Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
VisitBritain/VisitEngland
3 Grosvenor Gardens, Victoria
London
SW1W 0BD
Contact
Procurement Team
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI3 - Inner London – West
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other type
Tourism Board
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Tourism
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
BTA1655 - Digital Accessibility Guides & Supporting Services
Reference number
BTA1655
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 75125000 - Administrative services related to tourism affairs
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
VisitBritain/VisitEngland are publishing this notice as a VEAT (Voluntary Ex ante Transparency Notice) with a view to directly awarding a contract to Disabled Enabled Limited t/a AccessAble for the provision of a new Accessibility Guides self-survey tool.
It is proposed that this Accessibility Guides self-survey tool will be used for smaller and less complex tourism businesses in England, on an existing digital platform, with supporting services and access to an established on-site surveyor-assessment service for larger and more complex businesses.
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: £175,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 48100000 - Industry specific software package
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKI3 - Inner London – West
Main site or place of performance
London
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
VisitBritain/VisitEngland are publishing this notice as a VEAT (Voluntary Ex ante Transparency Notice) with a view to awarding a contract to Disabled Enabled Limited t/a AccessAble for the provision of a new Accessibility Guides self-survey tool.
51% of adults in England who identify as disabled did not take a holiday in England in the last 12 months, compared to 40% of non-disabled people (Participation Survey 2021/22). Provision of accessibility information is a key barrier to disabled people participating in tourism:
• 92% of disabled people look for accessibility information before visiting somewhere new and
• 56% avoid visiting a venue if it has not shared its accessibility information, assuming it is inaccessible (Euan’s Guide Survey 2021).
In response to this, VisitEngland (VE) created a standard approach for tourism venues to provide this information – Accessibility Guides (formerly Access Statements). An Accessibility Guide is a customer-facing marketing document that details the accessibility of a venue so that people with accessibility requirements can make an informed decision as to whether it will meet their individual requirements.
VE has made available a template tool for tourism operators to use to produce their Accessibility Guides since 2007. Research by VE in 2022 provides strong evidence that the disabled consumer supports the provision of Accessibility Guides and as a result will further develop the Accessibility Guides initiative.
The current tool, provided in-house (and in-partnership with VisitScotland (VS)), is approaching end of life. Therefore, VE proposes to award a contract to AccessAble (an established, dedicated external body) to extend their existing access information provision offer, by developing a new tool on their existing platform (and provide supporting services) that would allow smaller and less complex tourism businesses to create and publish their own Guide for free.
The contracting authority specifically requires the established AccessAble brand and platform as it is uniquely placed to bring the credibility, visibility and consistency needed by the consumer, reducing duplication by providing a whole-of-industry solution nationwide.
VE may also grant licences to other National Tourist Boards (NTBs). The consistency of approach across nations brought about by such licence arrangements would be of great benefit to not only travellers with accessibility requirements but also visitor economy businesses that have venues located in the different nations of Britain.
This approach would form a key action in support of the Government’s ambition to make the UK the most accessible tourism destination in Europe by 2025, by delivering a step change in how the industry tackles a key barrier to disabled people participating in tourism.
The maximum value of the proposed contract to AccessAble by the contracting authority shall not exceed £175,000 ex VAT. The proposed contract is intended for a three year period, with the option to extend for 2 further periods of 12 months each.
If any supplier has concerns with the award intentions outlined within this VEAT Notice, please raise this via: procurement@visitbritain.org in the first instance within 10 days of the date of this Notice.
The closing date of this VEAT is midday on 3rd April 2023.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
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 four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
The procurement falls outside the scope of the applicable regulations.
The contracting authority has undertaken market analysis of suppliers and has concluded that AccessAble are the only established supplier providing:
• a nationwide on-site surveyor-assessment service for the production of Accessibility Guides – a key requirement of this project to ensure a whole-of-
industry solution that delivers quality information to the consumer
• distribution channels that deliver strong consumer presence for businesses and
• a well-established brand that brings the credibility, visibility and consistency needed by the consumer
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
24 March 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Disabled Enabled Limited t/a AccessAble
AccessAble 18-20 High Street Stevenage Hertfordshire SG1 3EJ
Hitchin
SG4 0TW
Telephone
+44 1438842710
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
National registration number
03989521
Internet address
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £175,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Royal Court of Justice, The Strand
The High Court, Royal Court of Justice, The Strand, London, WC2A 2LL
London
WC2A 2LL
generaloffice@administrativecourtoffice.justice.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
VisitBritain/VisitEngland
3 Grosvenor Gardens, Victoria
London
SW1W 0BD
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
Any applications to the High Court, in accordance with section VI.4.1 must be made in accordance with Part 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
VisitBritain/VisitEngland
3 Grosvenor Gardens, Victoria
London
SW1W 0BD
Country
United Kingdom