Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL
COUNTY HALL
CHELMSFORD
CM1 1QH
Contact
Katie Elgie
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKH - EAST OF ENGLAND
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.essex.gov.uk/supply-the-council
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to 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
Legacy Grazing
Reference number
0911
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 03000000 - Agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Essex County Council is seeking a single lead contractor to provide conservation grazing services, using their own livestock, to various sites in Essex, Suffolk, Kent and Hertfordshire.
The requirement will involve the transportation of the livestock to all sites, as well as management of the service and ensuring that the grazing is to an acceptable level.
The winning contractor will work with Essex's principle consultant in countryside management to ensure best practice is maintained throughout the five year contract; and the requirements are fulfilled.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £500,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 77000000 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH - EAST OF ENGLAND
- UKJ4 - Kent
Main site or place of performance
Various sites in Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Suffolk. Full site information is available on Proactis.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Legacy Grazing is a project that forms a part of Essex County Council's Place Services, providing conservation grazing to 16 sites in Essex, Hertfordshire, Suffolk and Kent covering over 425 hectares of land.
From April 2021, Essex County Council will appoint a single 'lead' contractor to provide native breed livestock (cattle, sheep and goat) and associated livestock management for Legacy Grazing.
The following activities will be required by the lead contractor:
Manage their livestock in accordance with relevant best-practice, legislation and Legacy Grazing standards.
Inspect grazing sites at least once every two weeks when livestock are present (site information available on proactis).
Ensure a rota of daily welfare checks is in place at each site when livestock are present in accordance with the guidance. See Annex 1 for details of current arrangements for each site.
Deliver two training workshops each year to provide basic training for client staff and volunteer stock checkers. The locations may vary each year, but these will take place at one of Legacy Grazing's sites.
Act as the first point of contact (including weekends & evenings) for client staff and volunteers who undertake daily checks with regard enquires about livestock health or welfare.
At sites (three in total), where client staff or volunteers are not available to undertake daily checks, provide the necessary labour to ensure welfare checks are conducted in accordance with the relevant publications.
Be responsible for dealing with emergency and out-of-hour (evening and weekends) incidents associated with your livestock whilst present on Legacy Grazing sites. Such as, but not limited to, injured, ill or escaped livestock.
Ensure grazing is carried out in accordance with the Grazing Programme and Grazing Plans (available on proactis).
Coordinate all movements of cattle between sites and to do so in accordance with the Grazing Programme and underpinning Grazing Plans.
Assist the Contract Manager by maintaining an up-to-date Grazing Programme and Plans that identify the proposed duration and number of livestock at each site.
Maintain an up-to-date record of livestock type and numbers by Rural Land Register parcel in accordance with Countryside Stewardship obligations for 'Parcel level record keeping'
Maintain an electronic record of site visits and incidents. Format to be agreed between the Contract Manager and the contractor prior to the commencement of the contract.
In case of emergency, assist, where appropriate, Essex County Council staff, client staff, volunteers or sub-contractors with the repair of grazing infrastructure (fencing, gates, handling facilities & water etc.).
Complete and maintain risk assessments (and method statements where applicable) for each site in relation to livestock management and checking. These should be developed with reference to the following publication: Cattle and public access in England and Wales. Advice for farmers, landowners and other livestock keepers .
Meet (at least weekly by phone or on site) with the Contract Manager, and attend site meetings with existing clients (at least once per site per year).
Assist the Contract Manager to promote Legacy Grazing to seek new clients and sites.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £500,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
60
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
There are a set of KPIs in the bidder documents, which influence overall payment. 90% of the total budget will be paid annually, with the final 10% held back. The 10% is given at the end of the year, assuming all KPIs are met.
Relevant animal welfare must be maintained at all times.
three.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 four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
27 February 2021
Local time
5:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
27 February 2021
Local time
5:01pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The Royal Courts of Justice
High Court, Royal Courts of Justice
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom