Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
The University of Northampton
Park Campus, Boughton Green Road
Northampton
NN2 7AL
UK
Contact person: Julia Gough
Telephone: +44 1604892663
E-mail: julia.gough@northampton.ac.uk
Fax: +44 1604722106
NUTS: UKF23
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.northampton.ac.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofnorthampton/
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofnorthampton/
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofnorthampton/
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofnorthampton/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Education
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
ITT248 Provision of Merchant Services.
Reference number: ITT248
II.1.2) Main CPV code
66172000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
This tender is for the provision of Merchant Services for processing, authorisation and settlement of the University's debit and credit transactions via all payment channels including: customer present (Chip and PIN/contactless payments), customer not present (Mail Order / Telephone Order) and online (e-commerce).
The University is seeking to develop efficient and cost-effective merchant service arrangements which will be capable of meeting future market and technological changes, and which will meet, and often exceed, user expectations. It is looking for a relationship with an organisation which it can be confident will fulfil all the University's current and future requirements.
It is important that any potential acquiring partner can add value through an effective dedicated corporate support team backed up by a proactive education sector specialist Relationship Manager.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
500 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
66172000
66111000
66110000
66000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKF23
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The current annual payment card turnover is approximately 18 200 000 GBP across over 173 000 transactions.
The University is currently not benefiting from DCC, but wishes to address that through this tender process. Accordingly, the University will be required to appoint a DCC capable PSP. To enable it to fully evaluate potential across all tenderers, your tender response must include information and costs of your preferred PSP that is capable of supporting DCC in conjunction with WPM Education.
The University currently has circa 25 terminals. These are provided by First Data on various rolling contracts. The appointed acquirer will be expected to replace these on a rolling basis with the most suitable option, be it fixed, Bluetooth or mobile. The University expects these to be PCI DSS compliant (version 3.2) terminal solutions.
It should be noted that the University is not PCI-DSS compliant. It has employed a specialist in this area to achieve this and works with Sysnet as its QSA. Compliance is being dealt with on a channel by channel basis. Your response should advise what additional support you could provide the University in achieving and then maintaining compliance.
The Appointee must show a commitment to the continuing development of efficient and cost-effective merchant services, and demonstrate a knowledgeable and pro-active approach to the needs of the University and the wider Higher Education sector.
The University requires charging arrangements that are economic, transparent and provide incentives to both parties to operate the services efficiently. Tenderers are required to quote transaction charges on an Interchange Plus or Plus Plus basis.
The University will wish to take advantage of technological and other developments during the period of the appointment where these offer improved service and value for money. University of Northampton will expect the advice and support of the appointee to assist in taking advantage of such new developments, both imminent and longer term. It is particularly keen to develop digital Wallet capability at the new Waterside campus development.
Tenderers must submit a detailed implementation plan and timetable showing milestones, responsibilities, critical path analysis, disaster recovery procedures etc. from award to implementation. Tenderers must explain their processes for ensuring the timetable is achievable and that adequate resources are identified from both service provider and client perspectives.
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:
500 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 60
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
II.2.14) Additional information
Tender is published on https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofnorthampton/
Please register your organisation, once registration is accepted you can access the tender documents. Contract value in II.1.5) and II.2.6) is an estimate based on 100 000 GBP per year for contract length. The University envisages entering a 5 year contract with the option to extend the contract up to a further 2 years.
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
Any Service Provider responding must be a Level 1 PCI DSS Compliance Service Provider in accordance with Version 3.1, or later, of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard.
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
III.2.1) Information about a particular profession
Participation is reserved to a particular profession: Yes
Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision:
All services provided must be in compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, where appropriate.
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
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:
13/01/2017
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
13/01/2017
Local time: 00:00
Place:
Northampton.
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic payment will be used
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
The Procurement process will incorporate a standstill period at the point that notification of the proposed award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. That notification will provide information on the award decision as is required by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
02/12/2016