Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
The City of Edinburgh Council
Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street
Edinburgh
EH8 8BG
Contact
Nicole Sherry
nicole.sherry@edinburgh.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00290
one.1) Name and addresses
Midlothian Council
Midlothian House, Buccleuch Street
Dalkeith
EH22 1DN
Telephone
+44 1312707500
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM73 - East Lothian and Midlothian
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00336
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract involves joint procurement
In the case of joint procurement involving different countries, state applicable national procurement law
Midlothian Council will be able to call-off from this Framework Agreement.
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
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
Funeral Director Services
Reference number
CT1087
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 98370000 - Funeral and related services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The City of Edinburgh Council intends to establish a single Lot Framework Agreement for the provision of Funeral Services under the terms of Section 87 of the Burial and Cremation Act (Scotland) 2016. This will include the provision of funeral services, transport and storage of the deceased.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £250,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 98370000 - Funeral and related services
- 98371000 - Funeral services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Main site or place of performance
Edinburgh - Mortonhall Crematorium and Craigmillar Castle Park Cemetery. Please refer to tender documentation for further information.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The City of Edinburgh Council intend to establish a single Lot Framework Agreement for the provision of Funeral Services under the terms of Section 87 of the Burial and Cremation Act (Scotland) 2016. This will include provision of funeral services, transport and storage of the deceased. In terms of Section 87 of the Burial and Cremation Act (Scotland) 2016, the Council has a duty to make funeral arrangements for any person who dies or is found dead within the Local Authority area where no other Local Authority is liable to make those arrangements and where no other person has come forward to make a suitable funeral arrangement for the deceased.
This Framework Agreement will be primarily used by the City of Edinburgh Council, but Midlothian Council may also use this Framework Agreement.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The Framework Agreement will be let for an initial period of two years with the option to extend for up to a further two 12-month periods, undertaken at the sole discretion of the Council.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
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 three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
It is a mandatory requirement that the successful Provider is registered under the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) or The National Society of Allied & Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) and must follow the applicable Code of Conduct. Tenderers that do not meet these essential requirements, will be excluded from the tender process.
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
This section refers to Section B of Part IV of the SPD (Scotland
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
Part IV: Selection criteria - B: Economic and financial standing – Question 4B.1 - Tenderers are required to have a minimum “general” annual turnover of GBP 125,000 for the last two financial years. Where a Tenderer does not have an annual turnover of this value, the Council may exclude the Tenderer from the competition or may apply discretion seeking supporting evidence to determine the Tenderer’s suitability to proceed in the competition.
Part IV: Selection criteria - B: Economic and financial standing – Question 4B.4 - Tenderers will be required provide the following information in response to 4B.4:
- Current ratio for Current Year: at least 1.10
- Current ratio for Prior Year: at least 1.10
The formula for calculating a Tenderer’s current ratio is current assets divided by current liabilities. The acceptable range for each financial ratio is greater than 1.10. Where a Tenderer’s current ratio is less than the acceptable value, the Council may exclude the Tenderer from the competition or may apply discretion seeking supporting evidence to determine the Tenderer’s suitability to proceed in the competition.
Part IV: Selection criteria - B: Economic and financial standing – Question 4B.5b & c - Tenderers are required to hold, or commit to obtaining prior to the commencement of any subsequently awarded contract, the types and levels of insurance indicated below:
a. Employers (Compulsory) Liability Insurance - GBP 5 million
b. Public and Product Liability Insurance - GBP 10 million
c. Professional Indemnity - GBP 5 million
d. Motor Vehicle Insurance on a fully comprehensive basis with an appropriate limit of indemnity as deemed by the Contractor
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement tender documents and SPD.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
Part IV: Selection Criteria – A: Service Contracts - Question 4A.2
It is a mandatory requirement that Providers are registered to The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) OR The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) and that they follow the applicable Code of Conduct. Tenderers are required to confirm that they meet this mandatory requirement and provide evidence of such (e.g. registration certificate etc.) by way of attachment. Where a Tenderer does not demonstrate compliance to the Council’s satisfaction, the Council may exclude the Tenderer from the competition.
Part IV: Selection criteria - C: Technical and Professional Ability – Question 4C.4 - Inclusion of prompt payment clause - Tenderers are required to confirm that they will include the standard clause in all contracts used in the delivery of the framework agreement, ensuring payment of sub-contractors at all stages of the supply chain within 30 days and include a point of contact for sub-contractors to refer to in the case of payment difficulties. Where a Tenderer does not commit to the inclusion of a prompt payment clause, the Council may exclude the Tenderer from the competition.
Part IV: Selection criteria - D: Technical and Professional Ability – Question 4C.4 - Payment of the Real Living Wage - Tenderers are required to confirm that they will pay any staff that are directly involved in the delivery of the framework agreement (including any agency or sub-contractor staff), at least the Real Living Wage. Where a Tenderer does not commit to pay any staff that at least the Real Living Wage, the Council may exclude the Tenderer from the competition.
Part IV: Selection Criteria – C: Technical and Professional Ability – Question 4C.7 – Response to climate change emergency - Tenderers are required to provide evidence that their organisation is taking steps to build their awareness of the climate change emergency and provide details of how they have/will respond (to the climate change emergency). Tenderers must complete the Climate Change Plan Template, to supply information about their organisation’s carbon emissions sources and the steps that their organisation plans to take to reduce your carbon emissions, including any ongoing or completed plans. Responses do not need to include carbon emissions calculations. Where a Tenderer fails to demonstrate that it is taking steps to build awareness of the climate change emergency and reduce emissions, to the Council’s satisfaction, the Council may exclude the Tenderer from the competition.
Part IV: Selection criteria - D: Quality Assurance - Question 4D.1 - Health & Safety Policy - Tendering Organisations with more than 5 employees are required to have in place a Health & Safety Policy which is approved at a senior level within the Organisation and is reviewed regularly. To demonstrate compliance Tenderers must attach their Health & Safety Policy. Where a Tenderer does not have a Health & Safety Policy and is required to do so, the Council may exclude the Tenderer from the competition.
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
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.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with a single operator
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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
5 April 2024
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
5 April 2024
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: It is envisaged that this Contract opportunity will be advertised in the final quarter of 2025 if the extension options are not undertaken, otherwise, in the final quarter of 2026 or the final quarter of 2027.
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
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 25372. 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:
Please see document entitled 'CT1087 Community Benefits Guidance' for further information.
(SC Ref:754269)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Sherriff Court
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
Country
United Kingdom