Public procurement notice: Contract Award Notice
Published: 2021-06-18
Buyer: Aarhus Vand A/S
Country: DK
Contract type: Works
Procedure: Innovation partnership
CPV classification: 45000000: Construction work
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 1st 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 load in 2060, based on the latest forecast.
The project's total financial framework is DKK 1 700 000 000-2 000 000 000, 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 realization of future resource facilities – Aarhus ReWater – through innovative solutions. The term thus does not express a particular legal structure).
The contract (partnership agreement) is awarded to the two financially most advantageous tenders based on the award criterion “best price/quality ratio” in accordance with the subcriteria stated in the tender terms. After an initial phase (Phase 0) Aarhus Vand will reduce the number of turnkey contractors from two to one.
At the end of Phase 0 – the preliminary part of the innovation partnership – the final partners of the turnkey contractor team (process consortium, architect and turnkey contractor) will be appointed separately. The appointment of the turnkey contractor will be based on an evaluation of collaboration and innovation skills through work on the objectives stated in the tender documents.
Following the final appointment of cooperation partners at the completion of Phase 0, the final cooperation partners will be brought together in a turnkey contractor team.
According to the Danish Act of the Complaints Board for Public Procurement (lov om Klagenævnet for Udbud), complaints about not obtaining prequalification must be submitted to the Complaints Board for Public Procurement within 20 calendar days calculated from the day after the day on which the Client has sent notification to the affected applicants about who has been prequalified, see s. 2(1) of the Act, if the notification has included a brief account of the relevant reasons for the decision. Other complaints must be submitted to the Complaints Board for Public Procurement within 45 calendar days calculated from the day after the Client's publication of a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union on the conclusion of a contract.


Winner: MT Højgaard Danmark A/S