LIE3013B - Lier, Bril, Volmolenstraat, Werf and others: Renovation of the existing sewerage system.

The scope of the contract is defined as renovation of existing sewers in Lier (Volmolenstraat/Werf-Bril) under project nr. LIE3013B, with one, non-divided lot (Art. 58: geen opdeling in percelen). Such as, the works consist of: renovating existing rioleringen; installing new access and connection pits; making existing underground pits accessible and finishing them; dealing with house connections (via Pidpa’s project portal and huisaansluitingsfiches); and coordinating with utilities when conflicts are found (e.g. cables through the sewer after frezen). The tender makes clear that the camera footage and plans provided are indicative; bidders must obtain and base their offer on available camerabeelden and perform a mandatory plaatsbezoek (with attestation to be attached). Quantities are given in the detailed meetstaat; VH (vermoedelijke hoeveelheden) may be corrected by the bidder. The execution period is 60 working days, with possible suspension if liners are not available, but only if the manufacturer supplies verifiable evidence; the contract is mixed: partly global price (GP) and partly unit price list (VH). Geotechnical data (sonderingen, peilbuizen) and other technical plans are annexed and form part of the specifications that bidders must factor into their price and method statements.

Award criteria and weighting are straightforward: the gunningscriterium is the economically most advantageous offer on the basis of price alone (Art. 81: EMVI op basis van de prijs). There are no variants or options allowed (Art. 56). While “kwaliteit” via aannemerscore is used as a selection criterion (technische of beroepsbekwaamheid) and not as a gunningscriterium, the klantentevredenheid bijlage explains how Aquafin calculates and updates the aannemerscore from half-yearly werfevaluaties (14 questions per fiche, equal weighting, NPS-based score, with recent performance weighted heavier over a three-year window). Such as, the document clarifies that for non-specifieke projects the bestek will state a minimum score (here 0) and allow instappers; for specifieke projects there can be a higher minimum (e.g. 26) with a two-stage procedure (selectie, then gunning among typically 5 best scorers) and possible use of references by instappers. However, for this specific bestek, the operative award decision will be made purely on lowest price among the offers that meet all administrative and technical requirements.

The text also details numerous risks and special conditions that bidders must factor in. Such as, subcontracting is regulated: information on subcontractors must be provided via the Uniform Europees Aanbestedingsdocument; for foreign subcontractors, the main contractor must supply proof for uitsluitingsgronden (fiscal, social debts, criminal record) immediately, as Aquafin cannot retrieve these itself. Safety requirements strongly condition subcontractor use: only activities of risk level 1 may be subcontracted if the main contractor has VCA** and subcontractors either possess a VCA (or equivalent MASE/SCC) certificate or comply with specific VCA diploma requirements (VOL‑VCA for leaders, VCA-basis for operational staff; stricter rules for zelfstandigen met/zonder risicovolle machines). Insurance and liability are special: Aquafin provides a comprehensive Alle Bouwplaatsrisico’s (ABR) policy covering all construction partners, but all damage up to the ABR deductible (EUR 2,500 per case) and parts of groundwater-related losses remain at the contractor’s expense, with per-project caps depending on class (e.g. EUR 45,000 for class 4). The client does not take out a 10‑year liability policy; the contractor remains liable for ten years after provisional acceptance and may decide whether to insure that risk. There is an extended payment term of 60 calendar days split into 30 days verification and 30 days payment, and specific electronic procedures for vorderingsstaten and invoicing (via Aquafin’s email and Pidpa’s project portal). The verbintenistermijn for tenders is 180 days. Presence registration obligations, Limosa notifications, A1 forms, visas and work permits for foreign workers are emphasised, with fines for missing electronic attendance registration. Safety and pandemic measures are deemed included in prices, and the contractor cannot claim extras for implementing the project-specific Veiligheids‑ en Gezondheidsplan (VGP). All persons working on Aquafin sites must, by 01/01/2027, hold a valid QR code obtained via the Contractoraanmeldingsplatform after a safety introduction test.

Finally, the documents address inconsistencies and determine which statements prevail in case of contradictions. Such as, for the bid price forms, if the Excel and PDF samenvattende opmetingstaat differ, the PDF is deemed to reflect the bidder’s true intention and is legally binding. The klantentevredenheid bijlage describes both a generic non-specifiek wording (minimum score 0; instappers allowed) and a separate template for specifieke projecten with higher minimum score (e.g. 26); the bestek itself explicitly sets the applicable minimum score for this project at 0 and thus overrides the generic “26” example. Similarly, while the klantentevredenheid document describes more complex two-stage procedures for specifieke projecten, the main bestek confirms that this particular assignment is under the European threshold, not split into lots, and awarded via an onderhandelingsprocedure met voorafgaande bekendmaking on price only. In practice, whenever the annexed procedure text gives model formulations that differ from the concrete parameters in Art. 68 or elsewhere in the bestek, the tailored provisions in the bestek (e.g. “minimum aannemerscore 0”, “geen percelen”, “gunning op basis van prijs”) are the operative ones.