Contract

Winter Festivals

  • The City of Edinburgh Council

F21: Social and other specific services – public contracts (contract award notice)

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-003423

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0407b6

Published 3 February 2025, 10:18am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

The City of Edinburgh Council

Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street

Edinburgh

EH8 8BG

Contact

Darren Moir

Email

darren.moir@edinburgh.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00290

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

Winter Festivals

Reference number

CT2978

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 79952000 - Event services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Award of Contract for the Provision of Event Services for Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals (Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festival and Edinburgh’s Christmas) These Festivals offer a rich and varied programme of activities, events, attractions and celebrations designed to provide magical experiences for visitors and residents alike.

This requirement is being published under the Light Touch Regime

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: £3,249,824

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 79952000 - Event services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Main site or place of performance

Edinburgh

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Historically, Edinburgh’s Christmas has taken place over a six-week period from around the third weekend in November to around the 6th of January, at locations in and around the city centre. Previous activities have included a market offer, fairground, family attractions and an ice rink.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festival is an internationally renowned New Year event. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festival has been a 3-day event centred around celebrations on 31st December. The Festival provides unrivalled promotion for the city and images of the midnight fireworks display have previously been broadcast around the world, attracting significant international audiences and awareness. Previous activities have included a street party, concerts in Princes Street Gardens, a torchlight procession and an open-air ceilidh.

In 2021, an extensive public consultation on the future of the winter festivals (Christmas and Hogmanay) was undertaken which is reflected within the specification for the service. It is the intention that any Contract resulting from this procurement process will commence in March/April 2024 to service the 2024/25 requirement for Edinburgh’s Christmas and 2025/26 onwards requirement for a combined Edinburgh’s Christmas and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. The Contract term will be for an initial period of three years with two optional one year extensions undertaken at the sole discretion of the City of Edinburgh Council (the Council).

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No

two.2.14) Additional information

This requirement shall involve negotiations. Please download the SPD and accompanying information on PCS-T for full details


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Form of procedure

Procedure involving negotiation

four.1.10) Identification of the national rules applicable to the procedure

Information about national procedures is available at: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement

four.1.11) Main features of the award procedure

SPD Process and shortlisting

First Tender

Negotiations and Second Tender (if required)

Final Tender

Award

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2023/S 000-030490


Section five. Award of contract

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

30 January 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 2

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 2

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 2

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Unique Assembly Ltd

2 Roxburgh Place

Edinburgh

EH8 9SU

Telephone

+44 7989366830

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
The contractor is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot: £3,249,824

five.2.5) Information about subcontracting

The contract is likely to be subcontracted


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

A sum of 3,249,825.00 GBP has been entered into contract value on section V.2.4 for Edinburgh's Hogmanay.

Please note this is not a full reflection of the contract value as the scope for Edinburgh's Christmas results in a rental income not a cost to the City of Edinburgh Council.

(SC Ref:779456)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Sheriff Court

Sheriff Court House 27 Chambers Street

Edinburgh

EH1 1LB

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:

A tenderer that suffers loss as a result of a breach of duty under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session. The City of Edinburgh Council (the Council) will have a minimum standstill period of 10 days before awarding the contract. The communication of the award decision notice will be sent by fax or e-mail to all tenderers with the standstill period commencing on the next day. If proceedings are started in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session against the Council in respect of the decision to award the contract within the standstill period then the Council is prevented from awarding the contract. Post contract award the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session may (1) award damages provided proceedings are brought within 3 months from the date when the grounds for the bringing of the proceedings first arose (2) be entitled to issue an ineffectiveness order or impose a financial penalty on the Council. A claim for an ineffectiveness order must be made within 30 days of the Contract Award Notice being published in the FTS or within 30 days of the date those who expressed an interest in or otherwise bid for the contract were informed of the conclusion of the contract or in any other case within 6 months from the date on which the contract was entered into.