Construction work

Tender description

This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to initiate pre-market engagement and provide advance notification to the marketplace of the University of Bristol’s intention to carry out a procurement exercise for a Main Contractor for the construction of the new National Soil-Foundation-Structure Interaction (SoFSI) Facility at the University’s campus at Langford. This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to initiate pre-market engagement and provide advance notification to the marketplace of the University of Bristol’s intention to carry out a procurement exercise for a Main Contractor for the construction of the new National Soil-Foundation-Structure Interaction (SoFSI) Facility at the University’s campus at Langford. The proposed development includes a new building, covered soil storage area and external process plant together with access, service yard and parking area following the demolition of existing buildings. Proposed building: — major structure is highly reinforced specialist sub-structure including pit walls and strong floor, — super-structure is steel frame construction with concrete block walls and timber cladding, — overall 925 m2, and 12,32 m high (to the ridge of the test hall element), 11,36 m to the eaves, — building will comprise a main test hall containing a test pit (8 m x 6 m x 8 m) housing the shaking table, — will also comprise plant rooms, switch rooms, storage and WC, — second floor above ground floor ancillary accommodation comprising a laboratory, meeting room, control room, kitchen and toilet facilities, — roof top area for external plant above the ground floor process plant room, — the 2-storey element would measure 6,9 m high (lower than the main test hall). The university has scheduled a 12 month build period commencing mid-July 2019. It is intended that the design team will be novated. The estimated construction budget is in the range 4 000 000 GBP to 6 000 000 GBP, dependent on final detailed design (currently underway) and planning requirements. As this exceeds the OJEU threshold for Works, the procurement process for the Main Contractor will be inline with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The university intends to follow the restricted procedure and single-stage design and build route. The University has secured a grant from UKCRIC (The UK Collaboratorium for research on infrastructure and cities) to deliver the project, which includes purchase of a 6 m x 4 m x 1,5 m motion platform (shaking table) and associated equipment, plus the facility in which it will be housed. The facility will provide a research and teaching space for the large-scale testing of foundation structures. The research results will inform a better understanding of the design of infrastructure elements, ideally removing uncertainty and over-conservatism within current design practices. The procurement for the table has already been concluded and will be novated to the appointed Main Contractor (the value of this equipment is not included in the construction budgets stated). Integration in relation to the final building design will be required between the Main Contractor and equipment provider. The University is currently progressing detailed design and planning application, and this pre-market engagement assumes that the planning application will be granted with minimal changes to those detailed above. Further details will be included in the procurement documents. Proposed timelines: — issue Contract Notice and pre-qualification questionnaire (PAS91) in mid December 2018, to be returned early Feb 2019, — evaluate responses and agree a shortlist mid-Feb 2019, — begin pre-tender engagement with shortlisted suppliers in late Feb-early March 2019, — issue Invitation to Tender in mid-March 2019, to be returned mid-May 2019 (8-week tender period), — evaluate tenders June 2019, — appoint successful contractor early July 2019. Tender documents are not available at this time and will be issued in line with the timelines detailed above via the University’s tender portal. There is no requirement for suppliers to respond to this PIN, however suppliers are welcome to register interest via email to aw14701@bristol.ac.uk Suppliers with any queries or wishing to provide feedback on the proposed approach should do so via the above email address.