Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
THE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH EAST COUNCILS LIMITED
Northern Design Centre, Abbots Hill, Baltic Business Quarter
Gateshead
NE8 3DF
UK
Telephone: +44 1916380040
E-mail: energy@nepo.org
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.nepo.org
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://open-uk.org/
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://open-uk.org/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
NEPO302 Supply of Gas
Reference number: NEPO302
II.1.2) Main CPV code
09000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
II.1.4) Short description
NEPO seeks to procure a Framework Agreement for the Supply of Gas. The current NEPO302 Gas Framework will end 31st March 2026.
The Framework Agreement will include NEPO trading gas on a fully flexible basis from the wholesale market and the subsequent supply of gas to the NEPO Portfolio. The Framework Agreement shall also include a Meter Asset Manager service and subsequent Automatic Meter Reading services.
The Framework Agreement will include provisions for assisting Contracting Authorities to reduce gas consumption and support their energy efficiency aims.
The Framework Agreement currently consists of approximately 27 million therms, per annum, across 3,884 sites.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
09000000
65000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
NEPO are using a 2-stage Competitive Procedure with Negotiation for the procurement of this Framework. The first stage is a Selection Questionnaire which will be used to shortlist suppliers. Shortlisted suppliers will then be Invited to Tender.
The Framework Agreement will be a single supplier and single lot solution. NEPO may also wish to enter into negotiations with tenderers in line with the requirements of the Competition
with Negotiation Procedure. NEPO also reserve the right not to enter into negotiations and award the Framework Agreement on the basis of initial tender. The most economically advantageous tenderer will be awarded the Framework Agreement.
NEPO does not give any guarantee and/or warrant the actual value of the services (if any) which will be placed with the successful supplier by any Contracting Authority using the
Framework Agreement pursuant to this process and accepts no liability thereof.
In accordance with the Framework Agreement, each Contracting Authority will enter into a call-off contract. The call-off contract is to be entered into by both the Contracting Authority and successful supplier and will be based on the terms and conditions of the Framework Agreement.
The opportunity can be accessed via the NEPO eTender system (Open). Suppliers wishing to be considered for this Framework Agreement must register their expression of interest and
submit the selection questionnaire and tender response through the Open eTendering System. If not already registered, suppliers should register on the Open eTendering System
at https://www.open-uk.org/
Selection Questionnaire and Tender responses must be submitted using the link above. Selection Questionnaire and Tender responses submitted via postal or email methods will
not be accepted.
If you need technical assistance from the Open Support team, this can be requested via open.support@nepo.org.
PLEASE NOTE: Open is accessible 24/7 however, technical support is available Monday - Thursday 8:30 - 5pm and Friday 8.30 - 4.30pm. For guidance on how to submit your response through Open, please visit
https://www.openhub.org/training to access the available Training Guides.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 72
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
It is anticipated that this Framework Contract will be renewed prior to its conclusion.
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
Competitive procedure with negotiation
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement with a single operator.
Justification for any framework agreement duration exceeding 4 years: Due to the complexity of the Framework Agreement and the requirement to forward purchase gas.
IV.1.5) Information about negotiation
The contracting authority reserves the right to award the contract on the basis of the initial tenders without conducting negotiations
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2024/S 000-017318
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
24/03/2025
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
Date:
28/04/2025
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published:
18-24 months prior to the framework agreement expiry date.
VI.3) Additional information
The agreement will be available for use by all NEPO Member Authorities and Associate Members. A list of member organisations is available in the Associate Members section of the NEPO website at: www.nepo.org.
This agreement will also be made available to all current and future NEPO Associate Members. Current Associate Members are listed in the Associate Member section of the NEPO website at: https://www.nepo.org/associate-membership/current-associate-members
NEPO intends to make the resulting agreement available for use by all Contracting Authorities throughout all administrative regions of the UK (as defined by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015) including but not limited to Government Departments and their Agencies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies, Central Government, NHS Bodies, Local Authorities, Emergency Services, Coastguard Emergency Services, Educational Establishments, Registered Social Landlords and Registered Charities.
A complete list of permissible users is shown on the NEPO website below:
http://www.nepo.org/associate-membership/permissible-users
Organisations wishing to access the NEPO agreement will be required to register as a NEPO Associate Member in the first instance. Further information can be found at: www.nepo.org
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
NEPO
Northern Design Centre, Abbots Hill, Baltic Business Quarte
Gateshead
NE8 3DF
UK
E-mail: energy@nepo.org
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
20/02/2025