Section one: Contracting entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Firmus Energy (Distribution) Limited
A4-A5 Fergusons Way Kilbegs Road
ANTRIM
BT414LZ
procurement@firmusenergy.co.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKN0D - Antrim and Newtownabbey
Companies House
05375370
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://www.firmusenergy.co.uk/enquiry-control-and-utility-asset-management-system
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
one.6) Main activity
Production, transport and distribution of gas and heat
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Enquiry Control and Utility Asset Management System
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
firmus energy is tendering for the provision of an Enquiry Control and Utility Asset Management System. firmus energy is looking for bidders with the experience, skill and technical ability to provide a reliable Enquiry Control and Utility Asset Management System to assist in every day operations of connecting new customers and managing and maintaining the gas network and associated assets.
Estimated total contract value (based on the entire potential contract duration, including any extensions) is anticipated to be between £300,000 and £500,000.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £500,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
- 72212000 - Programming services of application software
- 72223000 - Information technology requirements review services
- 72224000 - Project management consultancy services
- 72225000 - System quality assurance assessment and review services
- 72227000 - Software integration consultancy services
- 72232000 - Development of transaction processing and custom software
- 72241000 - Critical design target specification services
- 72242000 - Design-modelling services
- 72243000 - Programming services
- 72245000 - Contract systems analysis and programming services
- 72246000 - Systems consultancy services
- 72251000 - Disaster recovery services
- 72253000 - Helpdesk and support services
- 72254000 - Software testing
- 72261000 - Software support services
- 72262000 - Software development services
- 72263000 - Software implementation services
- 72265000 - Software configuration services
- 72266000 - Software consultancy services
- 72267000 - Software maintenance and repair services
- 72268000 - Software supply services
- 72320000 - Database services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKN0D - Antrim and Newtownabbey
Main site or place of performance
Antrim, Co Antrim, N. Ireland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
firmus energy wants to procure a contract for the provision of an Enquiry Control and Utility Asset Management System to assist in every day operations of connecting new customers and managing and maintaining the gas network and associated assets.
firmus energy wants to work with a supplier who can successfully deliver a cloud hosted and futureproofed Enquiry Control and Utility Asset Management System for a gas distribution business, which will provide increased staff productivity, improved business intelligence and increased return on investment.
The project will be managed using appropriate project management methodologies to ensure on time and on budget delivery. The end product will be designed through interactive requirements gathering and design workshops, agreed with firmus energy and will be implemented by the supplier to meet the agreed configuration, specifications, designs and quality assurance.
The supplier will lead firmus energy through the transition to the new system and continue to support, maintain and develop the product through the lifetime of the contract.
At the end of the procurement process, firmus energy want to purchase a system that enables firmus energy to reduce opex costs, increase staff productivity, is future proof and is easily configurable.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
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
60
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
It is anticipated that any contract awarded will be entered into for a three (3) year period. The total duration indicated above reflects the potential for 2x1 year contract extensions.
two.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Envisaged number of candidates: 4
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates:
As set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
It is anticipated that any contract awarded will be entered into for a three (3) year period. The total duration indicated above reflects the potential for 2x1 year contract extensions.
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
As stated in the procurement documents.
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.4) Objective rules and criteria for participation
List and brief description of rules and criteria
As stated in the procurement documents
three.1.6) Deposits and guarantees required
firmus energy reserves the right to require bonds, deposits, guarantees or other forms of undertaking or security to ensure proper contractual performance.
three.1.7) Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them
As set out in the procurement and contract documents
three.1.8) Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded
Subject to the status and involvement of the parties, firmus energy may require the parties to commit to joint and several liabilty in respect of the contract. Alternatively firmus energy may require the lead operator to take total responsibility or a consortium to form a legal entity before entering into any framework agreement.
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
As set out in the contract
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
four.1.4) Information about reduction of the number of solutions or tenders during negotiation or dialogue
Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated
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
18 April 2024
Local time
5:00pm
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)
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.3) Additional information
This contract is being procured competitively in accordance with the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 (as amended). The procedure to be followed for this procurement is the negotiated procedure. Bidders who wish to participate in this procurement will be required to provide their contact details to procurement@firmusenergy.co.uk upon downloading the procurement documents. Bidders who fail to provide their details or register in this manner will not receive any clarifications or updated information provided by firmus energy during the procurement process.
The costs of responding to this notice and participation in the process will be borne by each bidder. All discussions and correspondence will be deemed strictly subject to contract until a formal contract is entered into. The formal contract shall not be binding until it has been signed and dated by the duly authorised representatives of the relevant parties.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland
Royal Courts of Justice, Chichester Street
Belfast
BT1 3JF
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
firmus energy will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to all bidders. The standstill period provides time for review of the award decision by unsuccessful bidders before the contract is entered into.