Automated Distribution & Manufacturing Centre (ADMC) Operator

Automated Distribution and Manufacturing Centre (ADMC)

Preliminary Market Engagement Phase 2

Expression of Interest

Purpose

This notice is to make potential contractors aware that, via the Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) procurement team, Ashfield District Council (ADC) are continuing with the process to appoint a commercial operator for their Automated Distribution and Manufacturing Centre (ADMC) now phase 1 of the Preliminary Market Engagement stage has been completed.

The publication of this notice commences phase 2, Expression of Interest (EOI), of the preliminary market engagement stage of the Competitive Flexible Procedure procurement process being undertaken for this opportunity.

Details of phase 1 of the Preliminary Market Engagement stage can be found on the link below.

Automated Distribution and Manufacturing Centre (ADMC) - Find a Tender

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-009163

Background

The ADMC is a flagship project for Ashfield District Council. The ADMC will work with businesses to create and implement bespoke automation strategies and solutions that improve productivity and enable prosperity and growth.

The ADMC will be a 3,000m2 purpose built, multifunctional, automation centre. Its vision is based on four "pillars" of activity:

• Research and Development
• Prototyping and Proof of Principle
• Showcasing and Demonstration
• Skills and Training

The ADMC will be the first building located on the developing Ashfield Innovation and Technology Park, with other buildings to follow to be occupied by organisations keen to co-locate with the ADMC.

The ADMC building is expected to be completed in late 2026 and occupancy in early 2027. More details can be found on the ADMC website at www.theadmc.co.uk ↗.

Proposed Governance and Operation

ADC confirmed its positioning regarding governance and operation of the ADMC in January 2025. It has resolved to carry out a public procurement procedure to appoint an external organisation to run the ADMC.

ADC believe that this contracted approach will allow the ADMC to be operated effectively and efficiently such that it achieves its twin goals of supporting the greater adoption of automation within local and regional businesses and achieving financial sustainability.

ADC aims to have a commercial operator appointed by the end of 2025.

Preliminary Market Engagement Stage

The preliminary market engagement stage is intended to allow potential contractors to gain a more detailed understanding of the ADMC, its progress, and the procurement process being undertaken. It will allow NCC and ADC to understand what expertise and experience is available in the market to deliver all aspects of the ADMC. It will also support NCC and ADC to develop the first stage tender by helping to:

• Develop the requirements and approach to the procurement.
• Design the conditions of participation and award criteria.
• Prepare the tender notice and associated tender documents.
• Identify likely contractual terms.
• Building capacity in relation to the contract being awarded.

Phase 1 (completed), of the preliminary market engagement stage invited potential contractors to request a Power Point information pack of the Automated Distribution and Manufacturing Centre and to attend a group engagement event via Teams.

Phase 2 - EOI (this phase) invites potential contractors to request a copy of a light version of the current specification to review and to also submit responses to a set of questions in relation to past achievements and experience related to the ADMC project.

The ADMC project team will review all question set responses received and invite contractors who have demonstrated that they have the correct set of skills and experience to deliver the full scope of the ADMC project, to individual discussions via Teams.

The individual discussions will be recorded, and minutes will be taken.

Any contractors that submit responses to the question set but who are not invited to an individual discussion meeting will still be able to submit a bid at full tender stage 1.

Contact

The light specification and question set will be available to request from 12:00 noon on the 23rd April 2025 until 15:00 on the 14th May 2025. To receive a copy of the light specification and the question set, please contact Jamie Burton - jamie.burton2@nottscc.gov.uk

All question set responses must be emailed to Jamie Burton by 17:00 on the 14th May 2025. Any question sets received after this time will not be considered.

We will aim to notify the contractors that they will be invited to individual discussions by 28th May 2025.

Please feel free to submit any clarification questions to Jamie Burton -

jamie.burton2@nottscc.gov.uk NCC/ADC will respond to these promptly.