Opportunity

Ecological Surveys for Forestry and Land Scotland

  • Forestry and Land Scotland

F02: Contract notice

Notice reference: 2021/S 000-009400

Published 30 April 2021, 11:54am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Forestry and Land Scotland

1 Highlander Way, Inverness Retail Park

Inverness

IV2 7GB

Email

Procurement@forestryandland.gov.scot

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKM - Scotland

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://forestryandland.gov.scot/

Buyer's address

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA30371

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

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Environment


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Ecological Surveys for Forestry and Land Scotland

Reference number

C0202

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 79311000 - Survey services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has a requirement to procure a number of ecological surveys as part of the process of managing the national forest estate. Surveys requirements are varied, with multiple survey types being required and survey provision to be carried over a wide range of locations throughout Scotland. The delivery of survey services are often in peak times during the Spring and Summer season however some are required year round.

The survey requirements were previously met by numerous suppliers through the following contractual relationships;

Framework Reference: FESH01- Open Habitat Surveys

Framework Reference: FW0015- Ecological Support on Forest Estate

Framework Reference: FW0016- Dothistroma Needle Blight and Tree health Surveys

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £1,505,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

Tenders may be submitted for maximum number of lots
6

Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: 6

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Central Region- Preoperational, Terrestrial species and habitats, ASNW, PAWS, HIA, Vascular Plants, Monitoring and Surveying of Non-wooded Priority Habitats, New acquisition surveys

Lot No

3

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 77300000 - Horticultural services
  • 79311000 - Survey services
  • 77000000 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services
  • 71355000 - Surveying services
  • 79311200 - Survey conduction services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM - Scotland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This lot is for the Central Region of FLS and includes monitoring and surveying of peatland, monitoring and surveying of new acquisition land, monitoring and surveying of non- wooded UK priority habitats, preoperational surveys, vascular plant surveys, terrestrial surveys, monitoring and surveying of Ancient Semi Natural Woodland (ASNW), monitoring and surveying of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites(PAWS), and Herbivore Impact Assessments (HIA).

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 60

Price - Weighting: 40

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £245,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

36

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

With the option to extend for two further 12 month periods

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

two.2.14) Additional information

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.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

East Region- Preoperational, Terrestrial species and habitats, ASNW, PAWS, HIA, Vascular Plants, Monitoring and Surveying of Non-wooded Priority Habitats, New acquisition surveys

Lot No

2

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 77300000 - Horticultural services
  • 79311000 - Survey services
  • 77000000 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services
  • 71355000 - Surveying services
  • 79311200 - Survey conduction services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM7 - Eastern Scotland
  • UKM50 - Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This lot is for the East Region of FLS and includes monitoring and surveying of peatland, monitoring and surveying of new acquisition land, monitoring and surveying of non- wooded UK priority habitats, preoperational surveys, vascular plant surveys, terrestrial surveys, monitoring and surveying of Ancient Semi Natural Woodland (ASNW), monitoring and surveying of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites(PAWS), and Herbivore Impact Assessments (HIA).

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 60

Price - Weighting: 40

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £185,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

36

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

With the option to extend for two further 12 month periods

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

two.2.14) Additional information

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.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

West Region- Preoperational, Terrestrial species and habitats, ASNW, PAWS, HIA, Vascular Plants, Monitoring and Surveying of Non-wooded Priority Habitats, New acquisition surveys

Lot No

4

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 77300000 - Horticultural services
  • 79311000 - Survey services
  • 77000000 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services
  • 71355000 - Surveying services
  • 79311200 - Survey conduction services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM63 - Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Arran & Cumbrae and Argyll & Bute

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This lot is for the West Region of FLS and includes monitoring and surveying of peatland, monitoring and surveying of new acquisition land, monitoring and surveying of non- wooded UK priority habitats, preoperational surveys, vascular plant surveys, terrestrial surveys, monitoring and surveying of Ancient Semi Natural Woodland (ASNW), monitoring and surveying of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites(PAWS), and Herbivore Impact Assessments (HIA).

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 60

Price - Weighting: 40

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £265,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

36

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

With the option to extend for two further 12 month periods

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

two.2.14) Additional information

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.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

South Region- Preoperational, Terrestrial species and habitats, ASNW, PAWS, HIA, Vascular Plants, Monitoring and Surveying of Non-wooded Priority Habitats, New acquisition surveys

Lot No

5

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 77300000 - Horticultural services
  • 79311000 - Survey services
  • 77000000 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services
  • 71355000 - Surveying services
  • 79311200 - Survey conduction services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM9 - Southern Scotland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This lot is for the South Region of FLS and includes monitoring and surveying of peatland, monitoring and surveying of new acquisition land, monitoring and surveying of non- wooded UK priority habitats, preoperational surveys, vascular plant surveys, terrestrial surveys, monitoring and surveying of Ancient Semi Natural Woodland (ASNW), monitoring and surveying of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites(PAWS), and Herbivore Impact Assessments (HIA).

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 60

Price - Weighting: 40

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £265,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

36

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

With the option to extend for two further 12 month periods

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

two.2.14) Additional information

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.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

North Region- Tree Health Surveys

Lot No

6

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 77300000 - Horticultural services
  • 79311000 - Survey services
  • 77000000 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services
  • 71355000 - Surveying services
  • 79311200 - Survey conduction services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM6 - Highlands and Islands

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Tree Health, including Dothistroma Needle Blight (DNB), Surveys for the North Region of FLS

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 50

Price - Weighting: 50

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £100,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

36

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

With the option to extend for two further 12 month periods

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

two.2.14) Additional information

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.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

East Region- Tree Health Surveys

Lot No

7

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 77300000 - Horticultural services
  • 79311000 - Survey services
  • 77000000 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services
  • 71355000 - Surveying services
  • 79311200 - Survey conduction services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM7 - Eastern Scotland
  • UKM5 - North Eastern Scotland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Tree Health, including Dothistroma Needle Blight (DNB), Surveys for the East Region of FLS

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 50

Price - Weighting: 50

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £80,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

36

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

With the option to extend for two further 12 month periods

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

two.2.14) Additional information

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.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Central Region- Tree Health Surveys

Lot No

8

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 77300000 - Horticultural services
  • 79311000 - Survey services
  • 77000000 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services
  • 71355000 - Surveying services
  • 79311200 - Survey conduction services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM - Scotland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Tree Health, including Dothistroma Needle Blight (DNB), Surveys for the Central Region of FLS

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 50

Price - Weighting: 50

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £50,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

36

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

With the option to extend for two further 12 month periods

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

two.2.14) Additional information

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.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

South- Tree Health Surveys

Lot No

10

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 77300000 - Horticultural services
  • 79311000 - Survey services
  • 77000000 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services
  • 71355000 - Surveying services
  • 79311200 - Survey conduction services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM9 - Southern Scotland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Tree Health, including Dothistroma Needle Blight (DNB), Surveys for the South Region of FLS

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 50

Price - Weighting: 50

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £25,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

36

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

With the option to extend for two further 12 month periods

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

two.2.14) Additional information

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.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

West Region- Tree Health Surveys

Lot No

9

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 77300000 - Horticultural services
  • 79311000 - Survey services
  • 77000000 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services
  • 71355000 - Surveying services
  • 79311200 - Survey conduction services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM63 - Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Arran & Cumbrae and Argyll & Bute

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Tree Health, including Dothistroma Needle Blight (DNB), Surveys for the West Region of FLS

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 50

Price - Weighting: 50

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £50,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

36

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

With the option to extend for two further 12 month periods

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

two.2.14) Additional information

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.

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

North Region- Preoperational, Terrestrial species and habitats, ASNW, PAWS, HIA, Vascular Plants, Monitoring and Surveying of Non-wooded Priority Habitats, New acquisition surveys

Lot No

1

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 77300000 - Horticultural services
  • 79311000 - Survey services
  • 77000000 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services
  • 71355000 - Surveying services
  • 79311200 - Survey conduction services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM - Scotland
  • UKM6 - Highlands and Islands

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This lot is for the North Region of FLS and includes monitoring and surveying of peatland, monitoring and surveying of new acquisition land, monitoring and surveying of non- wooded UK priority habitats, preoperational surveys, vascular plant surveys, terrestrial surveys, monitoring and surveying of Ancient Semi Natural Woodland (ASNW), monitoring and surveying of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites(PAWS), and Herbivore Impact Assessments (HIA).

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 60

Price - Weighting: 40

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £240,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

36

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

With the option to extend for two further 12 month periods

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

two.2.14) Additional information

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.


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

4B.5.1a The bidder confirms they already have or can commit to obtain, prior to the commencement of the contract, the levels of insurance cover indicated in the relevant Contract Notice (Employer’s (Compulsory) Liability Insurance)

4B.5.1b The bidder confirms they already have or can commit to obtain, prior to the commencement of the contract, the levels of insurance cover indicated in the relevant Contract Notice (For other insurances)

Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required

Employers Liability Min GBP 5m per claim (This is a legal requirement. There are a small number of exceptions. Please refer to HSE Guidance HSE 40 Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance Act 1969)

Public Liability Min GBP 5m per claim

Professional Indemnity Insurance Min GBP 1m per claim

three.1.3) Technical and professional ability

List and brief description of selection criteria

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents

SPD 4C.6 Bidders will be required to confirm that they and/or the service provider have the relevant education and professional qualifications set out in the minimum level(s) of standards below.

SPD 4C.10 Bidders will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract and, if so, for what proportion of the Contract. A separate SPD will require to be submitted for each subcontractor that you intend to use, prior to that subcontractor commencing any work under the Contract.

SPD 4D.1 Health and Safety Procedures

Due to the character limits in the notice the standard statements for the SPD selection Criteria (PCST Qualification Envelope) are available in the document called - C0202 SPD Standard Statements - in the Bidders Attachments area of PCST.

Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required

SPD 4C.6

It is a requirement that the Bidders hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of the Contract the following relevant educational and professional qualifications:

Confirm that;

all Lone workers must be trained to a minimum of Emergency First Aid at Work (+F).

All staff and those of any sub-Contractors appointed by the supplier must hold a valid First Aid at work or Emergency First Aid at Work (+F) certificate

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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2020/S 024-055293

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date

9 June 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: 4 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

9 June 2021

Local time

12:30pm


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: Yes

Estimated timing for further notices to be published: Approximately 6 months before the expiry (including extensions) of the contracts awarded against this tender

six.3) Additional information

Section II.1.6) of this notice states that tenders may be submitted for 6 lots and one bidder awarded up to 6 lots. This also includes a restriction that one bidder can bid for and be awarded a maximum of 3 lots within lots 1-5 and maximum of 3 lots within lots 6-10 (6 lots total).

SPD evaluation will be scored as pass/fail. Technical Criteria and Weightings are included in the Evaluation and Award Criteria Document within PCS-T.

Where the bidder relies on the capacities of other entities in order to meet the selection criteria they must provide a separate SPD for each entity. Please read the instructions on the SPD section 2C.1 for full details.

If the bidder intends to subcontract any share of the contract, then the bidder will be required to submit a separate SPD (Part II A&B, and Part III A&B only) for each subcontractor.

FLS reserves the right to modify the Contract within the scope permitted under Regulation 72(1) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Operational reasons for modification may include, but are not limited to:

- Changes to operational programmes which may increase or decrease survey requirements, including but not limited to: timber sales, natural hazards and events outside human control, including weather events and natural disasters, and land acquisitions or sales by the Purchaser;

- Changes to in-house capacity resulting in the need to outsource additional survey work;

- Changes in the distribution or abundance of species of interest, or the reintroduction of species;

- Changes in the legal status of species of interest;

- Changes to regional land management plans in terms of the proportion of sensitive sites;

- A drive from the Scottish Government or a change in government policy/ priorities to reduce or increase the surveying of specific issue;

- Impact of pandemic or any other event or occurrence which is outside the reasonable control of the Purchaser ;

- Change to guidelines and industry standards;

- Unforeseen changes to budgets that may increase or decrease the availability of budgets for surveys;

- The introduction, identification, or increased prevalence of a tree pests or diseases;

- Tree disease levels being at volume where surveying is deemed to no longer be appropriate by the Purchaser;

- Establishment of new survey methods;

The Purchaser reserves the right to award a contract following a Negotiated Procedure without Prior Publication under Regulation 33 (8) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 for additional services for reasons including:

-Impact of actions taken in response to the Climate Emergency;

-The discovery of an invasive non-native species;

-A drive and/or additional funding from the Government or a change to the Government policy or priorities which may increase surveying of specific issues;

-A new requirement for the Purchaser to support other organisations through carrying out priority habitat surveys on their land.

The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 18484. 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:

Lots 1-5 Only

The Service Provider(s) will be required to provide Community Benefit(s) as part of a Contract for Lots 1-5. Examples of Community Benefits are included in the Evaluation and Award Criteria Document in the attachment area of PCS-T.

Lots 6-10 do not require the Bidders to propose Community Benefits. This was deemed not to be proportionate due to the value of these lots.

(SC Ref:651622)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

The Inverness Justice Centre

Longman Road

Inverness

IV1 1AH

Email

inverness@scotcourts.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 1463230782

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures

An economic operator that suffers, or is at risk of suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 , may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session.

six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained

Court of Session

Parliament House

Edinburgh

EH1 1RQ

Email

supreme.courts@scotcourts.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 1312252595

Country

United Kingdom