Voluntary ex ante transparency notice
Directive 2014/24/EU
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Welsh Government
Corporate Procurement Services, Cathays Park
Llandudno Junction
CF10 3NQ
UK
Contact person: James Roberts
Telephone: +44 3000257095
E-mail: james.roberts@gov.wales
NUTS: UKL
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://gov.wales
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0007
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Information Advice Quality Framework
II.1.2) Main CPV code
72224200
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
To lead on the work in the field of quality assurance of social welfare services to ensure the people of Wales access quality advice services
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
240 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Manage all processes relating to the successfully operation of the Information and Advice Quality Framework for Wales (IAQF) Independent Assessment Service;
Process applications from Standard Owners to become an IAQF Accredited Body;
Provide Standard Owners with guidance and support on how to develop their standards and assurance processes to be aligned to the IAQF;
Provide guidance and support to organisations who are engaged in quality assurance audits and who aspire to develop their current service offer to become a Standard Owner and an IAQF Accrediting Body;
Promote the IAQF amongst Standard Owners, encouraging them to seek accreditation to the IAQF;
Develop and implement a Wales wide communication strategy to raise awareness of the IAQF amongst stakeholders.
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation:
Negotiated procedure without prior publication
Justification for selected award procedure:
The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: absence of competition
for technical reasons
Explanation:
This is a voluntary ex ante transparency notice and is intended to provide notice of the Authority's intention to award a contract to deliver quality assurance of social welfare services to ensure the people of Wales access quality advice services.
Welsh Government will observe a 30 day standstill period from the date of publication of this VEAT, during which time will not enter into a contractual agreement.
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the Official Journal of the European Union Justification for selected award procedure: Negotiated Procedure without competition
The procurement falls within the scope of application of the Directive: The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: absence of competition for technical reasons
Welsh Government will observe a 30 day standstill period from the date of publication of this VEAT, during which time will not enter into a contractual agreement.
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the Official Journal of the European Union Justification for selected award procedure: Negotiated Procedure without competition
The procurement falls within the scope of application of the Directive: The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: absence of competition for technical reasons.
Historically this requirement has yielded limited, if any, responses from the marketplace other than the current incumbent. Therefore, it is not anticipated that a bid would be received should a competitive tendering exercise be administered. The cost of preparatory work would need to be included in costings of any new contractor, even if one was available to undertake this work as officials have tested the market by issuing a speculative notice with no interest. Speculative notices to test the marketplace were issued in August 2021 (two interested parties one being MBARC) and Spring 2022 (only one interested party – MBARC). From previous tendering exercises and more recent market engagement we are aware that there is a very limited market for this requirement.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section V: Award of contract/concession
V.2 Award of contract/concession
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession
03/08/2022
V.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
MBARC Ltd
Unit 153, 88 Lower Marsh
London
SE1 7AB
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the concession and main financing terms (excluding VAT)
Total value of the concession/lot:
240 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at http://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=123985.
(WA Ref:123985)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
Telephone: +44 2079477501
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
12/08/2022