Pre-Market Engagement Process Associated with Waste Collection Services

This Speculative Notice is a Pre-Market Engagement exercise issued by Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) in order to encourage businesses to register and bid for the provision of Waste Collection Services to Bridgend County Borough Council (Bridgend CBC), “The Authority”. Where it is intended to advertise the requirement on Sell2Wales under the “Open” Procedure as described in the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) – 2015 (Regulation 27 refers). See attached Briefing Document for full details.Since 1st April 2017 the Authority has been in a Seven-year contract with Kier Environmental Services Ltd for the provision of all household waste and recycling collection services, along with the management of its three Community Recycling Centres (CRCs). The incumbent contractor has informed BCBC that they intend moving out of this industry and will not be taking up the available contract extension once the current contract Term is complete on 31st March 2024. The Authority is now planning for the service provision post 31st March 2024.BCBC intend to conduct a Tender with the intention of awarding a Two (2) year contract from 1st April 2024, with the option of extending for a further Two (2) years on an annual basis.The Authority in ideal circumstances would have as a preference engaged the existing contractor, in an extension of the current waste contract from 1st April 2024. Without any changes to the current service or vehicles. This desire to not change anything significantly at this point it time, despite the end of the contract approaching is driven by; Changing environmental legislation meaning that uncertainty exists with regard to future recycling targes that will have to be achieved. As a result, the service configuration that will be required to achieve those future targets is also uncertain.This is therefore an inappropriate time to put in place a long-term contract as it would be difficult to specify the needed service. Also, the future need to have ultra-low emission vehicles in line with the Welsh Government 2030 carbon neutral objectives. Also mean that now is not an ideal time to start a new contact with a new fleet of vehicles, as at present low carbon refuse and recycling vehicles are financially cost prohibitive and very much part of a developing marketplace. See attached Briefing Document for full details.BCBC is aware that a short-term duration contract may not be particularly attractive to bidders and in in order to reduce risk to the bidders in an attempt to offset the risk of having no bids due to a two-year contract being unattractive. The Authority have taken several steps to reduce contract risk compared to the current model, thereby improving contract attractiveness. See attached Briefing Document for full details.Service Providers are encouraged to ask any clarification questions on the forthcoming Tender by using the Q&A facility on this portal. BCBC will respond to all questions and intends to publish an anonymised version of the Q&A with the Invitation to Tender.It is intended to keep the Speculative Notice open for 2-weeks to receive and respond to any clarifications submitted by any interested parties. The Speculative Notice will therefore close on 18th November 2022.See attached Briefing Document for full details.NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=126179.