Shore Power HV Operations Management - Portsmouth International Port - Soft Market Testing

Portsmouth City Council (the 'Council') is seeking to engage in pre-procurement soft market testing discussions with suitably qualified and experienced operators in respect of a forthcoming contracting opportunity concerning the management of a shoreside power, high voltage (HV) connection at Portsmouth International Port (the 'Port').

The Port has bold ambitions to reach net zero by 2030 and become zero emission by 2050.

To support the Port in its environmental ambitions, the Council has secured ?19.8M of UK government 'Zero Emissions Vessels & Infrastructure' (ZEVI) for the delivery of a shoreside electrical power solution at the Port which will service its three busiest berths.

Delivery of this ground-breaking decarbonisation project - titled 'Sea Change' - will allow visiting ferries and cruise ships to 'plug in' when berthed at the Port instead of running engines to power on-board systems.

In accordance with the funding requirements, the shoreside power system is required to be operational by the end of March 2025 and subsequently remain in operation for a minimum 3-year demonstration period.

The Council has already entered a contract with ABB Ltd for the supply, installation, cabling, commission, servicing, and maintenance of the shore power connection solution.

Under the current programme it is envisaged that the shore power solution will be installed by 1st February to enable testing and commissioning to take place ahead of go live on 1st April 2025.

Whilst ABB have been secured to deliver servicing and maintenance of the shore power solution, this agreement does not cover the delivery of day-to-day operational management requirements at the Port.

The Council requires an operator to manage the operations of the shore power berth connection.

The Council envisages entering into a 3 year contract - which reflects the 3 year Sea Change project demonstration period - extendable by a further 2 years in increments to be agreed.

The full scope of services will formally commence on the go live date of 1st April 2025, however input and engagement into the testing and commissioning processes prior to the go live date will also be required.

The Council would like to engage in 1-1 meetings with suitably qualified and experienced operators in order to gain an understanding of likely market interest, capacity, options, risks and costs.

The Council ideally wishes to undertake meetings in person at the Terminal Building to enable interested operators to also undertake a tour of the site, however the Council can also undertake the meetings remotely via Teams if this is preferred by particular operators.

The Council has capacity to undertake a maximum of 6, 90 minute 1-1 meetings during week commencing 22nd July 2024 and can offer the following slots: o 25th July 2024 09:30 - 11:00 o 25th July 2024 11:15 - 12:45 o 25th July 2024 14:00 - 15:30 o 26th July 2024 09:30 - 11:00 o 26th July 2024 11:1...