Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Food Standards Scotland (FSS)
4th Floor, Pilgrim House, Old Ford Road
Aberdeen
AB11 5RL
UK
Telephone: +44 1224285172
E-mail: Avril.Gordon@gov.scot
NUTS: UKM
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.foodstandards.gov.scot
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA24524
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
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:
www.publicontractsscotland.gov.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
National or federal agency/office
I.5) Main activity
Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Whole Genome Sequencing Services for E.coli Genomes
Reference number: FSS/2022/024
II.1.2) Main CPV code
71900000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Food Standards Scotland requires a Contractor to provide Whole Genome Sequencing services for E.coli genomes and other bacterial samples
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
73111000
85145000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) requires a Contractor to provide Whole Genome Sequencing of E. coli genomes gathered from samples across Scotland with minimum 30X Illumina (100-250nt min) coverage.
The sequenced genomes will be used as part of the Work Stream 1 PATHSAFE programme. FSS requires a minimum of 2500 samples to be sequenced during the Initial Contract Period, though actual volumes may be much higher, with current estimates for 3000 samples to be sequenced by the Contractor by the end of October 2023. Samples will be provided to the Contractor in multiple batches of samples rather than a single large order. There may also be a requirement for Whole Genome Sequencing of other bacterial species.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 60
Price
/ Weighting:
40
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
09/01/2023
End:
31/03/2024
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The Contract Period may be extended up to a maximum of 36 months after the initial period, at the sole discretion of FSS
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
List and brief description of selection criteria:
For SPD question 4B.4:
List and brief description of selection criteria:
Current Ratio will be calculated as follows:
net current assets divided by net current liabilities.
There must be no qualification or contra-indication from any evidence provided in support of the bidders economic and financial standing.
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
Bidders must demonstrate a Current Ratio of no less than 0.8.
III.2) Conditions related to 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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
02/11/2022
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: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
02/11/2022
Local time: 12:00
Place:
Edinburgh
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
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
It is a requirement that tenderers hold or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any subsequently awarded contract the types of insurance indicated below:
Public Liability Insurance in the sum of not less than 1,000,000 GBP and
Employer’s Liability Insurance in the sum of not less than 5,000,000 GBP or in accordance with any legal obligation applicable
Tenderers are required to demonstrate suitable experience and track record of delivering Whole Genome Sequencing Services using Illuminia technology by providing 2 examples where they have delivered similar services within the past 3 years.
Tenderers should state if they intend or do not intend to use a supply chain to deliver the requirements detailed in the Contract Notice. If Tenderers intend to use a supply chain, 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. This will include confirmation that they have the systems in place to pay subcontractors through the supply chain promptly and effectively and the evidence listed below will be provided as requested.
Prior to contract award Scottish Procurement will ask the Economic Operator to provide evidence of:
a their standard payment terms
b ≥95% of all supply chain invoices being paid on time (in accordance with the terms of contract) in the last financial year.
If the Economic Operator is unable to confirm b) they must provide an improvement plan, signed by their Director, which improves the payment performance.
If the Economic Operator cannot evidence a) and b) and, if required the provision of an improvement plan signed by their Director which improves the payment performance, then an award of contract will not be made.
The Tenderer must confirm they have all appropriate licences required to provide Whole Genome Sequencing using Illumina technology
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.
Single Procurement Document will be scored on a pass/fail basis.
Award Criteria Questions can be found in the ITT together with the weightings. Question scoring methodology for award criteria is outlined in Invitation to Tender.
Bidders must complete the SPD (Scotland) to demonstrate adherence to the exclusion and selection criteria for this procurement. If there are named subcontractors/technicians upon which the bidder will rely to meet the selection criteria, these named parties must complete and reattach the SPD Supplier Response Form attached to SPD questions 2C.1.1 and 2D.1.2. These parties must complete the first 3 sections of the SPD form, as well as any part of the Section 4 selection criteria that the main bidder will rely upon the parties to fulfil. If parties have not yet been identified, this information may be required at a later date. Food Standards Scotland reserves the right to request this information from relevant parties upon whom the main bidder will not rely to fulfil selection criteria.
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=708401.
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.
A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
(SC Ref:708401)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=708401
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court & Justice of the Peace Court
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
29/09/2022