The granting of a concession for Marchwood Port, to include the provision of port services to the MO

Descriptions

Water transport services. Port operation services. Port management services. Railway transport services. Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services. The UK Secretary of State for Defence (‘Authority') is seeking expressions of interest from companies or consortia (‘Bidders') interested in entering into a concession for Marchwood Port.Marchwood Port is wholly owned by the Authority. In brief, Marchwood Port offers:— An operational port of approximately 91 hectares located on the western side of Southampton Water, opposite Southampton Docks and less than 100 miles from central London.— One jetty, capable of providing berthing for two roll-on/roll-off vessels with a maximum length of approximately 220 metres.— A dedicated rail head with access to the UK's mainline rail network and proximity to the M271 motorway.— Various buildings, offices and ancillary space.The successful Bidder (‘Concessionaire') will gain operational control of Marchwood Port, with the Concession including the transfer of some civilian staff, as well as the freedom to develop commercial activities. The Concessionaire will have the right to develop and exploit the commercial potential of the assets and land, subject to servicing the Authority's continuing requirements. MOD reserves the right to award a framework agreement relating to the Port Enabling Services ancillary to the main concession contract.Marchwood Port is currently used exclusively by the MOD. The primary use is for sea-mounting (the receipt and despatch of defence cargo) but a significant proportion of the site is currently used by MOD for activities carried out by 17 Port & Maritime Regiment (17 P&M) and the Defence College of Logistics and Policing Administration (DCLPA) which are not directly related to sea-mounting. MOD intends to move the majority of these non-port related facilities (‘Transitional Facilities') off the site over a three to five year transition period following the grant of the Concession, while the Concessionaire is establishing and building its commercial business. MOD intends to retain a small enclave on site (‘Enclave') for the period of the Concession; it is intended that the Enclave will be included in the Concession and be leased back by MOD for a peppercorn rent. MOD will require access rights to the Transitional Facilities and the Enclave and may require facilities management services.The MOD service requirement can be considered in 2 parts:— The delivery of sea-mounting services (please refer to the Background Information document for further detail) at Marchwood Port. To ensure that Marchwood Port continues to meet MOD's sea-mounting requirement, the Concessionaire will be required to hold an explosives licence. Additionally, the Concessionaire will be required to use 17 P&M personnel to carry out MOD's stevedoring under the Concessionaire's direction whenever they are available.— Management of a Total Support Force (‘TSF') initiative for deployed port operations. This comprises the delivery of a permanent Falkland Islands port enabling capability, to be manned and operated by Sponsored Reserves (please refer to the Information Document for further detail); and a contingent requirement for a geographically separate port enabling capability, which could be anywhere in the world, to be provided on a call-off basis.