Voluntary ex ante transparency notice
Directive 2014/24/EU
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
1 Victoria Street, United Kingdom
London
SW1H 0ET
UK
Contact person: Andrew Meldrum
E-mail: Andrew.Meldrum@beis.gov.uk
NUTS: UKI
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Delivery of the European Consumer Centre Services (ECCS)
Reference number: TRN 1866\04\2019
II.1.2) Main CPV code
75110000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
BEIS will award a contract to chartered Trading Standards Institute to continue delivery of the ECCS from July 2019 to December 2020. The ECCS runs a website and phone helpline providing information and advice to UK consumers looking to access a service or services from a trader based in another Member State. Consumer advisors, with wide knowledge of consumer rights legislation, provide advice and information to consumers on cross-border issues, by phone and email. It is provided in accordance with the Services Directive 2006/123/EC. The contract covers the cost of running the service only.
The ECCS provides: general information on the requirements applicable in other Member States in relation to accessing or exercising service activities, in particular those relating to consumer protection; general information on the means of redress available in the event of a dispute between service provider and recipient; and contact details of organisations from which assistance can be sought.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
148 360.50
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
Main site or place of performance:
UNITED KINGDOM.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Delivery of the ECCS until the end of December 2020.
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:
Yes
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation:
The ECCS needs to be retained until at least 31.10.2019. Under the withdrawal agreement negotiated between the UK and EU, it is further expected the ECCS will continue until at least December 2020. The future of the ECCS thereafter is contingent on the future economic partnership with the EU and associated policy decisions. A new contract is required to run for 18 months from July 2019 to December 2020.
The appointment is made under Regulation 32 (2) (b) (ii) of the UK’s Public Contract Regulations 2015. The ECCS is currently delivered by CTSI. The same team also currently deliver the European Consumer Centre, a larger consumer advice service; this will be delivered by CTSI until end of December 2020. It is impractical to deliver the ODR contact point in isolation from the ECC, and is also reliant on the skills held by CTSI personnel.
CTSI has the necessary personnel, equipment and experience already in place. Given the uncertain future of the ECCS and the resultant short contract period; strong interdependency with the European Consumer Centre; the low value of the contract; the low number of people needed to deliver the service; and the advisor training time required, continuation of delivery by the incumbent is the only realistic option for this period.
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
21/03/2019
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
Chartered Trading Standards Institute
1 Sylvan Court, Sylvan Way, Southfields Business Park
Basildon
SS15 6TH
UK
E-mail: andya@tsi.org.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
URL: http://www.tradingstandards.uk
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the concession and main financing terms (excluding VAT)
Total value of the concession/lot:
148 360.50
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
To view this notice, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=398900047
GO Reference: GO-2019521-PRO-14916514
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
1 Victoria Street, 1 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0ET
UK
E-mail: Andrew.Meldrum@beis.gov.uk
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
21/05/2019