Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
An Lòchran, 10 Inverness Campus
Inverness
IV2 5NA
UK
Contact person: HIE Procurement
Telephone: +44 1463245245
E-mail: hieprocurement@hient.co.uk
NUTS: UKM6
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.hie.co.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00313
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:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local agency/office
I.5) Main activity
Economic and financial affairs
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray (MICM) - Service Operator
Reference number: FTS 039
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79400000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
HIE is seeking to appoint a service operator for the Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray (MICM).
It is expected that these services will be required from September 2025 for an initial period of 3 years, unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Contract. HIE will have an option to extend the contract period by up to 2 years.
The 3-year budget currently available to deliver this service is between GBP 620,000 and GBP 654,000 (excluding VAT). Refer to the 'Timescales and Value' section in the Scope of Requirements and Guidance document for full details on pricing inclusions/exclusions and price increase mechanism. The total contract value in section II.1.5 and II.2.6. refers to the total contract value including the optional extension period/s and allowances.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
1 300 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
71600000
71621000
72221000
72224000
73200000
73210000
73220000
79410000
79420000
79411100
79415000
71314300
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM62
Main site or place of performance:
MICM building (Unit 9) on the Enterprise Park Forres (IV36 2AU)
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
HIE is looking to procure an experienced Service Operator to develop, operate and manage the MICM service.
MICM is one of eight strategic projects forming part of the Moray Growth Deal (MGD).
Located at Enterprise Park Forres, MICM will provide diagnostics, advice, information, signposting and access to funding, to businesses. Its primary focus will be on stimulating innovation and growth in product and process development, with a strong emphasis on transitioning to low carbon practices. There will be space in the building for business start-up incubation and space for existing business to undertake innovation projects, as well as demonstration facilities showcasing advanced technology and equipment.
Please refer to the tender documents for full details.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Q1 Prompt Payment Standard Clause
/ Weighting: pass/fail
Quality criterion: Q2 Cyber Security
/ Weighting: pass/fail
Quality criterion: Q3 UK data centres
/ Weighting: pass/fail
Quality criterion: Q4 Payment of the Real Living Wage
/ Weighting: pass/fail
Quality criterion: Q5 Mobilisation/stand-up period
/ Weighting: 10%
Quality criterion: Q6 Management and Delivery Methodology
/ Weighting: 18%
Quality criterion: Q7 Marketing and Promotion (after the stand-up period)
/ Weighting: 10%
Quality criterion: Q8 Management and Delivery Team
/ Weighting: 20%
Quality criterion: Q9b Community Benefits Part B – Monitoring and Reporting
/ Weighting: 2%
Quality criterion: Q10 Fair Work First
/ Weighting: 5%
Price
/ Weighting:
35%
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
1 300 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 60
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The contract will be awarded for an initial period of 3 years, unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Contract. HIE will have an option to extend the contract period by up to 2 years.
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:
Yes
Description of options:
HIE reserves the right, on giving reasonable written notice from time to time, to require changes to the Services in response to changes in circumstance such as:
-evidence of actual demand for the various Services or for new Services.
-the tested validity of initial assumptions (including assumptions about Allowances).
-increased or decreased funding availability.
-additional income generation which exceeds targets.
-evolving operational circumstances.
-the outcome annual reviews.
-the results of business surveys.
In response to changed circumstances, irrespective of the monetary value of the change, HIE may require a range of changes to the Services, such as:
-the removal of Services;
-the addition of new Services;
-increasing or decreasing the Services;
-re-designing the Service provision;
-revising project KPIs/Milestones;
-amending the Equipment and Technology Strategy; or
-specifying the order in which the Services are to be performed.
The above lists of circumstances and potential changes are not exhaustive and HIE may require such other changes as are appropriate.
Specific modifications may include but need not be limited to:
-A requirement to promote the uptake by self-managed, longer-term tenants of newly available Grow-on space at Unit 10, Enterprise Park Forres, from 2029/2030.
-A move to virtual delivery (wholly or partially).
-Changes to the service provision/programme as a result of ongoing review/improvements.
-Temporary increases of resource provision, due to peaks in demand (e.g. to support equipment procurement activity).
For full details please refer to the 'Contract modification' section in the Scope of Requirements and Guidance document.
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
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
It is a requirement of this Contract that bidders hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any subsequently awarded Contract, the types and levels of insurance indicated below:
4B5A Professional Risk Indemnity - GBP 5M for each and every claim
4B5B Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance - GBP 5M for each and every claim.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse40.pdf
4B5C Public Liability Insurance - GBP 5M for each and every claim
4B6 (pass/fail) Income threshold
Bidders are required to evidence a minimum average annual income of GBP 436,000 for each of the last 2 years. Income could include turnover, grant funding, donations or similar or a mixture of such income sources. Due to character limits, please refer to the Scope of Requirements and Guidance document for full details.
4B.6 (not scored)
HIE as a public body must comply with HMRC IR35 provisions. Therefore, where you are bidding as a personal service company (PSC) or will be using a personal service company to provide services under the contract please identify these PSC (s) in your response to 4B6.
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria:
4C4 If bidders intend to use a supply chain to deliver the requirements detailed in the Contract Notice, they should confirm they have (or have access to) the relevant supply chain management and tracking systems to ensure a resilient and sustainable supply chain. Please refer to Scope of Requirements for full requirements. If bidders do not pay at least 95% of valid invoices on time and are unable to provide a proportionate and timely improvement plan, their organisation will not be selected to participate further in this procurement.(pass/fail)
4C10 Bidders will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract and, if so, for what proportion of the contract. (for info)
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Refer to the tender document for KPIs.
III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2024/S 000-033485
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
08/07/2025
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: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
08/07/2025
Local time: 12:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published:
HIE reserves the right to re-tender for these services upon termination or at the end of the contract, including any extension period.
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
There will be a site visit on Wednesday 11 June 2025. Refer to the Scope of Requirements and Guidance for details.
Tenders must be submitted via the PCS postbox and must be received by the published deadline. Late tenders will not be accepted and HIE will reject any submissions received after the deadline. Email or hard copy responses will not be accepted.
It is estimated that the total value of the contract over the maximum duration of 5 years will be GBP 1,300,000 (excluding VAT). This is the figure which has been used in II.1.5 & II.2.6. Refer to the Timescales and Value section in the Scope of Requirements and Guidance document for full details on the make-up of this value.
Where bidders rely on the capacity of other entities in order to meet selection criteria they are required to provide information relating to these entities with the relevant supporting SPD documentation being submitted.
SPD 3D.12 Bidders should refer to the "Conflict of Interest" Section within the Scope of Requirements when completing this question.
The Award criteria (Questions 5-10) will be marked according to the following criteria - refer to the tender documents for the evaluation criteria for Questions 1-4 and the minimum threshold score for Questions 5-8:
0 - Unacceptable - Nil or inadequate response which fails to demonstrate an ability to meet the requirement.
1 - Poor - Response is partially relevant but generally poor. It addresses some elements of the requirement but contains insufficient/limited detail or explanation to demonstrate how the requirement will be fulfilled.
2 - Acceptable - Response is relevant and acceptable. It addresses a broad understanding of the requirement but may lack details on how the requirement will be fulfilled in certain areas.
3 - Good - Response is relevant and good. It is sufficiently detailed to demonstrate a good understanding and provides details on how the requirements will be fulfilled.
4 - Excellent - Response is completely relevant and excellent overall. It is comprehensive, unambiguous and demonstrate a thorough understanding of the requirement and provides details of how the requirement will be met in full.
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=794669.
The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.
Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
Refer to tender documents.
(SC Ref:794669)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=794669
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Inverness Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
The Inverness Justice Centre, Longman Road
Inverness
IV1 1AH
UK
Telephone: +44 1463230782
E-mail: inverness@scotcourts.gov.uk
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/court-locations/inverness-sheriff-court-and-justice-of-the-peace-court
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
An economic operator that suffers, or is at risk of suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court of the Court of Session.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
14/05/2025