Aerial Dispersant Spray Project: Questions & Answers
Published 5 April 2024
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1. Initial Industry Event held 7 March 2024
1.1 What timescales are you working to?
1.1.1 The MCA is working to a timescale of around August this year, to launch the procurement. Prior to this we hope to give prospective suppliers enough information as possible to give a good understanding of what the MCA’s requirements are and what the MCA are looking to achieve.
1.2 How many down-selected bidders will there be following the SQ?
1.2.1 Normally in a project of this size the MCA would look to take around 3 to 4 bidders through to ITT stage, but this will be clarified as part of the SQ process.
1.3 Will there be another tranche of the SSUN?
1.3.1 Potentially yes, the we aim to release that when we get the next update and will keep you updated. We don’t anticipate any major changes, more finessing.
1.4 Can you confirm the minimum dispersant swath width, min flow rate & droplet size please?
1.4.1 We will provide further information when we can, in due course.
1.5 Is the dispersant treated as fuel, when stored/carried?
1.5.1 For the purposes of Road Haulage and Storage, Oil Dispersant is not classified as a Hazardous Material (HazMat Class 3 - Flammable Liquid) and will only need to be handled or stored in accordance with the manufacturers data sheets.
1.6 Can bidders choose operating/storage bases?
1.6.1 The MCA is solution agnostic on both the operating and storage bases. The service currently operates from East Midlands Airport, but that does not have to be the case and can operate from an alternative location of a supplier’s choosing so long as it meets the requirements set out in the SSUN.
1.7 Will this process have to conform with the new Procurement Act?
1.7.1 Depending on when the new Procurement Act 2023 (the Act) comes into effect will determine whether we proceed under the existing Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR) or with the new Act. The Procurement Act 2023 is currently scheduled to come into effect in October 2024. The current working assumption is that it will proceed under the existing PCR as the new Act will come into force after the procurement has started, but we will update you if this changes.
1.8 Can you confirm the minimum dispersant amount delivered in first 48 hours is 256m3 please?
1.8.1 Yes, this is MCA’s confirmed figures and detailed in the SSUN at UR 4.2.4.
1.9 Assume KPI is to have capability available 24/7/365?
1.9.1 Yes.
1.10 Is there a set or indicative budget?
1.10.1 The contract value will form part of the required details on the Government’s Find A Tender service when the procurement is launched.