Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
South Lanarkshire Council
Council Headquarters, Almada Street
Hamilton
ML3 0AA
Contact
Peter Cannon
peter.cannon@southlanarkshire.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 1698454184
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM95 - South Lanarkshire
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00410
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
www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
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
Scientific Testing Services (including chemical analytical, bacteriological examination)
Reference number
SLC/PS/COMENT/20/087
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 90714500 - Environmental quality control services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
South Lanarkshire Council has a requirement for a suitably qualified contractor for the provision of a comprehensive Chemical Analytical and Bacteriological Examination service throughout South Lanarkshire. This contract is being led by the Council’s Environmental Services Section.
Environmental Services carry out both proactive and reactive scientific analysis and bacteriological examination of a wide range of food, drinking water and certain environmental samples on behalf of the Council.
The service covers a range of tests including Air Pollution, Microbiology, Contaminated Land, Consumer Protection, Food Chemical and Water Quality & Safety.
These services are priced on a test-by-test basis
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £350,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 90700000 - Environmental services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM95 - South Lanarkshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
South Lanarkshire Council has a requirement for a suitably qualified contractor for the provision of a comprehensive Chemical Analytical and Bacteriological Examination service throughout South Lanarkshire. This contract is being led by the Council’s Environmental Services Section.
Environmental Services carry out both proactive and reactive scientific analysis and bacteriological examination of a wide range of food, drinking water and certain environmental samples on behalf of the Council.
The service covers a range of tests including Air Pollution, Microbiology, Contaminated Land, Consumer Protection, Food
Chemical and Water Quality & Safety. These services are priced on a test-by-test basis.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 20
Price - Weighting: 80
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £350,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
60
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The contract is for a period of 4 years with the option to extend for a further period of 12 months.
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
There are a number of questions/statements that have been included in the Contract Notice and within the Qualification Envelope which detail the minimum requirements that Bidders must be able to evidence for participation in this tender and ultimately will be required to evidence prior to any award being made. There are in addition further statements made that simply provide relevant information relating to the tender itself.
These questions and statements form an integral part of the Single Procurement Document (the SPD) which the Council has decided to implement for all tenders in excess of 50K in value.
SPD Question 2.C.1 Reliance on the capacities of other entities
Bidders are required to complete a full SPD for each of the entities whose capacity they rely upon
SPD Question 2.D.1 Subcontractors on whose capacity the bidder does not rely
Bidders are required to complete a shortened version of the SPD for each Subcontractor on whose capacity the bidder does not rely on
Exclusion Criteria
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
SPD Questions 3A – 3C have been identified as mandatory exclusion grounds and SPD Questions 3D have been identified as discretionary exclusion grounds. All the exclusion grounds will be assessed on a PASS/FAIL basis. For the mandatory exclusion grounds a bid will be excluded where the bidder fails to provide either a positive response or to provide details to the satisfaction of the Council of the self cleansing measures undertaken. .For the discretionary exclusion grounds a bid may be excluded where the bidder fails to provide either a positive response or if the Council is not satisfied as to the self cleansing measures undertaken.
SPD Question 4A.1 Trade Registers
It is a requirement of this tender that if the bidder is UK based they must hold a valid registration with Companies House. Where the bidder is UK based but not registered at Companies House they must be able to verify to the Councils satisfaction that they are trading from the address provided in the tender and under the company name given.
If the bidder is based out-with the UK they must be enrolled in the relevant professional or trade register appropriate to their country as described in Schedule 5 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
SPD Question 4A.2 Authorisation/Membership
Where it is required, within a bidder’s country of establishment they must confirm which authorisation or memberships of the relevant organisation(s) are required in order to perform this service.
Bidders must confirm if they hold the particular authorisation or memberships.
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
SPD Question 4B.4 Economic and Financial Standing
The Council will use the following ratios to evaluate a bidders financial status:
Profitability – this is taken as profit after tax but before dividends and minority interests. If a company makes a profit then it is a pass for this ratio;
Liquidity – this is calculated as current assets less stock and work in progress, divided by current liabilities. If the answer is greater than or equal to one then it is a pass for this ratio
Gearing – this is calculated as the total external secured borrowing (short term and long term) divided by shareholder funds expressed as a percentage. If the answer is less than or equal to 100% it is considered a pass for this ratio.
Bidders must provide the name and value of each of the 3 ratios within their response to SPD question 4B.4.
The Council requires bidders to pass 2 out of the 3 financial ratios above.
Where 2 out of the 3 ratios cannot be met, the Council may take the undernoted into consideration when assessing financial viability and the risk to the Council, providing that the Bidder can supply evidence to substantiate any of the mitigating criteria when requested to do so. The following list is not exhaustive and other criteria may be considered where proposed by a bidder as mitigating factors:
Would the bidder have passed the checks if prior year accounts had been used?
Were any of the poor appraisal outcomes "marginal"?
Does the bidder operate in a market which, traditionally, requires lower liquidity or higher debt finance?
Does the bidder have sufficient reserves to sustain losses for a number of years?
Does the bidder have a healthy cashflow?
Is the bidder profitable enough to finance the interest on its debt?
Is most of the bidder's debt owed to group companies?
Is the bidder's debt due to be repaid over a number of years, and affordable?
Have the bidder's results been adversely affected by "one off costs" and / or "one off accounting treatments"?
Do the bidder's auditors (where applicable) consider it to be a "going concern"?
Will the bidder provide a Parent Company Guarantee?
Is the bidder the single supplier/source of the Goods/Works/Services in the marketplace?
The Council will request submission of and assess the bidders financial accounts, and may use financial verification systems to validate the information provided.
SPD Question 4B.5 Insurance
The bidder must confirm that they have or will commit to obtain prior to the commencement of the contract, the following levels of Insurance Cover:
Employer’s Liability Insurance covering the death of or bodily injuries to employees of the bidder arising out of and in the course of their employment in connection with this contract to the level of 10000000 GBP in respect of each claim, without limit to the number of claims.
Public Liability Insurance covering the death of or bodily injury to a person (not an employee of the bidder) or loss of or damage to property resulting from an action or failure to take action by the bidder to the level of 5000000 GBP in respect of each claim, without limit to the number of claims.
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
SPD Question 4C.1.2 Technical and Professional Ability
With reference to the nature and details of the supplies/services that are the subject matter of this tender, Bidders should provide at least 2 examples of your relevant experience within the last three years in undertaking services to the requirements of this contract, including achievements in delivering such contracts within the required timescales and budget. Information should be provided in respect of as many aspects of the contract as possible as specified in the Contract Notice and should cover experience in delivering the following services:
- Air Pollution Analysis
- Environmental Pollution Analysis
- Contaminated Land Analysis
- Consumer Protection Analysis
- Food Chemical Analysis
- Food Microbiology Analysis
- Radio Activity Analysis
- Water Quality and Safety Analysis
SPD Question 4C.5 Technical and Professional Ability
Bidders will be required to confirm that they will allow checks to be conducted on their production and technical capacities and where necessary on the means of study and research facilities available to it and on the quality control measures employed.
SPD Question 4C.6 Technical and Professional Ability (Qualifications)
It is a mandatory requirement of this tender that the bidder recommended for award holds a UKAS Accreditation for the full range of services required as detailed in the specification.
SPD Question 4C.6.1 Technical and Professional Ability (Qualifications)
It is a mandatory requirement of this tender that the bidder's staff recommended for award holds:
- a Mastership in Chemical Analysis qualification awarded by the Royal Society of Chemistry making them eligible for appointment as Public Analysts in terms of the Food Safety Regulations 1990.
- appropriate qualifications listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 of the Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) Regulations 1990, and at least 3 years experience in a laboratory.
- a Mastership in Chemical Analysis qualification awarded by the Royal Society of Chemistry and having practical experience attested by an agricultural analyst making them eligible for appointment as Agricultural Analysts in terms of Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis) Regulations 1999.
SPD Question 4C.7 Technical and Professional Ability (Environmental Management Measures)
Bidders should describe their organisation's arrangements for ensuring that their environmental management procedures are effective in reducing/preventing significant impacts on the environment. Guidance: Bidders should provide evidence that your organisation’s environmental policy implementation plan provides information as to how your organisation aims to discharge relevant legal responsibilities.
SPD Question 4C.9 Technical and Professional Ability (Equipment)
Please provide a statement of the relevant technical resources such as the tools, plant, facilities and technical equipment available to your organisation, or where applicable, consortium members and/or named sub-contractors in relation to this procurement exercise. Guidance: The buyer will use the information you provide to evaluate whether your organisation; consortium members and/or named sub-contractors have the relevant technical resources for this procurement exercise.
SPD Question 4C.10 Technical and Professional Ability (Sub-Contracting
Bidders will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract and, if so, for what proportion of the contract.
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.1.8) 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
13 May 2021
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: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
13 May 2021
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
Declarations and Certificates
In an open tendering procedure prior to any award being made the successful bidder will provide the undernoted certificates, declarations and/or completed questionnaires to evidence their compliance with the relevant questions within the Qualification Envelope.
All certificates, declarations and questionnaires can be found within the Attachment area of PCS-T.
SPD Question 2D.1 Prompt Payment Certificate
SPD Question 3D.3 Human Rights Act Declaration
Declaration Section *Form of Tender
SPD Question 3D.11 Non-Collusion Certificate
SPD Question 4B.5.1 Insurance Certificates
SPD Questions 3A.1 to 3A.8 Serious and Organised Crime Declaration
SPD Question 3A.6 Modern Slavery Act 2015 Declaration
*The ‘Form of Offer to Tender’ must be completed and uploaded within the relevant question in the Commercial Envelope.
In the case of an open tender, the other Declarations listed above will not be required to be uploaded and submitted with the bid, but will instead be requested by the Council following the conclusion of the evaluation of the Qualification, Technical and Commercial Envelopes and prior to the award of the tender.
Failure to provide this information or in the event that the information provided does not support or evidence the statements made within the SPD will invalidate the bid. In this scenario the Council will seek to obtain the relevant information and evidence from the second highest scoring bidder and so on until a fully compliant bidder is identified.
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 18225. 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: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2361
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
As detailed in the tender documents
(SC Ref:650238)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Hamilton Sheriff Court
Sheriff Court House, 4 Beckford Street,
Hamilton
ML3 0BT
hamiltoncivl@scotcourts.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 1698282957
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
Court of Session
Parliament House
Parliament Square
Edinburgh
EH1 1RQ
+44 1312252595