EIGHT companies have been shortlisted to provide a solution for solid waste disposal. A report from the Public Services Department detailing them and how the decision was reached is scheduled to go to the States in July.
The draft, which also covers tender documentation and the criteria against which those on the list will be assessed, was yesterday passed by the department. Mass-burn incineration remains on the table, as do mechanical biological treatment and some combinations, giving the range of options that deputies were looking for when they threw out the planned £80m. incinerator.
Much of the department’s discussion centred on the weighting in the assessment of financial criteria compared with technical factors, which encompassed environmental issues.
A split of 60% financial, 30% technical and 10% management was proposed by consultants, who acknowledged that other jurisdictions had gone for a different split.
Debate was sparked by Deputy Scott Ogier, who led the requete that sank the original waste plant plans.
He felt the weighting towards finance was too great.
‘We have often been told that mass burn is the cheapest. If 60% is on finance, then mass burn is going to score extremely well – far in advance of the others,’ he said.
Deputy Ogier hoped the States would still prefer an alternative to burning.
Deputy Tom Le Pelley has championed alternatives because he felt there needed to be a choice.
He proposed taking 5% off the financial weighting and putting it onto the environmental score.
That was backed by Alderney representative Bill Walden, who felt it struck a balance between the green agenda and the financial side.
Eventually the whole board, including minister Bernard Flouquet and member Tony Spruce, who initially wanted to go with the original weighting, backed Deputy Le Pelley’s amendment.
The board does not necessarily have to propose the bidder that scores highest against those criteria. The financial scoring includes not just the build costs but operation for 25 years.
There were 33 responses to requests for expressions of interest in building a waste plant, with 20 of them rejected for being inadequate – they might have just written an email and not responded when sent follow-up letters for more information.
The consultants asked for financial, technical and management information and examples of previous operations.
Companies were then scored from zero for completely unsatisfactory to six for a pass and then anything up to 10, which was excellent.
* Scott Ogier has been elected deputy Public Services minister.
Article posted on 23rd May, 2008 - 2.29pm
Loading ...
Most Commented: