Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2020-04-02
Buyer: Ríkiskaup
Country: IS
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Negotiated procedure
CPV classification: 71242000 | 71244000 | 71311200 | 71311300 | 71312000: Structural engineering consultancy services
Submission deadline: 2020-05-04
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Borgarlínan is an exciting and transformational project which aims to implement a Bus Rapid Transit (‘BRT’) system in the Capital Area of Iceland. Borgarlínan is jointly proposed by the Association of Municipalities in the Capital Area, and Vegagerðin, the Icelandic Roads and Coastal Authority (together, the ‘Authority’). This contract notice relates to the Authority's requirement for a Project Advisor to act as its principal client-side advisor and project manager in respect of the Borgarlínan project.
Borgarlínan is an exciting and transformational project which aims to implement a Bus Rapid Transit (‘BRT’) system in the Capital Area of Iceland. In order to meet carbon neutrality by 2040, Iceland has committed to significantly reduce the emission of green-house gases. Within the same timeframe, the population of the Capital Area in Iceland is expected to grow by around 28 % by 2040 (an increase of 60 000 people to 275 000). In order to address these issues, a new system of public transportation has been proposed, which would facilitate growth in an environmentally sustainable way and enable the population to travel shorter distances and in a more diverse manner with residential areas coalescing around transport hubs. This new system has been named the Borgarlínan, or, loosely translated, ‘City Line’. Borgarlínan is envisaged to be a gold‐standard BRT system, competitive with private transport but far more sustainable. It is expected to provide a rapid, safe, and comfortable trips for passengers, as well as to be recognisable by all Icelanders, with iconic stations and attractive buses, tied together under a common, familiar brand. As Borgarlínan is to be a modern BRT system, the current thinking is that it will be a third generation BRT. The proposed system will include a diversity of BRT routes, all branded under the Borgarlínan brand, but providing direct services for passengers, avoiding the need for a cumbersome transfer. Most of the Borgarlínan infrastructure will be constructed on the existing road network but several points, most notably a bike/pedestrian/and transit‐only bridge between Reykjavík and Kopavogur (Fossvogur Bay) and a new transit‐only bridge at Ellidaárvogur (Ellidaá Bay) will be newly constructed for use by the Borgarlínan. Specific stations and depot locations have not yet been evaluated. The current expectation is that construction of the infrastructure will commence in 2022. This contract notice relates to the Authority's requirement to appoint a Project Advisor to act as its principal client-side advisor and project manager in respect of the Borgarlínan project. Further detail on the specific role envisaged to be played by the Project Advisor is set out in the Project Information Memorandum (‘PIM’) accompanying this notice; however, at a high level, the Project Advisor may be expected to provide the following services: project management, project governance, data management, performance management and reporting, risk management, stakeholder engagement, political and regulatory engagement, financial management, change management, health/safety/wellbeing management, procurement support, ORAT, contract management, scheduling and logistics, design management, quality management and other related services. It is important to note that the Project Advisor will act as an independent body from all other advisors and contractors directly or indirectly involved in realising the Borgarlínan project. The very clear intention of the Authority is that the Project Advisor is its principal ‘client-side’ advisor on the project. Interested parties should therefore note that the Project Advisor shall not be eligible to be appointed to any other role/discipline connected to the Borgarlínan project, including as the Integrated Design Advisor, during the period of the Project Advisor's appointment.
Description of options: It is anticipated that the Project Advisor will initially be appointed to support the Authority in respect of the first phase of the Borgarlínan project, which involves the delivery of approximately 13 km of BRT infrastructure. However, the 'end' Borgarlínan project is expected to be greater than this (up to 42 km) and the Authority reserves an option to extend the Project Advisor's involvement in the project to later stages.
The Authority may require a parent company guarantee and/or performance bond (as appropriate) as a condition of any contract to be awarded.
No specific legal form is required at this stage. However, the Authority reserves the right to require the successful Project Advisor to take a specific legal form and/or assume joint and several liability if bidding on a consortium/sub-contracting basis. This will be subject to discussion during the procurement process.
The successful Project Advisor may be required to actively participate in the achievement of social (including responsible business considerations), environmental and/or economic objectives. Accordingly, contract performance conditions may be imposed relating to such matters. Further details will be set out in the procurement documents.
Interested parties should note that the Authority is using a dedicated procurement portal to manage this procurement process: http://www.tendsign.is. All documentation will be made available this portal. All communications by interested parties must be submitted through this portal - any communications sent by alternative means will be ignored. Please note that a ‘request to participate’ for the purposes of this contract notice (in particular, Section IV.2.2) is by completion and return of the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire by the stated deadline. Interested parties should note that the Authority reserves the right to cancel or vary this procurement process at any point and will not be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by interested parties in responding to or participating in this opportunity. The Authority also reserves the right not to award a contract to the lowest priced bidder or indeed to award any contract at all as a result of this procurement. The Authority may also change the basis, procedures and/or timescales set out or referred to within the procurement document. In relation to Section II.1.5, the Authority is unable at this stage to provide an estimated total value given the complexity and lengthy timeframe of the project and the fact that, at this stage, the precise scope of the Project Advisor's role is unknown. However, in light of the nature of the project, it has the potential to be a high-value appointment. In relation to Section II.2.10, variant bids may be accepted by the Authority. However, this will only be in circumstances where the form and content of the variant has been approved by the Authority in advance. In relation to Section II.2.7, the length of the Project Advisor's appointment will depend entirely on the project itself, as it is critical that the Authority is able to work with a single advisor throughout the whole project (if appropriate). Therefore, it is anticipated that a contract will be entered into for an initial period, which will then be subject to extension on a pre-agreed basis until Borgarlínan is complete.