Design and Build of Solar PV Farms and Nethermains, Kilwinning and Shewalton, Irvine

North Ayrshire Council invites tenders for the design and build of two solar PV farms – one at Nethermains, Kilwinning and the other at Shewalton, Irvine as detailed in the Invitation to Tender.

The tender will be split into 3 lots, as detailed below, and North Ayrshire Council intend to award either Lots 1 and 2 or Lot 3. The award will be based on what is affordable and best value for North Ayrshire Council.

Lot 1 Nethermains, Kilwinning

Lot 2 Shewalton, Irvine

Lot 3 Nethermains, Kilwinning & Shewalton, Irvine

Tenderers who wish to bid for both Lot 1 and Lot 2 and encouraged to also submit a bid under Lot 3.

The contract period will be 64 months (up to 6 months for design, up to 10 months for build, 12 months operation and 48 months maintenance). Design and build must be completed by April 2024 for both sites in order to meet grid connection.

The anticipated start date is 4th January 2023 until 28th April 2028 with the option to extend operation by up to 6 months until 31st October 2028, and maintenance by up to 16 years until 29th April 2044. Operation and maintenance will run together in year one and potentially year two if the operation extension is utilised, thereafter maintenance will run as a standalone element. Extensions will be at the sole discretion of NAC and subject to satisfactory performance and funding.

The contract(s) will be let under the NEC4 Design, Build and Operate Contract.

Quality Management Procedures

1. The bidder must hold a UKAS (or equivalent) accredited independent third-party certificate of compliance in accordance with BS EN ISO 9001 (or equivalent) or a documented policy regarding quality management, see attachment at SPD question 4D.1.

Health and Safety Procedures

1. The bidder must hold a UKAS (or equivalent) accredited independent third-party certificate of compliance in accordance with BS OHSAS 18001 or ISO 45001 (or equivalent) or have, within the last 12 months, successfully met the assessment requirements of a construction-related scheme in registered membership of the Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) forum or the bidder must have a regularly reviewed and documented policy for Health and Safety management, see attachment at SPD question 4D.1.

Environmental Management Procedures

1. The bidder must hold a UKAS (or equivalent) accredited independent third-party certificate of compliance in accordance with BS EN ISO 14001 (or equivalent) or a valid EMAS (or equivalent) certificate or the bidder must have a regularly reviewed documented policy regarding environmental management, see attachment at SPD question 4D.2.

Bidders may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 45026. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343

The Contracting Authority does not intend to include a sub-contract clause as part of community benefits (as per Section 25 of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014) in this contract for the following reason:

North Ayrshire Council anticipates that contractors will have their own pre-qualified supplier to call upon/utilise.

Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/

A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:

Community benefits will be required on a mandatory basis for:

1. Fair Work: promotion of job opportunities within North Ayrshire; employability targets for specific priority groups.

2. Upskilling (including curriculum development): work experience placements; taster sessions; training opportunities; work within education establishments.

3. Entrepreneurial, Inclusive and Sustainable Economy: monitoring spend within North Ayrshire; with micro, small and medium enterprises; and the Third Sector.

4. Wish List: delivery of community and Third Sector requests for support from the NAC Community Benefit Wish List. (http://northayrshire.community/community-benefits-wishlist-application-form/)