Cheshire East Council Market Consultation for Municipal Waste Processing Decarbonisation

Description

Cheshire East Council (the "Authority”) intends to enter a procurement for the installation of a fixed industrial shredder with supporting equipment to decarbonise and increase the efficiency of its municipal waste processing facility at the Environmental Hub Middlewich. This prior information notice is published to advertise a market engagement exercise being conducted by the Authority in respect of the project. The Authority wishes to engage with the market to better inform the Authority’s understanding of the possible solutions to decarbonise waste processing. This market engagement exercise includes the completion of a Soft Market Testing Questionnaire and optional site visits to the Environmental Hub, Middlewich, which will be held on an agreed date between the 11th and 25th March 2024 with suppliers who engage with this process. Organisations responding to this market engagement exercise (“Respondents”) who would wish to participate in site visits in advance of completion of the Soft Market Testing Questionnaire must contact Sebastien.delorme@cheshireeast.gov.uk to arrange. Clarification questions should be submitted through the Chest and the Authority will then respond using this platform. Please note that, if you opt to participate in a site visit, Respondents are required to provide their own transport to sites. Respondents will be required to bring their own personal protective equipment (PPE) which includes steel cap boots, hi-vis & hard hat and may be required to complete a site safety induction. 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 15th April 2024. Responses should be submitted through www.the-chest.org.uk 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. All clarification questions should be directed through www.the-chest.org.uk as individual queries cannot be answered outside of this process. Lot 1: The council has committed to be Carbon Neutral for it’s own operations. Municipal waste processing at the Environmental Hub in Middlewich has been identified has an opportunity to reduce the council’s carbon emissions. The council is seeking a turnkey solution which will increase the efficiency of the waste processing and the decarbonization of all operations. Currently the site has several plants and vehicles which require decarbonising: - 1 X Mobile diesel fuelled industrial shredder. - 2 X Loaders - 2 X LH22 material handlers Profile of Waste processed. Type of material shredded: - Municipal kerbside collection and bulky household waste. - Largest components would be settees or divan beds Current through put: - 1800 tons per week - 50 – 60 tons per hour - 06:30 – 17:30 operation Size of end particle: - 300mm 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 technical solutions, cost saving potential, and monetisation of waste extraction. 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. The Soft Market Testing Questionnaire (including a supporting descriptive document with background information) will be available on The Chest e-tendering portal at: www.the-chest.org.uk Additional information: The Authority intends to proceed to procurement of a decarbonised municipal waste processing solution in mid to late 2024, however makes no guarantees, commitments or representations that it will commence a procurement process. This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is an indication of potential future procurement activity and is subject to change. The PIN is not part of any pre-qualification or selection process and is not a commitment by the Authority to enter a procurement process. The Authority is keen to explore all options or solutions that may be currently available in the market and would like to engage with potential providers in this regard. Responses to the questionnaire should be submitted electronically via the chest by 17:00pm on 15th April 2024. Clarification questions should be submitted via the chest prior to this deadline. To arrange a site visit, please contact Sebastien.delorme@cheshireeast.gov.uk to request a date/time within the allotted site visit period (11th-21st March.)