Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2020-11-04
Buyer: Aarhus Vand A/S
Country: DK
Contract type: Works
Procedure: Innovation partnership
CPV classification: 45000000: Construction work
Submission deadline: 2020-12-04
Award criteria: The most economic tender
EU fund: Recovery and Resilience

Technical requirements: In connection with the realisation of Aarhus ReWater — the World's most resource efficient wastewater treatment plant — Aarhus Vand is in need of a turnkey contractor to assist in the design and execution of the resource facility (water and sludge treatment) aka wastewater resource recovery facility (WRRF) with a capacity of approximately 450 000 PE (expected dimensioning capacity — awaiting final capacity calculations and outcome of ongoing EIA) when realised in 2028.
The service to be provided by the turnkey contractor includes taking part of the design of the total process plant (WRRF) as well as execution and commissioning and testing. Focus is on creating a state-of-the-art resource facility with a high degree of flexibility and modularity.
The realisation of Aarhus ReWater is expected to run until mid-2028 when the resource plant is expected to be finished. Aarhus ReWater will be built in Aarhus on a site of around 12 hectares (land reclamation) near Tangkrogen and Marselisborg marina. The final location of the resource plant has not yet been determined. Three possible locations have previously been discussed; however, a recent political decision reduced the number to two. The two alternative locations will be evaluated during the first planning stage comprising the EIA study.
The plant is expected to be expanded on an ongoing basis and to be fully expanded in 2060, when its capacity will be up to 600 000 PE, corresponding to the expected population in 2060, based on the latest forecast.
The project's total financial framework is DKK 1.7-2.0 billion, which will include all expenses related to the project. The location of Aarhus ReWater on reclaimed land in the transition area between land and sea, city and harbour, marina and event area, calls for an adaptation of the plant that goes beyond its mere utility value and incorporates the surroundings — the requirements and possibilities of the citizens — into the area.
Since existing solutions in the market cannot fulfil Aarhus Vand’s vision and high ambitions for Aarhus ReWater, Aarhus Vand wants to building the world’s most resource-efficient wastewater resource recovery facility (WRRF) through an innovation partnership. Aarhus Vand A/S wants to a tender turnkey contract according to a model that ensures room for innovation and development — and selection of the optimal technologies — in the initial design phase, until project and budget details are finalised in the project planning phase prior to execution, and that allows for a more flexible team formation. Furthermore, Aarhus Vand wants to be able to influence team formation, thereby ensuring that a strong architect consultant, a strong process consortium and a strong turnkey contractor are chosen before the three parties are brought together in a turnkey contractor team.
After an initial innovation phase, the process consortium and the architect consultant are to transfer to a turnkey contractor team implementing the RRP (wastewater plant — 600 000 PE). Accordingly, this tender procedure concerns a flexible agreement including civil works and consultancy services in connection with Aarhus ReWater.
(The process consortium is used here to designate the consultant or team of consultants associated with the project. The term expresses the fact that the process consortium is expected to possess the wide and professional depth of competencies needed to contribute to the realisation of future resource facilities — Aarhus ReWater — through innovative solutions. The term thus does not express a particular legal structure).
The term of the contract stated in months is indicative only. The contract runs until Aarhus ReWater has been implemented. This is expected to take place in mid-2028.
When making a selection among the suitable applicants, Aarhus Vand will select the four applicants who, in light of the tendered works, are assessed to have the best technical and professional capacity as well as sufficient financial resilience. This will take place on the basis of the contracting authority's evaluation of the applicants' technical capacity as documented by way of the references forwarded as well as the applicants' economic and financial capacity based on the requested key ratios. The main emphasis will be on the former (references).
The evaluation will take place on the basis of information stated in the eESPD as well as any supplementary reference sheets.
In the selection procedure, the contracting authority will assess the applicants' financial resilience in light of the project and which applicants have documented, by way of the references forwarded, the most relevant references in respect of the tendered works.
By ‘relevant references’, the contracting authority means references which are comparable to the tendered work in terms of nature and scope, including in particular references within:
— establishment of major process plants such as, e.g., wastewater treatment plants, waterworks, district heating plants or biogas plants or the like, which include management of a range of technical disciplines such as structures, machine plants and piping, electrical installations, CRS (control, regulation and supervision);
— project management and construction management regarding establishment of large complex construction projects;

Eligibility requirements: No special requirements are made in respect of suitability.