Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
National Highways
Lateral, City Square
Bristol
BS32 4SR
Contact
Wayne Bond
Wayne.Bond@highwaysengland.co.uk
Telephone
+44 7729105540
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Development, operation and maintenance of the Strategic Road Network
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Tree seed purchases
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 03450000 - Tree-nursery products
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
This is a Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency (VEAT) notice informing the market that National Highways Limited (NHL) intend to award a contract without prior publication of a call for competition. NHL is entering into a contract with Forestart Limited for provision of seeds over five years.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £250,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
Main site or place of performance
England
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Tree seeds to the value of £50,000 a year for five years.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- The products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development
- The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
The UK has a limited market for seed supply with only one major seed supplier – Forestart - with the capacity to secure our volumes, given our requirements over quantity, quality and variety. The need to source healthy plant and tree stocks means importing seeds and trees is not considered an option as this threatens bio-security, increases cost e.g. through import fees, delays timescales and raises planting failure rates due to a lack of local origin.
National Highways Limited considers the award is permitted by regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
5 January 2022
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Forestart Limited
The Seed Unit. Ladymas Lane, Hadnall
Shrewsbury
SY4 4AL
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
National registration number
3614573
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £250,000
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
National Highways Limited
Bristol
BS32 4SR
Country
United Kingdom