Voluntary ex ante transparency notice
Directive 2014/24/EU
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
National Highways
Lateral, City Square
Bristol
BS32 4SR
UK
Contact person: Wayne Bond
Telephone: +44 7729105540
E-mail: Wayne.Bond@highwaysengland.co.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.highways.gov.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Other: Development, operation and maintenance of the Strategic Road Network
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Tree seed purchases
II.1.2) Main CPV code
03450000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
II.1.4) Short description
This is a Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency (VEAT) notice informing the market that National Highways Limited (NHL) intend to award a contract without prior publication of a call for competition. NHL is entering into a contract with Forestart Limited for provision of seeds over five years.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
250 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKC
UKD
UKE
UKF
UKG
UKH
UKI
UKJ
UKK
Main site or place of performance:
England
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Tree seeds to the value of £50,000 a year for five years.
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
Negotiated procedure without prior publication
Justification for selected award procedure:
The products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development under the condition stated in the Directive (for supplies only)
Explanation:
The UK has a limited market for seed supply with only one major seed supplier – Forestart - with the capacity to secure our volumes, given our requirements over quantity, quality and variety. The need to source healthy plant and tree stocks means importing seeds and trees is not considered an option as this threatens bio-security, increases cost e.g. through import fees, delays timescales and raises planting failure rates due to a lack of local origin.
National Highways Limited considers the award is permitted by regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
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
05/01/2022
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
Forestart Limited
3614573
The Seed Unit. Ladymas Lane, Hadnall
Shrewsbury
SY4 4AL
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:
250 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
National Highways Limited
Bristol
BS32 4SR
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
13/01/2022