Future opportunity

Regulated third party operator services for the Wales Pension Partnership

  • Carmarthenshire County Council

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice reference: 2023/S 000-001459

Published 17 January 2023, 4:33pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Carmarthenshire County Council

County Hall

Carmarthen

SA31 1JP

Email

walespensionpartnership@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 1267234567

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKL14 - South West Wales

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0281

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Regional or local authority

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Regulated third party operator services for the Wales Pension Partnership

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 66131100 - Pension investment services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Wales Pension Partnership (“WPP”) was established in 2017. The WPP is a collaboration of the eight LGPS funds (Constituent Authorities *) covering the whole of Wales and is one of eight national Local Government Pension pools.

The eight Constituent Authorities have an existing contract with Link Fund Solutions Limited to provide regulated third party operator services for WPP. The current contract is due to end in December 2024.

The contracting authority (Carmarthenshire County Council), on behalf of the WPP, shall be conducting a procurement process to appoint a regulated third party operator for WPP’s ACS sub fund requirements following expiry of that existing contract. It is anticipated that if a new provider is appointed, the contract will commence approximately 6 months prior to the expiry of the existing contract to allow for transition planning. The procurement will be conducted in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (or any replacement regulations that may come into force prior to the commencement of the procurement).

This PIN is to notify interested suppliers of regulated third party operator services that WPP shall be conducting a market engagement as below:

- Date: 9 March 2023

- Time: to be confirmed

- Location: Marriot Hotel, Mill Lane, Cardiff, CF10 1EZ

The purpose of the market engagement day will be to:

(i) provide information to interested suppliers regarding the upcoming procurement procedure; and

(ii) to obtain any feedback on the proposed scope of services and proposed service delivery model. The appointed provider shall be required to engage directly with the existing operator’s current delegates (including investment advisors, investment managers and providers of transfer agency and fund accountancy services) and depositary for an interim period to facilitate service continuity.

Accompanying documents can be found in the general attachments area. Please refer to Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 for information about the proposed scope of services.

If your organisation is capable of delivering all of the services and you wish to attend the market engagement day, you must contact the Wales Pension Partnership via email at: walespensionpartnership@carmarthenshire.gov.uk before Friday 17 February 2023 and provide the name of your organisation and the name of the person(s) attending.

The eight constituent authorities are Carmarthenshire County Council (Host Authority), City and County of Swansea Council, City of Cardiff Council, Flintshire County Council, Gwynedd Council, Powys County Council, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and Torfaen County Borough Council

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £14,000,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 66522000 - Group pension services
  • 66523000 - Pension fund consultancy services
  • 66131100 - Pension investment services
  • 66141000 - Pension fund management services
  • 66520000 - Pension services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKL14 - South West Wales
Main site or place of performance

Wales Pension Partnership

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Wales Pension Partnership (“WPP”) was established in 2017. The WPP is a collaboration of the eight LGPS funds (Constituent Authorities *) covering the whole of Wales and is one of eight national Local Government Pension pools.

The eight Constituent Authorities have an existing contract with Link Fund Solutions Limited to provide regulated third party operator services for WPP. The current contract is due to end in December 2024.

The contracting authority (Carmarthenshire County Council), on behalf of the WPP, shall be conducting a procurement process to appoint a regulated third party operator for WPP’s ACS sub fund requirements following expiry of that existing contract. It is anticipated that if a new provider is appointed, the contract will commence approximately 6 months prior to the expiry of the existing contract to allow for transition planning. The procurement will be conducted in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (or any replacement regulations that may come into force prior to the commencement of the procurement).

This PIN is to notify interested suppliers of regulated third party operator services that WPP shall be conducting a market engagement as below:

- Date: 9 March 2023

- Time: to be confirmed

- Location: Marriot Hotel, Mill Lane, Cardiff, CF10 1EZ

The purpose of the market engagement day will be to:

(i) provide information to interested suppliers regarding the upcoming procurement procedure; and

(ii) to obtain any feedback on the proposed scope of services and proposed service delivery model. The appointed provider shall be required to engage directly with the existing operator’s current delegates (including investment advisors, investment managers and providers of transfer agency and fund accountancy services) and depositary for an interim period to facilitate service continuity.

Accompanying documents can be found in the general attachments area. Please refer to Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 for information about the proposed scope of services.

If your organisation is capable of delivering all of the services and you wish to attend the market engagement day, you must contact the Wales Pension Partnership via email at: walespensionpartnership@carmarthenshire.gov.uk before Friday 17 February 2023 and provide the name of your organisation and the name of the person(s) attending.

The eight constituent authorities are Carmarthenshire County Council (Host Authority), City and County of Swansea Council, City of Cardiff Council, Flintshire County Council, Gwynedd Council, Powys County Council, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and Torfaen County Borough Council

two.2.14) Additional information

For further details on the Wales Pension Partnership please visit the following website:

https://www.walespensionpartnership.org/

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

1 September 2023


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=128136.

(WA Ref:128136)