The purpose of this procurement initiative is to support the M4 project being undertaken, as a joint venture, between The University of Western Australia (UWA), the Western Australian Government and the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (led by UWA).

A small M4 (Moored Multi-modal Multibody) wave attenuator (or wave energy converter (WEC)) prototype is to be designed, manufactured and deployed into Albany’s King George Sound. UWA research teams at the Albany and Perth campuses will study the device’s performance in various ocean conditions to determine how it could supply clean energy to nearby aquaculture operations.

To achieve the October 2023 launch date of the M4 prototype and meet grant initiatives a two stage procurement strategy has been derived.

This Stage 1 Request for Information (RFI) seeks to discover who has the appetite, capability and capacity to deliver the requirements while also discovering innovative ideas to assist with the prototype design. This RFI additionally seeks to discover a more accurate pre-tender cost estimate.

RFI Respondents who meet compliance requirements may be invited to respond to the closed Stage 2 Request for Tender (RFT) or placed on a nominated subcontractors list to be issued as part of the RFT documentation. The RFT is currently scheduled for release in January 2023.

The desired outcome is to procure a head contractor who will engage subcontractors to perform the Scope of Works. As described above, the subcontractors may be those discovered in this Stage 1 RFI with UWA nominating the subcontractors to be used. 

It is also the intent to procure from regional WA suppliers, ideally in the Great Southern. 

All information regarding submission requirements, including key dates can be found in Part 1 of the RFI documentation. 

Any questions and correspondence regarding this RFI should be sent to sourcing-finserv@uwa.edu.au with RFI 22/301056 included in the subject line.