Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
ESPO
Barnsdale Way, Grove Park, Enderby
LEICESTER
LE19 1ES
UK
Contact person: Energy Procurement Team
E-mail: tenders@espo.org
NUTS: UKF22
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.espo.org/
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
Access to the procurement documents is restricted. Further information can be obtained at:
https://www.eastmidstenders.org/
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://www.eastmidstenders.org/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
Other: Local Authority Services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
192_27 Supply of Mains Gas
Reference number: 192_27
II.1.2) Main CPV code
09121200
II.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
II.1.4) Short description
PLEASE NOTE, THIS TENDER (INCLUDING THE TENDER DOCUMENTS) IS RESTRICTED TO ONLY THOSE ORGANISATIONS THAT HOLD AN OFGEM GAS SUPPLY LICENCE.
Please refer to Section II.2.4 below for further details including how to tender.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
400 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
PLEASE NOTE, THIS TENDER (INCLUDING THE TENDER DOCUMENTS) IS RESTRICTED TO ONLY THOSE ORGANISATIONS THAT HOLD AN OFGEM GAS SUPPLY LICENCE.
ESPO are seeking to appoint a single supplier to a Framework covering the supply of mains gas and associated services. ESPO will act the intermediary to purchase gas on behalf of customers from across the public sector.
ESPO's current portfolio is approximately 6,000 sites.
To tender:
(a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity '192_27' (via "View Opportunities" from the 'EastMidsTenders' Portal); (d) Express an interest (if not already completed via the previously Published PIN); (e) Please refer to the below regarding access to the tender documents (will only be granted by ESPO once a Confidentiality Agreement has been completed and returned).
ESPO will impose on economic operators requirements aimed at protecting the confidential nature of information made available throughout the procurement procedure (as permitted by Regulation 21(3)) and, before receiving that information, economic operators will be required to complete and return a Confidentiality Agreement.
In the first instance, economic operators MUST complete an Expression of interest ('register interest') for this tender opportunity (as detailed above, and if not already completed via the previously Published PIN), after which you will be able to access the Messages area on the eProcurement Portal (ProContract).
To request access to the Tender documents, you MUST submit a Message on the eProcurement Portal for this Opportunity / Activity, confirming your Company Name and Registration Number. Upon verification of this information (including that an OFGEM Gas Supply Licence is held), ESPO will issue the Confidential Agreement (via the eProcurement Portal Messages), for this to be signed and returned. Access to the Tender documents will only be granted once this has been completed.
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
Start:
01/04/2027
End:
31/03/2031
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.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
This tender (including the tender documents) is restricted to only those organisations that hold an OFGEM Gas Supply Licence.
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.2.2) Contract performance conditions
As part of the on-going contract management process, during the period of the Framework Agreement, ESPO shall monitor the financial stability of the awarded Suppliers during the period of the Framework Agreement by reference to credit rating agency reports. ESPO shall obtain a credit score for the Supplier on or before the Framework start date as a base score and where a significant change in the credit score is identified over the life of the Framework Agreement, ESPO reserves the right to investigate the reasons for this significant change. Depending on the severity of the changes, it will be at the sole discretion of ESPO to suspend or even permanently remove the Supplier from the Framework Agreement.
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
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.
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 000-014510
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
25/04/2025
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: 4 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
25/04/2025
Local time: 12:01
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.3) Additional information
As a Central Purchasing Body as defined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, the Framework Agreement is open for use by Public Bodies (defined at https://www.espo.org/amfile/file/download/file/9608/) that also fall into one of the following classifications of user throughout all administrative regions of the UK: Local Authorities; Educational Establishments (including Academies); Central Government Departments and Agencies; Police, Fire & Rescue and Coastguard Emergency Services; NHS and HSC Bodies, including Ambulance Services; Registered Charities; Registered Social Landlords; The Corporate Office of the House of Lords, The Corporate Officer of the House of Commons; or any public body established by or under the Scotland Act 1998 or any Act of the Scottish Parliament. Details of the classification of end user establishments and geographical areas are available at: https://www.espo.org/legal
ESPO has established a commercial trading company, ESPO Trading Limited, whose target clients are third sector organisations such as national and local charities, public sector mutual organisations and other organisations involved in the delivery of services to or for the public sector. The successful Supplier may be asked to enter into an additional separate framework agreement (the Second Framework) with ESPO Trading Limited on materially similar terms to that found in the tender pack to be entered into by ESPO itself.
Any Second Framework agreement will be a purely commercial agreement and will, for the avoidance of doubt, not be governed by the Public Contract Regulations 2015 or other public procurement legislation. ESPO Trading Limited may enter into the second framework agreement with the successful supplier and make it available to third sector clients who themselves are not required to follow the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or other public procurement legislation. Accordingly, this is provided for bidders' information only.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
The Royal Court of Justice
The Strand
LONDON
WC2A 2LL
UK
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.justice.gov.uk/
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
ESPO will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. Applicants who are unsuccessful shall be informed by ESPO as soon as possible after the decision has been made as to the reasons why the applicant was unsuccessful. If an appeal regarding the award of the contract has not been successfully resolved, The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2105 No. 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by breach of the rules to take legal action. Any such action must be brought within the applicable limitation period. Where a contract has not been entered into, the Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order for any document to be amended and may award damages, make a declaration of ineffectiveness, order for a fine to be paid, and/or order the duration of the contract be shortened. The purpose of the standstill period referred to above is to allow the parties to apply to the Courts to set aside the award decision before the contract is entered into.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
20/02/2025