Environment & Housing
Waste Management
Knowsthorpe Gate
Cross Green
Leeds, LS9 0NP
20th October 2014
Re: Glass Collection and Recycling – 9Q3M-390GH0
The Council will shortly be undertaking a procurement exercise for the provision of glass
collection and recycling services. This market testing exercise is seeking opinions about how a
number of key elements of the contract should be packaged in an aim to bring an appealing
contract to the market and provide the council with a stable effective service.
Attached is a document that provides the background for the contract. We would be grateful, as
a potential future service provider, if you could consider the attached summary document and
complete the attached questionnaire providing full and detailed responses.
We are currently at the final stage of reviewing the contract documents and prior to releasing
our contract documentation we would like to ensure that we are able to attract a number of high
quality and robust bids. We would like to add that we require specific answers to the questions
raised, rather than the attachment of extensive technical or promotional information, although
additional comments and observations are welcome.
We would like to advise that the market sounding does not form part of any formal procurement
process and that any information provided by the Council in the course of market sounding will
be made available to bidders under any subsequent tendering process. Furthermore you can be
assured that any information supplied will be treated in the strictest confidence.
We would be grateful if you ensure that your response is submitted by 31st October 2014
We would like to thank you again for your assistance in this process in advance of your
response.
If you have any queries please contact Rosie Harvey at rosie.harvey@leeds.gov.uk or on 0113
3950251.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND OVERVIEW OF THE SERVICE REQUIREMENTS
1. The contract will include:

Glass collections from approximately 800 bottle banks situated at around 380 sites
across the Leeds district. Glass is not collected at the kerbside in Leeds so this
network of banks is well used and provides a very important service.

Collection of ‘bulked’ glass from a centralised location. This material arises from
high-rise properties and is delivered to Evanston Avenue Household Waste Site
near Kirkstall by Council vehicles. The bunker at this site stores approximately 150180t of glass.

LOLER inspections. The successful contractor will be required to undertake
inspections of the bottle banks under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment
Regulations 1998 and to report any findings arising through those inspections.
2. The contract will be for the duration of 5 years with Council reserving the option to extend
for up to 2 further years subject to satisfactory performance by the appointed contractor.
3. The approximate annual tonnage of material (from both sources) is 8000 tonnes. This is
subject to seasonal fluctuations but historical data shows little variation between months
with the exception of a Christmas peak.
4. Pricing for the contract is currently calculated using figures published in Materials Recycling
World as a baseline with contractors submitting a +/- figure against these for the income
they are able to offer the Council.
SOFT MARKING SOUNDING QUESTIONS:
1.
Would your organisation be interested in bidding for a contract providing all of the services
described above within one single contract?
ANSWER:
2.
Do you have a preference regarding whether bottle bank glass should be mixed or colour
segregated? Please explain your answer.
ANSWER:
3.
If our contract were to be for collecting mixed glass only or if the collections comprised of
some mixed banks would you have the systems/technology to separate the colours and
price on this basis?
ANSWER:
4.
How do you envisage the issuing of PRNs/PERN’s will impact on glass prices and your
ability to offer the Council an income during the course of the contract
ANSWER:
5.
Do you think the Materials Recycling World publication is an appropriate market
benchmarking tool or would you prefer to use an alternative benchmark to be used within
the pricing schedule? Please explain your answer.
ANSWER:
6.
Can you give some indication of the percentage of glass collected through this contract
which would be destined for re-melt as opposed to other applications such as aggregates?
ANSWER:
7.
Would your organisation be comfortable providing contractual guarantees in terms of glass
to re-melt percentage? If ‘YES’ please indicate a rough percentage that could be
realistically offered.
ANSWER:
8.
Do you have any additional views, comments or suggestions on the Council’s proposed
approach to this procurement?
ANSWER: