Keele University Science & Innovation Park: Strategic Growth Partner(s) - Early Market Engagement

Tender description

Over the last five years Keele has largely driven new developments on the Science & Innovation Park on a project-by-project basis, securing public sector funds where available to support this, and/or working through specific investment partnerships. The Early Market Engagement seeks feedback and market insight to inform the procurement of an investment partner or partners to help us realise our longer-term ambitions for the Science and Innovation Park and development site, as part of our commitment to playing a full role in supporting local growth and regeneration. This would include enabling a longer term approach to development (a further five innovation centres over a period of 8-10 years), and potentially to support us in securing a viable long-term future for some of our existing facilities. The Early Market Engagement document is intended to support the Prior Information Notice (PIN) predicated under Regulation 40 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. This is not a formal tender process or a call for competition. It remains at the sole discretion of the University as to whether a subsequent procurement exercise will be undertaken following conclusion of the early market engagement. Interested parties are invited to express an interest in this project through the In-tend portal at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofkeele/aspx/Home and completing and returning the Questionnaire in the Early Market Engagement document through this portal by no later than 12 noon on 19.06.2023. Lot 1: We would welcome responses in the context of the following indicative requirements: • that the University agrees on the thematic focus of each facility (where this is deemed feasible) with the aim of achieving alignment with our research and education objectives, the needs of the local economy and market demand. • that the University, as landowner, has the final say on building design before this is submitted for planning approval. • that the University regulates the occupancy of each facility through an appropriate mechanism to be agreed with the investment partner. This would be broadly in line with its existing occupancy criteria for the Science and Innovation Park, which has enabled significant growth over recent years. • that the investment mechanism would not require co-investment or borrowing by the University, or create additional contingent liabilities. • that the partnership does not create any additional revenue costs for the University during the investment period. • that following a specified period to enable a full return on investment by the partner, the University is able to take full ownership of the facilities. • that the facilities are connected to Keele's Smart Energy Network, and as far as possible are smart-enabled to make full use of this feature of the campus environment. • that facilities meet BREEAM Excellent at the very least, and if possible within this kind of investment approach, BREEAM Outstanding. • that facilities, however modest, maintain high standards of architectural design, providing a high quality working environment for users, and relating well to the surrounding buildings, landscape and infrastructure. We would welcome views on how comfortably each of these can be achieved through a long-term investment partnership. The following features of an investment partnership are seen as desirable: • Scope for flexibility around the core investment agreement, including for example the ability to respond to specific end user needs, or leverage of public sector funding opportunities. • Scope for investment in the renewal, replacement or change of use of some of our existing Science & Innovation Park facilities. • Ability to contribute to the complementary objectives of the campus masterplan in the development approach. • A realistic revenue return to the University in recognition of historic investment, to support the growth and development of the Science and Park. Interested parties are invited to express an interest in this project through the In-tend portal at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofkeele/aspx/Home and completing and returning the Questionnaire in the Early Market Engagement document through this portal by no later than 12 noon on 19.06.2023.