Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
UK
Telephone: +44 2070081467
E-mail: Craig.Wormleighton@fco.gov.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.gov.uk/fco
Address of the buyer profile: https://fco.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://fco.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://fco.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
National or federal agency/office
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Journal Subscription Services
Reference number: CPG/4606/2020
II.1.2) Main CPV code
64111000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office requires a journals subscription agent to service multiple subscriptions to online and print journals. This is required to replace an existing contract set to expire in November 2020. Journal licenses are required both for corporate access by staff across the whole office department, but also for use by departments, teams or individuals. Access licenses should be primarily online, but using print where appropriate. Billing mechanisms will be both to a central point and also by separate departmental customers where appropriate. The service is expected to deliver efficiencies by dealing with a single point of delivery as opposed to multiple publishers.
FCDO envisages the contract will run for 2 years, with an option to extend the contract for two further periods of 12 months each.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
680 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79980000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
Main site or place of performance:
London, UNITED KINGDOM.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
FCDO requires access to an online platform for subscription account management and management information as an integral part of the service. The supplier is required to accurately process subscription orders quickly and where necessary in response to deadlines agreed with FCDO. The supplier will also need to have a flexible approach, managing a variety of license terms and subscription periods and dates, especially whilst FCDO continues its transition to a unified department over the term of the contract. Access should be to the full text of journals. FCDO is currently considering its position on open access and therefore subscription requirements may change over time. FCDO places a premium on added value to the service through access to a dedicated account management team, who will be capable of advising FCDO on the best license models for a given title, securing value for money and offering current awareness of new publications, including setting up trial subscriptions. The supplier is expected to work collaboratively with FCDO in building an effective relationship built on a strong understanding of the FCDO’s business. The account management team will be responsive to our service requests, capable of quickly resolving problems and act proactively as our agent to deliver the most appropriate and cost-effective subscription models in accordance with our stated needs.
FCDO currently uses IP authentication for corporate access to journals, although this may be subject to change over the life of the contract. FCDO will look to engage with the supplier to identify other methods of online access to corporate subscriptions and the supplier will be expected to engage in a flexible and collaborative way to ensure successful outcomes.
FCDO staff work in mobile and flexible ways, frequently on the move and in remote locations using mobile technology. The FCDO works as ‘One HMG Abroad’ and works in close cooperation with other UK government departments including through joint operational units. The service will need to be supplied to staff with an FCDO email address both in the UK and overseas.
For further information relating to the requirement please access the Jaggaer portal and seacrh for project 4606.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
680 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 48
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
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 III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.6) Information about electronic auction
An electronic auction will be used
Additional information about electronic auction:
The authority reserves the right to use an electronic auction at its sole discretion.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
17/09/2020
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
17/09/2020
Local time: 12:00
Place:
London, UNITED KINGDOM.
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.3) Additional information
Potential suppliers should browse the internet and access https://fco.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html to gain access to the ITT Package, located within project_4606.
If a potential supplier is not registered on the portal, registration is required, takes approximately 5 minutes and is free of charge.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London
SW1A 2AH
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
18/08/2020