Stage 2 Appointment of an Operator for the i4C Innovation and Cleantech Centre, Ballymena, Northern Ireland

Concepts

• ballymena
• business services
• i4c
• dialogue stage
• the i4c operator contract
• pre-operations phase
• cleantech centre
• specialist cleantech supports
• northern ireland
• innovate uk funding

Location

Ballymena

Description

Mid & East Antrim Borough Council has secured funding approval for the business case for the development of a new i4C Innovation and Cleantech Centre (herein referred to as “i4C”) located on the St Patrick’s Regeneration Site in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. It is anticipated that the i4C will have a gross internal floor area of circa 7,000 sq. metres, with current concept proposals interpreting this to be a four-storey building comprising laboratories, workshops, Grade A office space for rent by corporate tenants and co-working office space for entrepreneurs/SMEs. It will also contain an iLAB (innovation laboratory), a staffed ‘makerspace’ workshop. The i4C will be sited adjacent to the new Northern Region College (NRC) education campus and in close proximity to the ECOS Business and Conferencing Hub, a Council owned and managed facility. Construction of the i4C is planned to commence in February 2026, with the Centre opening in August 2027. The Council is seeking to appoint a suitably experienced Operator to manage and operate the i4C in the medium to long term (from its planned opening in August 2027) and, in the short term, to inform the design and advise on the branding, marketing and fit-out of the i4C prior to its opening. Pre-operations phase (from late 2024 to August 2027) During the pre-operations phase (from late 2024 to August 2027), the Council requires the Operator to provide early operator involvement in the final design of the i4C (collaborating with the Council’s appointed design team), build relationships with the ECOS Business and Conferencing Hub, develop an understanding of related Cleantech initiatives in Ballymena and Northern Ireland, develop the brand of the i4C, market the i4C in advance of its opening, develop an initial programme of specialist Cleantech and SME supports in advance of opening, advise on the i4C fit-out, and secure funding bids to support the i4C’s activities, such as, for example, Innovate UK funding. As part of the pre-operations phase, the Operator will also develop the operational business plan for the i4C. Operating phase (from August 2027) During the operating phase (from August 2027), the Operator will be responsible for the management of the i4C and its operations, including but not limited to i4C marketing, sales, management of tenancies and workspace rentals, provision of enterprise, innovation and specialist Cleantech supports for tenants of the i4C and for SMEs across the Borough (including wider community outreach around enterprise and innovation), identifying and securing funding for activities and the provision of front office and facilities management services. Additional Optional Service - iLAB The Council intends to include the specialist iLAB operations in the i4C and the provision of an initial phase of the iLAB (prior to the opening of the i4C) in the i4C operator contract as optional additional services. The i4C operator would not be obligated to provide the specialist iLAB services, rather the inclusion of these services as additional optional services would provide the Council the ability to add the provision of the iLAB services to the i4C operator contract during the term of the i4C operator contract. Additional Optional Service - ECOS Business and Conferencing Hub The Council also intends to include services relating to the operation of the ECOS Business and Conferencing Hub as optional additional services within the i4C operator contract, to provide the Council with the flexibility to avail of any strategic efficiencies and/or economies of scale in future through closer alignment of the operations of the i4C and ECOS. The i4C Centre is a focus for social regeneration. The Economic Operator appointed will be required to address Social Value during the operation of the i4C Centre. For a complete description of this procurement please refer to the Pre-Qualification Documents.

Total Quantity or Scope

The Council is using the competitive dialogue process pursuant to Regulation 30 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) (PCR) which will involve the following core stages: Stage 1 – Selection Stage: a Selection Questionnaire (SQ) stage to shortlist Tenderers based on their capacity, capability, and financial standing; Stage 2 – Dialogue Stage: issue of the Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) stage comprised of detailed dialogue for the development of solutions; Stage 3 - Final Tender Stage: Close of Dialogue and the submission and evaluation of Final Tenders, following which the winning Tenderer will be selected; Stage 4 – Contract Award Stage: Finalisation with Preferred Bidder and Award. Those Tenderers shortlisted at Stage 1 will be invited to participate in the Dialogue Stage of the process. The Council intend to invite three (3) Tenderers to participate in Stage 2 and such Tenderers will be selected on the basis of them being the three highest scoring at the SQ stage, provided they all meet all minimum standards of qualification set out in the Selection Questionnaire. The three Tenderers will, following the close of dialogue, be invited to submit final tenders.

CPV Codes

• 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
• 55250000 - Letting services of short-stay furnished accommodation
• 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
• 79340000 - Advertising and marketing services
• 79342000 - Marketing services
• 79342200 - Promotional services
• 79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services
• 79410000 - Business and management consultancy services
• 79411100 - Business development consultancy services
• 79420000 - Management-related services
• 79990000 - Miscellaneous business-related services
• 79993000 - Building and facilities management services
• 79993100 - Facilities management services
• 79996000 - Business organisation services
• 79998000 - Coaching services
• 98340000 - Accommodation and office services
• 98341000 - Accommodation services
• 98341100 - Accommodation management services
• 98342000 - Work environment services

Indicators

• Bids should cover the whole contract.
• Renewals are not available.
• Performance considerations apply.
• Professional qualifications are sought.
• Award on basis of price and quality.

Other Information

The estimated contract value is the estimated maximum total spend by MEABC for the contract duration of 204 months (17 years) which includes the option, at the sole discretion of the Council, to extend the operating phase for a further 3 periods of 3 years Tenderers must be registered on MEABC's e-procurement system https://e-sourcingni.bravosolution.co.uk to participate in this procurement and respond to the Pre-Qualification Documents. Submissions are to be submitted online via the secure portal for e-Sourcing NI and if you have any technical questions relating to the portal, please contact the Bravo Solution Supplier Helpdesk on 0800 069 8630 (Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm). Or e-mail help@bravosolution.co.uk. Tenderers are required to read all documentation available throughout all parts of the procurement. Within this Contract Notice MEABC has made available an Information Memorandum document (which contains key information referred to in sections II.1.4 and II.2.4 of this Notice and further information regarding the service requirements of MEABC and the Competitive Dialogue procedure to be undertaken). MEABC has also published a Selection Questionnaire – Guidance and Evaluation Methodology document, a Selection Questionnaire (in the form of the SQ Response Documents) and Pre-Market Engagement Documents. This competition is being conducted in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (“the Regulations”) and MEABC will seek to use the competitive dialogue procedure which is governed by Regulation 30 of the Regulations. Further Information on the competition and how the dialogue phase will be structured is set out in the Information Memorandum Document. This information will be added to in the Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (“ITPD“) which will be issued to those economic operators who advance in the procurement following the evaluation of the respFull details of the scope and requirements for the opportunity are set out in the procurement documentation to be issued by MEABC, which will be available via the portal referred to in section VI.3 above. Please note that any date given in Section IV above is a best estimate at the time of dispatch of this notice. MEABC reserves the right to extend any such date. The cost of responding to the Pre-Qualification Documents and any subsequent participation in the procurement will be borne solely by the participating economic operator. Economic operators should note that MEABC reserves the right to cancel this procurement process at any stage. Social value will be included as an award criterion for this contract, requiring the successful tenderer to deliver measurable social value outcomes. Further details will be provided in the ITPD. … MEABC expressly reserves the right: i. not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice or to cancel the procurement at any stage for any reason at its absolute discretion; and ii. to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering competition in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and in no circumstances will MEABC be liable for any costs incurred by Economic Operators or Candidates in relation to the procurement. Any expenditure, work or effort undertaken prior to contract award is accordingly at the sole risk of the Economic Operator or Candidate participating in this procurement process. No business whatsoever is guaranteed under any resulting contract indeed there is no guarantee that any contract will be put in place in relation to this notice. Economic Operators should take part in this process only on the basis that they fully understand and accept this position.