debriefing information to unsuccessful bidders (in accordance with Regulation 47 CCR 2016) and observe a minimum 10-day standstill period (in accordance with Regulation 48 CCR 2016) before the concession contract is entered into.
Bidders should note that the draft procurement documents made available provide indicative information of SCC’s intended approach in the procurement process and are for general information only. SCC 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 Concession Contracts Regulations 2016 (CCR 2016) applies to the competition. SCC intends to follow a process similar to the Competitive Dialogue procedure in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) (PCR 2015). It reserves the right to deviate from the formalities of the PCR 2015 in conducting the competition due to the flexibilities permitted by the CCR 2016.
SCC reserves the right not to award the opportunity or to award only part (or a different arrangement) of the opportunity described in this Concession Notice. SCC also reserves the right to cancel or amend the procurement process and does not bind itself to accept any tender. SCC shall not be liable under any circumstances for any costs or expenses incurred by any bidder or prospective bidder in responding to this notice or in taking part in this procurement process.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
16/11/2020