Preliminary Market Consultation for the Cork Event Centre

Tender description

Cork is the second largest urban area in the Republic of Ireland and the primary centre of the South-West Region, which has a population of 740,000. Cork already performs well as a major urban centre in Ireland and the City has positioned itself as an emerging medium-sized European centre of growth and innovation. The National Planning Framework sets out that building on this potential is critical to further enhancing Ireland’s metropolitan profile. This requires an ambitious vision for Cork, at the heart of which must be an internationally competitive, sustainable urban environment. This means providing housing, transport, amenities and energy systems in a best practice European context. Cork City Council (“the Council”) has a longstanding aspiration to see the delivery of a fully operated, multifunctional event centre in Cork with a capacity of approximately 5,000 to 7,000 persons. The Council acknowledges that without some level of public funding or subvention, potential investors would not proceed with the development of such a venue. In recognition of this, public sector support for the event centre will be made available subject to the funding criteria and approval. In preparing for the procurement of the event centre the Council is interested in engaging with suitably experienced developers as well as operators and promoters within the live entertainment and events industry to seek advice in relation to the Council’s procurement plans and requirements. Interested developers, operators and promoters are requested to express an interest online via this notice, with the intent that 1-2-1 bilateral discussions may follow. As part of this preliminary market consultation, parties are to note that: 1. This preliminary market consultation is not a formal call for competition. Participation or non-participation in this preliminary market consultation will not confer any advantage or disadvantage on any person in respect of any future competitive procurement process. 2. The Council is not obliged to respond to any expression of interest or correspondence related to this preliminary market consultation. 3. If beneficial, the Council may also undertake further related market engagement in the future as refinement of the approach continues. 4. Any costs of participation in this preliminary market consultation will be borne by the respondent. 5. The Council emphasizes the importance of confidentiality and expects all participants to respect the sensitivity of the information exchanged during this process. 6. The insights gathered through this consultation will be used solely to inform the Council’s procurement strategy and will not be shared with third parties outside the consultation. Cork is the second largest urban area in the Republic of Ireland and the primary centre of the South-West Region, which has a population of 740,000. Cork already performs well as a major urban centre in Ireland and the City has positioned itself as an emerging medium-sized European centre of growth and innovation. The National Planning Framework sets out that building on this potential is critical to further enhancing Ireland’s metropolitan profile. This requires an ambitious vision for Cork, at the heart of which must be an internationally competitive, sustainable urban environment. This means providing housing, transport, amenities and energy systems in a best practice European context. Cork City Council (“the Council”) has a longstanding aspiration to see the delivery of a fully operated, multifunctional event centre in Cork with a capacity of approximately 5,000 to 7,000 persons. The Council acknowledges that without some level of public funding or subvention, potential investors would not proceed with the development of such a venue. In recognition of this, public sector support for the event centre will be made available subject to the funding criteria and approval. In preparing for the procurement of the event centre the Council is interested in engaging with suitably experienced developers as well as operators and promoters within the live entertainment and events industry to seek advice in relation to the Council’s procurement plans and requirements. Interested developers, operators and promoters are requested to express an interest online via this notice, with the intent that 1-2-1 bilateral discussions may follow. As part of this preliminary market consultation, parties are to note that: 1. This preliminary market consultation is not a formal call for competition. Participation or non-participation in this preliminary market consultation will not confer any advantage or disadvantage on any person in respect of any future competitive procurement process. 2. The Council is not obliged to respond to any expression of interest or correspondence related to this preliminary market consultation. 3. If beneficial, the Council may also undertake further related market engagement in the future as refinement of the approach continues. 4. Any costs of participation in this preliminary market consultation will be borne by the respondent. 5. The Council emphasizes the importance of confidentiality and expects all participants to respect the sensitivity of the information exchanged during this process. 6. The insights gathered through this consultation will be used solely to inform the Council’s procurement strategy and will not be shared with third parties outside the consultation.