CONTRACT NOTICE – OFFICIAL JOURNAL

Section I: Contracting Authority

I.1)

Name, Address and Contact Point(s)

I.2)

Type of contracting Authority and Main Activity or Activities

Other (Please specify)

General public services Defence Public order and safety Environment Economic and financial affairs Health Housing and community amenities Social protection Recreation, culture and religion Education Other (Please specify) Herts for Learning Limited is a not for profit company owned by Hertfordshire schools and Hertfordshire County Council

Section II: Object of the Contract

II.1)

Description

II.1.1)

Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority

II.1.2(a))

Type of works contract

II.1.2(b))

Type of supplies contract

II.1.2(c))

Type of service contract

II.1.2)

Main site or location of works, place of delivery or performance

II.1.3)

This notice involves

A public contract
The setting up of a Dynamic Purchasing System
The establishment of a framework agreement

II.1.4)

Information on framework agreement (if applicable)

Framework agreement with a single operators
Framework agreement with several operators

Number of participants to the framework agreement envisaged

Duration of the framework agreement

Justification for a framework agreement the duration of which exceeds four years

Estimated total value of purchases for the entire duration of the framework agreement

Frequency and value of the contracts to be awarded

II.1.5)

Short description of the contract or purchase(s)

Herts for Learning Ltd (the ‘Company’) currently receives its ICT services from Hertfordshire County Council (HCC). As Herts for Learning matures as a stand-alone corporate entity then increasingly these services do not fully support it's business strategy. As part of Herts for Learning's strategy of continuous improvement it now wishes to purchase and implement its own ICT services. This will allow it to specify and manage ICT that is tailored to support its own strategic business objectives.

The aim of this procurement is to purchase an ICT service that is tailored to meet Herts for Learning's needs.

This procurement is not being divided in to Lots because the Company wishes to procure an end-to-end service from a single supplier.

Tenderers should be aware that due to the nature of the services provided, any contract formed as a result of this procurement process shall be executed as a deed and attested under the common seal of the Company. Tenderers should seek independent legal advice on the implications of this prior to submitting their tender, where appropriate.

II.1.6)

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

II.1.7)

Contract covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

II.1.8)

Division into lots

II.1.9)

Will variants be accepted

II.2)

Quantity or Scope of the Contract

II.2.1)

Total quantity or scope

II.2.2)

Options

Provisional timetable for recourse to these options

Number of possible renewals

In the case of renewable supplies or service contracts, estimated time frame for subsequent contracts

II.3)

Duration of the contract or limit for completion

Section III: Legal, Economic, Financial and Technical Information

III.1)

Conditions Relating to the Contract

III.1.1)

Deposits and guarantees required

Please refer to the pre-qualification questionnaire document.

III.1.2)

Main Terms of financing and payment and/or reference to the relevant provisions

Please refer to the pre-qualification questionnaire document.

III.1.3)

Legal form to be taken by the grouping of suppliers, contractors or service providers to whom the contract is to be awarded

Please refer to the pre-qualification questionnaire document.

III.1.4)

Other particular conditions to which the performance of the contract is subject

III.2)

Conditions for Participation

III.2.1)

Personal situation of economic operators, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers

Please refer to the pre-qualification questionnaire document.

III.2.2)

Economic and financial capacity

III.2.3)

Technical capacity

III.2.4)

Reserved contracts

The contract is restricted to sheltered workshops
The execution of the contract is restricted to the framework of sheltered employment programmes

III.3)

Conditions Specific to Service Contracts

III.3.1)

Is provision of the service reserved to a specific profession?

III.3.2)

Will legal entities be required to state the names and professional qualifications of the personnel responsible for the execution of the service?

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1)

Type of Procedure

Open		Restricted
Accelerated restricted		Negotiated
Accelerated negotiated		Competitive dialogue

Justification for the choice of accelerated procedure

IV.1.1)

Have candidates already been selected?

IV.1.2)

Limitations on the number of operators who will be invited to tender or to participate

Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates

As set out in the pre-qualification questionnaire document, which is available following the instructions given in Vl.3 (Additional information).

IV.1.3)

Reduction of the number of operators during the negotiation or dialogue

Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated

IV.2)

Award Criteria

IV.2.2)

An electronic auction will be used

IV.3 Administrative Information

IV.3.1)

Reference number attributed to the notice by the contracting authority

HFL151001

IV.3.2)

Previous publication(s) concerning the same contract

Prior Information Notice
Notice on a Buyer Profile

Other previous publications

IV.3.3)

Conditions for obtaining specifications and additional documents

IV.3.4)

Time-limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

IV.3.5)

Date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates

IV.3.6)

Language or languages in which tenders or requests to participate can be drawn up

IV.3.7)

Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender 

IV.3.8)

Conditions for opening tenders

Section VI: Other Information

VI.1)

Indicate whether this procurement is a recurrent one and the Estimated timing for further notices to be published

VI.2)

Does the contract relate to a Project/Programme financed by Community Funds?

VI.3)

Additional Information

Herts for Learning Limited (the Company) will be using Hertfordshire County Council's (HCC) eTendering system (In-Tend) to manage this procurement.

To access this procurement opportunity please visit www.supplyhertfordshire.uk and follow the on-screen guidance.

Restricted Procedure

The Pre-Qualification Process

This tender is a two stage process and you will only be invited to tender if you have successfully passed through the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) stage. If you wish to be considered as a tenderer you must complete and submit a completed PQQ by the closing date and time. Tender bids cannot be uploaded after the closing date / time.

Any clarifications regarding this opportunity must be raised through the correspondence area in the eTendering system.

If you are experiencing problems In-Tend offer a help section which includes a dedicated UK Support Desk which can be contacted via email support@in-tend.com or telephone +44 1144070065 for any website / technical questions. Monday to Friday 8:30— 17:30.

The Company reserves the right at any time to cease the procurement process and not award a contract or to award only part of the opportunity described in this notice. If the Company takes up this right then they will not be responsible for, or pay, expenses or losses which may be incurred by any tenderer as a result.

The Company undertakes to hold confidential any information provided in the proposal submitted, subject to the Company's obligations under the law, including the Freedom of Information Act 2000. If the applicant considers that any of the information submitted in the proposal should not be disclosed because of its sensitivity then this should be stated with the reason for considering it sensitive. The Company will then endeavour to consult with the applicant about such sensitive information when considering any request received under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 before replying to such a request.

The Company reserves the right to carry out additional financial checks on all companies tendering for this contract at any time during the procurement process, to ensure that they continue to meet the Company's requirements and remain financially viable to perform the contract.

VI.4)

Procedures for appeal

VI.4.1)

Body responsible for appeal procedures

Body responsible for mediation procedures

VI.4.2)

Lodging of appeals
Precise information on deadline(s) for lodging appeals:

The Contracting Authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day (when using electronic means) standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. This period allows unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the decision to award a contract before a contract is executed / signed (as appropriate). The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (‘Regulations’) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Any such action must be brought promptly and within the time limits specified in the Regulations. Where a contract has not been entered into the court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the contracting authority to amend any document and may award damages. If the contract has been entered into the court has the options to award damages and / or to shorten or order the contract to be ineffective.

VI.4.3)

Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained

VI.5)

Dispatch date of this Notice