Just three bidders have been left in the race for the South West Devon Waste Partnership's £800 million PFI-funded waste contract, the three council partnership has announced.

The 25-year deal, which was awarded £95 million in PFI funding in October 2008 (see letsrecycle.com story), will now be contested by German energy-from-waste specialists MVV Umwelt, Maidenhead-based SITA UK and waste management company Viridor.

They have now been asked to submit more detailed proposals on how they plan to deal with the 200,000 tonnes-a-year of residual waste created by the Partnership's members, which are Plymouth city council, Torbay council and Devon county council.

The announcement means that Shanks Waste Solutions, Urbaser SA and Veolia, who all appeared on the initial shortlist for the contract in May 2009 (see letsrecycle.com story) are no longer in the running.

Procurement 

While the Partnership has stressed that the final technology and site used under the contract will be decided as part of the procurement process, it has said that Energy-from-Waste is "likely" to be used.

And, each remaining bidder has specified potential sites for the project in their proposals, with MVV Umwelt offering developments based at Ernesettle and the North Yard in the Devonport Naval Base, SITA suggesting the South Yard in the Devonport Naval Base, and Viridor proposing to use its own site at New England Quarry, near Ivybridge.

In a statement, the Partnership said: "The final solution will be selected by the Partnership as part of the ongoing procurement process which looks at aspects such as environmental, technical, planning and financial criteria."

And, detailing the next steps for the procurement process, it added: "The next stage is for the bidders to develop their proposals further before being assessed again in summer 2010 and shortlisted to two bidders. Final tenders will be invited in late 2010 and the contract will be awarded the following year."