Dundonald International Ice Bowl (DIIB) is owned and operated by Castlereagh Borough Council (the Council). The facility has been a popular attraction for over 27 years, attracting approximately 600,000 visitors per year. Facilities at DIIB currently include the only public Olympic size ice rink in Northern Ireland, a tenpin bowling alley and Indiana Land jungle gym.

The Council plans to construct a new standalone leisure facility adjacent to the existing facility at the DIIB site. A full planning application has been submitted for a circa 17,000 sqm leisure complex at DIIB. The new facilities will include the following, together (the New Facilities):

— 60 x 30m ice rink suitable for ice hockey, figure and leisure skating;

— 24 lane ten-pin bowling centre;

— Fitness gym;

— Fitness studio;

— Multi-purpose function rooms/studio/party rooms;

— Restaurant (short order type);

— Café/Social hub space;

— Climbing centre combining artificial climbing walls and ‘clip-n-climb';

— Health and well-being centre;

— 12 court sports hall; and

— Kids soft play zone.

It is the Council's intention to shortly commence a procurement process for the identification of a main contractor to construct the New Facilities. Hereafter, the contract for the construction of the New Facilities is referred to as the "Main Contract".

The purpose of the current procurement exercise is to identify a specialist ice contractor with whom the Council will enter into a contract to provide specialist consultancy support on the integration of the ice rink into the New Facilities and thereafter to supply and install the Olympic size ice rink (the Ice Contract). The Ice Contract will take the form of an NEC Option A contract.

The Ice Contract will require the provision of the following elements:

— Refrigeration system;

— Heat recovery systems;

— Header and ice pad pipework, glycol circuit pipes, insulation, vapour membranes and heat mat; and

— Jet Ice Reverse Osmosis system and water storage.

The successful Tenderer for the Ice Contract may also be required to attend workshops for the Main Contract, prior to the advertisement of the Main Contract in the Official Journal, to provide the Council with design and integration consultancy advice.

Candidates should note that it is currently envisaged that once the Main Contract for the New Facilities has been awarded, the Ice Contract will be novated from the Council to the contractor appointed to carry out the Main Contract (the Main Contractor). The Main Contractor will take responsibility for the management and delivery of all aspects of the New Facilities, including those elements to be delivered under the Ice Contract.

The existing complex at DIIB will remain operational throughout the duration of the Ice Contract and the Main Contract.