Public procurement notice: Prior Information Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2016-03-11
Buyer: Transport for London
Country: UK
Region: Inner London - East
Contract type: Works
CPV classification: 43123000 | 43320000 | 45000000: Construction work | 45221000: Engineering works for bridges and tunnels | 45221240

Technical requirements: Transport for London (TfL) is looking to enter a competitive procurement process with a view to awarding a long-term availability contract for the design, build, finance and maintenance of a new river crossing between Silvertown and Greenwich Peninsula in east London. The river crossing, to be called Silvertown Tunnel, will comprise of a twin bore road tunnel alongside Blackwall Tunnel with connections to the A1020 Silvertown Way/Lower Lea Crossing at the north and to the A102 Blackwall Tunnel Approach at the south. It is proposed that user charging will be applied to manage congestion and help fund the scheme.
TfL may also consider other commercial arrangements relating to the provision of the tunnel where these can be demonstrated to provide value for money.
TfL wishes to engage with interested parties to develop an approach to the procurement for the works which may include design, build, maintenance and finance of: 1) Tunnels (covering bored and cut-and-cover tunnels) 2) Tunnel Fire Life Safety and Ventilation 3) Tunnel Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) Systems 4) Highways 5) Non — tunnel structures 6) Enabling works including utilities and diversions 7) Landscaping and mitigation 8) Obtaining Finance 9) Asset Maintenance 10) Workshops/offices and facilities 11) Operation of the Silvertown Tunnel, excluding traffic management operational responsibility (This will be retained by TfL in line with its wider network management duties) 12) User charging Infrastructure (It is not envisaged that the user charging services and operation will form part of the scope and the works) TfL have undertaken statutory consultation on the scheme, which precedes a Development Consent Order (DCO) submission to the Secretary of State and project information can be obtained from the following website; http://www.tfl.gov.uk/silvertown-tunnel.
TfL is planning to hold an industry day on the morning of Wednesday 11.5.2016 at a venue in East London. The purpose of the event is for TfL to engage with potential bidders to outline the scope, objectives and programme for the forthcoming Silvertown Tunnel opportunity.
The event is primarily aimed at potential tier 1 contractors, equity investors and funders with relevant experience of delivering major infrastructure projects. If you would like to participate in this market engagement, please register your interest via the following link; http://www.cvent.com/d/wfqxfq by 17:00 on Friday 8th April.
TfL will manage this process in an open and transparent manner to maximise the possible benefits. Participation or non-participation in this market engagement will not preclude companies or disadvantage/advantage any company's ability to participate in any future procurement activity.
Responses to this notice should be made by the 29.4.2016. Any economic operator that wishes to comment on this procurement to TfL should do so in writing using the email address silvertown@tfl.gov.uk and any further communications with registered economic operators will use this email address. TfL is particularly interested in receiving information or comments on the potential membership of any consortia, financing arrangements, timing of the procurement in relation to other market activity and any other pertinent matters. TfL may, in due course, seek further input from respondents to this notice on specific issues as the project develops prior to issue of the Contract Notice.
(1) Please note that this notice has been issued by TfL purely as notification to potential bidders that TfL intends to procure this contract, and as an information seeking exercise. A separate Contract Notice will be issued in due course to start the formal prequalification process. (2) Potential bidders will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to this notice, nor by not attending the industry day. Potential bidders must also note that a response to this notice does not guarantee an invitation to participate in this or any future procurement or any process of consultation. (3) Any procurement of the works and services by TfL will be carried out strictly in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulation 2015 (or any superseding regulation). The Contracting Authority intends to use an eTendering system in this procurement exercise and reserves the right to use a reverse auction. TfL is committed to ensuring fairness, openness and transparency, and to follow EU procurement regulations. (4) The issue of this prior information notice (PIN) does not constitute any commitment by TfL or any of its stakeholders to undertake any public procurement exercise in the future. Further, this PIN notice does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services, supplies or works for TfL and TfL is not bound to accept any proposals offered. (5) TfL is not liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party participating in any consultation it may conduct. (6) TfL, its subsidiaries and nominees reserve the right to require the submission of any additional, supplementary or clarification information as they may, in their absolute discretion, consider appropriate. (7) TfL, its subsidiaries and nominees embrace diversity and welcome applications from all suitably skilled suppliers of all sizes who can meet the requirements, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, disability or age of supplier workforce and/or ownership. TfL, its subsidiaries and nominees will actively promote green procurement throughout its supply chain and welcome applications from suppliers committed to the principles of reducing, reusing and recycling resources and to the practices of buying recycled. (8) TfL, its subsidiaries and nominees strongly support and implement the Greater London Authority (GLA) Responsible Procurement Policy, details of which may be found at: http://www.london.gov.uk/rp/policy/ (9) Direct or indirect canvassing of any TfL employee or agent by any company concerning this requirement, or any attempt to procure information from any TfL employee or agent concerning this PIN outside of the formal process described in this document may result in the disqualification of the company from consideration of any future procurement activity. (10) No information contained in this document or in any communication made between TfL and any company in connection with this shall be relied upon as constituting a contract, agreement or representation that any contract shall be offered in accordance with this PIN.
Tenderers will be required to arrange finance with repayment over the service period. Further information will be provided in the Contract Notice and, in due course the invitation to participate in the Competitive Procedure with negotiation.
The Contracting Entity reserves the right to: a) run a separate financing competition and / or b) to directly finance the works and / or services.
The Contracting Authority intends to use an eTendering system in this procurement exercise and reserves the right to use a reverse auction.