PIN - Cheshire East Council Market Consultation for Household Waste Recycling Centre Services

Tender description

Cheshire East Council (the "Authority”) intends to enter into a procurement process to procure a contract with a single supplier for the provision of its Household Waste Recycling Centre (“HWRC”) management services. The scope of the service is anticipated to include the management, operation and maintenance of the Authority’s HWRCs, the haulage of residual waste received at the HWRCs to a specified delivery point and the haulage, treatment and disposal of all other waste received at the HWRCs. Whilst there is no firm commitment at this stage, the Contract may also include the management, operation and maintenance of a mobile HWRC service. This prior information notice is published to advertise a market engagement exercise being conducted by the Authority in respect of the above services. The Authority wishes to engage with the market to better inform the Authority’s understanding of the capabilities and capacities of the proximate waste management sector. This market engagement exercise includes the completion of a Soft Market Testing Questionnaire and optional site visits to the Authority’s HWRC facilities, which will be held between 15th and 16th February 2024. Organisations responding to this market engagement exercise (“Respondents”) who wish to participate in site visits in advance of completion of the Soft Market Testing Questionnaire must register their interest by sending a message to request an appointment via the The Chest e-tendering portal (the “Portal”). The Authority will then respond to confirm availability and timings. The time limit for registering for the site visits is 5:00 pm on 9th February 2024. Please note that, if you opt to participate in site visits, Respondents are required to provide their own transport between sites. Respondents will be required to bring their own personal protective equipment (PPE) which includes boots and hi-vis. Further details are contained in this prior information notice at section II.2.4 which outlines the matters on which the Authority is seeking feedback and views from the market. The Authority is seeking responses to its Soft Market Testing Questionnaire in advance of the deadline of 12 noon (12:00 pm), on the 29th of February 2024. Participation in this market engagement exercise is not a requirement for participation in any future procurement process undertaken by the Authority, nor is it intended that any responses received to the Soft Market Testing Questionnaire have the effect of distorting future competition or violating the principles of non-discrimination and transparency. Lot 1: Waste Disposal Authorities (including Unitary Authorities) are required to provide residents with a place to dispose of their household waste, under Section 51(1)(b) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (the “1990 Act”). The Authority intends to procure a contract with a single supplier for the provision of HWRC management services (and associated services) as its current contract approaches expiry. The Authority is seeking the views of potential market participants through responses to the Authority’s Soft Market Testing Questionnaire. In particular, the Authority wishes to explore the market’s views on its capability to deliver the contract, its interest in the various service options being considered by the Authority, key industry risks and potential incentivisation and gainsharing mechanisms that could be utilised over the term of the contract. Subject to the provisions and requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the Authority and its appointed advisors shall hold all information provided in response to this market engagement exercise in the strictest confidence. Respondents are advised that by submitting a response to the Soft Market Testing Questionnaire, that neither they nor the Authority are under any obligation to provide the proposed service or enter into a contractual relationship in line with any information provided as part of a Soft Market Testing Questionnaire response. Please see Section 8 of the Soft Market Testing Questionnaire for further information. The Soft Market Testing Questionnaire (including a supporting descriptive document) will be available on The Chest e-tendering portal at: www.the-chest.org.uk — Project ID DN704650. Responses to the Soft Market Testing Questionnaires are invited to be returned via the Chest by 12:00 noon on 29th February 2024. For the avoidance of doubt, any costs incurred in participating in the Authority’s market engagement exercise shall be borne by the responding organisation.