Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
The Guinness Partnership Ltd
31693R
30 Brock Street, Regents Place
London
NW1 3FG
UK
Contact person: Dennis Viljoen
E-mail: procurement@guinness.org.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.guinnesspartnership.com/
Address of the buyer profile: https://procontract.due-north.com
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=af6aeab9-f8f6-ec11-8116-005056b64545
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=af6aeab9-f8f6-ec11-8116-005056b64545
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Housing and community amenities
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Strategic Microsoft Partner
Reference number: DN619409
II.1.2) Main CPV code
72000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Guinness Partnership (TGP) is running this procurement to put a Framework Agreement with a panel of IT skills and knowledge specialists as may be required to support the business. TGP are looking for Partners with core Microsoft skills and competencies, primarily D365, but also to cover other Microsoft applications and infrastructure including SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, DevOps, and the Azure platform. The Strategic Microsoft Partners will be required to bring experience within the sector, with the expectation that they are certified via the new Microsoft Solutions Partner designations (or can evidence the legacy capabilities that translate towards these), which provides Guinness with assurance that the Partner brings the appropriate level of performance, skilling, and customer success to the relationship.
The proposed Framework will consist of 2 Lots, these Lots are:
Lot 1 – Dynamics 365
The scope of this lot will include:
• To deliver solutions with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform; ongoing management services for Dynamics 365, Business Central, Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Virtual Agents,
Lot 2 - Azure Capabilities
The scope of this Lot will include:
• Data & AI - to demonstrate capability helping Housing Sector customers manage data across multiple systems and potentially to build out analytics and AI solutions.
• Digital & App Innovation - to demonstrate helping Housing Sector customers build, run, and manage applications across multiple clouds, on premises or in a hybrid framework, you can evidence support within the Housing Sector migrating and deploying DevOps while using Azure, managing app services in Azure.
• Infrastructure - to demonstrate helping Housing Sector customers with migration of key infrastructure workloads to Microsoft Azure
The opportunity will be conducted using the Restricted Procedure and advertised as two (2) separate Lots, however potential suppliers will be able to bid for all Lots.
The framework will be accessible to all housing associations across England. Each Lot will have 3 suppliers on it.
The maximum duration of the Framework Agreement shall be for 48 months (4 years). The total value of this Framework shall be £16,000,000, Guinness's estimated spend under this Framework shall be £4,000,000, with £12,000,000 available to all other housing associations across England.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
16 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: 2
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Lot 1 - Microsoft Dynamics
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
72000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
Main site or place of performance:
UNITED KINGDOM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Where requested by the Buyer, suppliers will provide a range of Services to deliver full technology services predominately on an outcome basis. Services may include but not limited to:
Lot 1 – Dynamics 365
To deliver solutions with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform;
Ongoing management services for Dynamics 365,
Business Central,
Power BI,
Power Apps,
Power Automate,
Power Virtual Agents,
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:
8 000 000.00
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
Envisaged minimum number: 6
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates:
As set out in the procurement documents
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
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Lot 2 - Azure Capabilities
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
72000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
Main site or place of performance:
UNITED KINGDOM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Where requested by the Buyer, suppliers will provide a range of Services to deliver full technology services predominately on an outcome basis. Services may include but not limited to:
Lot 2 - Azure Capabilities
• Data & AI - to demonstrate capability helping Housing Sector customers manage data across multiple systems and potentially to build out analytics and AI solutions.
• Digital & App Innovation - to demonstrate helping Housing Sector customers build, run, and manage applications across multiple clouds, on premises or in a hybrid framework, you can evidence support within the Housing Sector migrating and deploying DevOps while using Azure, managing app services in Azure.
• Infrastructure - to demonstrate helping Housing Sector customers with migration of key infrastructure workloads to Microsoft Azure
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:
8 000 000.00
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
Envisaged minimum number: 6
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
Restricted procedure
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement with several operators.
Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 6
Justification for any framework agreement duration exceeding 4 years:
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:
21/09/2022
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
Date:
13/10/2022
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: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
Each Lot will be treated as a separate contract award procedure.
Details of the process and the rationale for it is set out in the procurement documents.
Guinness will use their e-sourcing portal for this competition on which the procurement
documents will be available once the opportunity is advertised and ready. Suppliers should
ensure they are registered in advance which can be done using the following link:
https://www.procontract.due-north.com.
Guinness reserves the right to discontinue this procurement at any time. Each Organisation must bear its own costs in relation to this procurement including the costs of responding to the SQ. Under no circumstances shall Guinness be required to reimburse any Organisation for any costs incurred in completing the SQ or participating in this procurement.
This framework is being procured by the Guinness Partnership Ltd., a registered Charitable Community Benefit Society registered number 031693R, whose registered office is at 30 Brock Street, Regent's Place, London, NW1 3FG (“Guinness”).
This framework is being procured by Guinness for and on behalf of the following entities (“Other Users”) who will all be entitled to conclude contracts based on this framework agreement:
• Any and all subsidiaries and entities within Guinness’ group of societies and companies (“the Guinness Group”), including but not limited to:
o The Guinness Partnership Ltd. (Company No: IP031693R)
o City Response Ltd., Trading As Guinness Property (Company No: 04471280)
o Guinness Care and Support Ltd. (Company No: IP30337R)
o Guinness Developments Limited (Company No: 04175094)
o The Guinness Housing Association Limited (Company No: IP17017R)
o Guinness Homes Limited (Company No: 05710006)
o Guinness Platform Limited (Company No: 06411652)
o Hallco 1397 Limited, Registration (Company No: 05998281); and
o Any existing and future entities which are contracting authorities within the Group;
• Social housing providers in the UK (both those that are in existence now and those that may be in existence in the future) – ‘Social Housing Provider’ for this purpose means any provider of social housing and includes, without limitation, registered providers which are listed on the regulator of social housing website and ALMOs and local authorities with retained social housing; and
• Any Public Authority (as defined in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for Public Authorities in England, or any Local Authority (as defined in the Local Government Act 1972 for Public Authorities in England); and
• Any Public Authority which is included in the UK public sector classification guide at https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalaccounts/uksectoraccounts/datasets/publicsectorclassificationguide; and
• Any wholly owned subsidiaries of any of the above organisations which are contracting authorities.
Other Users (save for those within The Guinness Group) must enter into a Joining Agreement with Guinness before they conclude contracts under the framework agreement.
Potential tenderers should note that Guinness does not guarantee any specific volume of work under this framework arrangement either from itself or Other Users.
Guinness reserves the right to abandon this procurement at any time. Guinness shall not, under any circumstances, be responsible for bidders tendering costs or any other costs or losses arising from such abandonment.
For further information regarding this tender please review the competition documents attached to the competition, or contact Guinness’ Procurement Team via their tender portal. Free and unfettered access is available at https://procontract.due-north.com/.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Public Procurement Review Service, Cabinet Office
London
UK
E-mail: publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
22/08/2022