Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Scotland Excel
Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street
Paisley
PA1 1AR
Education.Corporate@scotland-excel.org.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM - Scotland
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.scotland-excel.org.uk
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10383
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Supply of Digital Publications and Services
Reference number
1021
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79970000 - Publishing services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
A renewal framework for the Supply of Digital Publications and Services. The scope of products covered under the framework will include but not be limited to, ebooks, eaudiobooks, emagazines, ecomics and enewspapers for provision into Public Library establishments throughout Scotland.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £4,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
E-Audiobooks
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 22111000 - School books
- 22112000 - Textbooks
- 22113000 - Library books
- 79970000 - Publishing services
- 79995000 - Library management services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Various locations throughout the geographic boundaries of the participating Councils and associate members within Scotland.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The products under this lot will include, but not be limited to, supply of E-Audiobooks.
For further information regarding the evaluation of this lot, please refer to the “1021 Evaluation Methodology including IIT” document, available within the relevant ITT on PCS-Tender.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 25
Price - Weighting: 75
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £1,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
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: Yes
Description of options
Anticipated duration of framework is 36 months with an option to extend for up to a further 12 months subject to satisfactory operation and performance. Any period of extension will be at the sole discretion of Scotland Excel.
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
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition (or any competition in relation to any lot) if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
E-Magazines
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 22111000 - School books
- 22112000 - Textbooks
- 22113000 - Library books
- 22200000 - Newspapers, journals, periodicals and magazines
- 79970000 - Publishing services
- 79995000 - Library management services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Various locations throughout the geographic boundaries of the participating Councils and associate members within Scotland.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The products under this lot will include, but not be limited to, supply of E-Magazines.
For further information regarding the evaluation of this lot, please refer to the “1021 Evaluation Methodology including IIT” document, available within the relevant ITT on PCS-Tender.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 25
Price - Weighting: 75
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £1,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
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: Yes
Description of options
Anticipated duration of framework is 36 months with an option to extend for up to a further 12 months subject to satisfactory operation and performance. Any period of extension will be at the sole discretion of Scotland Excel.
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
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition (or any competition in relation to any lot) if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
E-Comics
Lot No
4
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 22111000 - School books
- 22112000 - Textbooks
- 22113000 - Library books
- 22200000 - Newspapers, journals, periodicals and magazines
- 79970000 - Publishing services
- 79995000 - Library management services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Various locations throughout the geographic boundaries of the participating Councils and associate members within Scotland.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The products under this lot will include, but not be limited to, supply of E-Comics.
For further information regarding the evaluation of this lot, please refer to the “1021 Evaluation Methodology including IIT” document, available within the relevant ITT on PCS-Tender.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 25
Price - Weighting: 75
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
48
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: Yes
Description of options
Anticipated duration of framework is 36 months with an option to extend for up to a further 12 months subject to satisfactory operation and performance. Any period of extension will be at the sole discretion of Scotland Excel.
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
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition (or any competition in relation to any lot) if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
E-Newspapers
Lot No
5
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79970000 - Publishing services
- 22200000 - Newspapers, journals, periodicals and magazines
- 22210000 - Newspapers
- 22113000 - Library books
- 22112000 - Textbooks
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Various locations throughout the geographic boundaries of the participating Councils and associate members within Scotland.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The products under this lot will include, but not be limited to, supply of E-Newspapers.
For further information regarding the evaluation of this lot, please refer to the “1021 Evaluation Methodology including IIT” document, available within the relevant ITT on PCS-Tender.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 25
Price - Weighting: 75
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
48
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: Yes
Description of options
Anticipated duration of framework is 36 months with an option to extend for up to a further 12 months subject to satisfactory operation and performance. Any period of extension will be at the sole discretion of Scotland Excel.
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
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition (or any competition in relation to any lot) if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
E-Books
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 22111000 - School books
- 22113000 - Library books
- 22200000 - Newspapers, journals, periodicals and magazines
- 79970000 - Publishing services
- 79995000 - Library management services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Various locations throughout the geographic boundaries of the participating Councils and associate members within Scotland.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The products under this lot will include, but not be limited to, supply of E-Books.
For further information regarding the evaluation of this lot, please refer to the “1021 Evaluation Methodology including IIT” document, available within the relevant ITT on PCS Tender.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 25
Price - Weighting: 75
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £1,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
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: Yes
Description of options
Anticipated duration of framework is 36 months with an option to extend for up to a further 12 months subject to satisfactory operation and performance. Any period of extension will be at the sole discretion of Scotland Excel.
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
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition (or any competition in relation to any lot) if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
In accordance with Regulation 59(12), as this proposed Framework Agreement is divided into Lots, these Economic and Financial Standing selection criteria apply separately in relation to each individual lot.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS:
It is a requirement of the contracts to be procured under the proposed framework agreement that tenderers hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any subsequently awarded contract, the types and levels of insurance indicated below:
ALL LOTS
EMPLOYERS (COMPULSORY) LIABILITY = a minimum indemnity limit of 10 million GBP per occurrence.
PUBLIC/PRODUCTS LIABILITY = a minimum indemnity limit of 5 million GBP per occurrence, and in the aggregate in respect of
Products.
For full details please see the Procurement Documents.
OTHER ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS:
A search of the tenderer against Equifax's Protect must not return a 'Warning' or 'Caution' returnable code or any neutral code, unless the tenderer confirms that it can provide any other document which Scotland Excel considers appropriate to prove to Scotland Excel (acting within its permitted discretion under the applicable public procurement rules) that the tenderer does/would not present an unmanageable
risk should it be appointed on to the proposed Framework Agreement. Equifax's protect is a fraud indicator/credit risk search and analysis of five areas of threat in relation to a particular company:credit history; disqualification; validation and investigation bureau; connected data; and bureau information. For full details please see the Procurement Documents.
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
1. Subcontracting
2. Quality Management Procedures
3. Environmental Management Systems or Standards
4. Health and Safety Procedures
For full details please see the Procurement Documents. In accordance with Regulation 59(12), as this proposed Framework Agreement is divided into Lots, these Technical and professional ability selection criteria apply separately in relation to each individual lot.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
SUBCONTRACTING:
Tenderers will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract and, if so, for what proportion of the contracts to be called-off under the proposed framework agreement. If you intend to subcontract any share of the contract to third parties on whose capacity you do not rely to satisfy the selection criteria, you must secure that each subcontractor completes a separate SPD (Scotland) Response for all Parts
of the SPD (Scotland) Qualification Envelope, except Part 4 (Selection criteria).
QUALITY MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES
The tenderer must have the following: The tenderer MUST HOLD a UKAS (or equivalent) accredited independent third party certificate of compliance in accordance with BSEN
ISO 9001 (or equivalent).
OR
A documented policy regarding quality management. The policy must set out
responsibilities for quality management demonstrating that the tenderer has and continues to implement a quality management policy that is authorised by their Chief Executive, or equivalent, and is periodically reviewed at a senior management level. The policy must be relevant to the nature and scale of the work to be undertaken and
set out responsibilities for quality management throughout the organisation.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS OR STANDARDS
The tenderer must have the following: The tenderer MUST HOLD a UKAS (or equivalent) accredited independent third party certificate of compliance with BSEN ISO 14001 (or
equivalent) or a valid EMAS (or equivalent) certificate.
OR
A regularly reviewed documented policy regarding environmental management, authorised by the Chief Executive, or equivalent. This policy must include and describe the tenderer's environmental emergency response procedures including the preparedness and response procedures for potential accidents and emergency response situations that give rise to significant environmental impacts (for example hazardous substances spill control).
HEALTH AND SAFETY PROCEDURES
The tenderer must have the following: The tenderer MUST HOLD a UKAS (or equivalent), accredited independent third party certificate of compliance in accordance with ISO 45001 (or equivalent) or have, within the last 12 months, successfully met the assessment requirements of a scheme in registered membership of the Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) forum.
OR
A regularly reviewed and documented policy for Health and Safety (H&S) management, endorsed by the Chief Executive Officer, or equivalent. The policy must be relevant to the nature and scale of the work and set out responsibilities for H&S management at all levels within the organisation. The policy must be relevant to the nature and scale of your operations and set out your company's responsibilities of health and safety management and compliance with legislation.
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
For full details of the conditions relevant to the proposed Framework, and contracts to be called-off there under (to the extent known or settled at this stage), please see the Procurement Documents (details of how to access these being set out in section “I.3) Communication” of this Contract Notice).
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with several operators
Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 5
four.1.6) Information about electronic auction
An electronic auction will be used
Additional information about electronic auction
Whether an electronic auction will be used is at the discretion of each Scotland Excel Council, Associate Member or other Bodies Participating which will be settled by them during the procedure for the call-off of a contract under this proposed framework agreement.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2021/S 000-016813
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
29 March 2022
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 5 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
29 March 2022
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
Scotland Excel is a central purchasing body and is procuring this framework on behalf of the following contracting authorities (and
successor bodies):
- The 32 local authorities in Scotland listed at http://www.scotland-excel.org.uk/home/Aboutus/Ourmembers/Local-authorities.aspx;
- Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC Ltd) and their member organisations across the higher and further education
sector in Scotland and their associated and affiliated bodies;
- NHS Scotland entities constituted pursuant to the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 (i.e. all NHS Scotland Health Boards,
Special Health Boards and the Authority or other NHS Organisation established pursuant to the NHS (Scotland) Act 1978), any integrated
Joint Boards established pursuant to the new Public Bodies (Joint Working) Scotland Act 2014.
- Scotland Excel associate members listed at http://www.scotland-excel.org.uk/home/Aboutus/Ourmembers/Associate-members.aspx;
- any Integration Authority, or other body, established pursuant to the Public Bodies (Joint Working)(Scotland) Act 2014 The above is subject to each contracting authority entering into and maintaining a relevant membership agreement or other access agreement with Scotland Excel. Rebates apply to this framework. For further details, please see the Special Conditions of Contract.
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 42021. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
It has become clear that there is scope within the legal framework which applies to public contracts, to deliver wider social benefits such as:
* Targeted recruitment and training
* Community engagement
As part of your response within the Technical criteria, Tenderers will be requested to confirm if they will offer community benefits for this
framework.
(SC Ref:679963)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Court of Session
Edinburgh
EH1 1RQ
Telephone
+44 314443300
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
An economic operator that suffers, or risks suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Public Contracts (Scotland)Regulations 2015 (SSI2015/446)(as amended) may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session.