Rushmoor Borough Council: Leisure Operator Partner

Rushmoor Borough Council - the 'Council' - is inviting expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced Operators for the management of its existing Aldershot Pools and Lido, and a proposed new Passivhaus certified Farnborough Leisure and Cultural Hub which is scheduled to open in Spring 2027.

The Council is targeting appointment of the successful Operator by June 2024 in order to gain design input from the Operator in respect of the new facility.

The contract will be split into two distinct phases: (i)the Interim Phase, during which the Operator will manage the Aldershot facility and provide pre-opening services in relation to Farnborough, and (ii)the Main Phase, during which the Operator will fully operate both facilities.

The Interim Phase of the Contract will commence on 1st October 2024. The Council's target date for opening of the new Leisure and Cultural Hub facility is spring 2027. The Council cannot commit to a fixed specific date at this point and if mobilisation of the main phase is delayed for any reason, the interim phase will be extended.

During the Interim Phase, the Council is proposing to contract on a 'fixed fee' basis whereby the Council pays the Operator a fixed annual 'Contractor Management Sum' set by the Council.
Upon opening of the new facility the payment model will be subject to a fixed management fee, (which the Council expects to be a payment to the Council), plus % open book surplus share.

The annual estimated value of the Contract in respect of turnover generation for the Interim Period is in the range of £1m to £1.5m. In respect of the new facility the current business case projections are that operations, activities and events run from the facility could generate approx. £4M turnover per annum. All values are exclusive of inflation and VAT.

The duration of the Interim Phase is dependent upon when the new facility opens but is likely to run for around 3 years. Once the new facility opens the Contract will then run for a further 10 years. The contract may be subsequently extended subject to agreement of both parties by a further 5 years.
It is the Council's view that the object of the contractual arrangements are classified as a service concession contract under the Public Concessions Regulations (2016) and further more fall under the scope of the Light Touch Regime services listed under Schedule 3 of the regulations.

In the interests of transparency, fairness, equality of opportunity, best value and future development flexibility, the Council will undertake an FTS advertised procurement process which encompasses aspects of the Competitive Dialogue and Competitive Procedure with Negotiation processes as set out within the Public Contracts Regulations (2015).

The first stage of the procurement process will invite Applicants to submit selection questionnaires. The top scoring 5-6 qualified Applicants will then be invited to submit detailed tenders which will be assessed on a 60/40 basis in favour of quality. Following evaluation of Initial Tenders, the Council will have the option of proceeding to award or engage in further dialogue and invite best and final tenders from the highest scoring Bidders.

The procurement programme is summarised below.

Contract Notice issued - 17.11.23
SSQ stage documents issued - 17.11.23
SSQ submission deadline - 11.12.23 - 12:00
SSQ shortlisting results notification - 19.12.23
Tender pack issued - 05.01.24
Site visit - 11.01.24
Dialogue meetings - 16-18.01.24 and 23-25.01.24
Tender submission deadline - 11.03.24
Invitation to submit best and final offers - 08.04.24
Negotiation meetings - w/c 15.04.24
Best and final tender submission deadline - 29.04.2412:00
Notification of award decision - 07.06.24
Completion of standstill period - 17.06.24 23:59
Contract Award - 18.06.24

The Council will administrate the procurement process using its e-sourcing system ProContract/SEBP which can be accessed via https://sebp.due-north.com/