Appointment of an Operating Partner for a Leisure Services Contract

Ards and North Down Borough Council (the Council) is currently preparing to initiate a procurement process to appoint an Operating Partner for a Leisure Services contract. Prior to initiating the procurement, the Council is undertaking a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) Exercise.

The Council is currently preparing a scope of requirements for the appointment of an Operator to manage and operate its leisure facilities, principally the Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex (AULC) and Queens Leisure Complex (QLC) (excluding the community centre footprint at QLC), together with the delivery of an Active Communities Programme encompassing sport and physical activity development and community outreach.

The project aims to deliver six core Strategic Objectives spanning Active and Healthy Communities, Inclusive and Accessible Leisure for All, Active Opportunities Across the Life Course, Strong and Effective Partnerships, Enhanced Customer Experience and Engagement, and Environmental Sustainability and Net Zero Contribution. Prior to initiating any procurement, the Council wishes to involve suppliers in a preliminary market engagement.

Revenue

The scope of the arrangement includes but is not limited to the operation, maintenance and management of the specified sport and leisure facilities.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Operator will include, but not be limited to:

Costs

Subject to commercial terms to be agreed between the parties, the Operator will fund and/or contribute to: (i) staffing, training and accreditation costs; (ii) reactive maintenance and planned preventative maintenance, excluding lifecycle and capital maintenance works which will be funded by the Council; (iii) ICT, booking and data management systems; and (iv) capital investment proposals as set out in the Operator's Capital Investment Plan.

This preliminary market engagement is being conducted pursuant to section 16 of the Procurement Act 2023 for the purposes of: (a) developing the Council's requirements and approach to the procurement; (b) designing conditions of participation and award criteria; (c) preparing the tender notice and associated tender documents; and (d) identifying suppliers capable of performing the proposed contract.