Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
APUC Limited
Unit 27, Stirling Business Centre, Wellgreen
Stirling
FK8 2DZ
Contact
David Benstead
Telephone
+44 1314428930
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM - Scotland
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10402
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
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
Other type
Education
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
The Provision of Legal Services
Reference number
PFB 1039 AP
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79100000 - Legal services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Authority are seeking Contractor(s) for the provision of specialist Legal Services for the further and higher education sector in Scotland.
The Authority are seeking to obtain, through this tendering process, price normalisation for all institutions regardless of size and demand.
A maximum of seven Contractors will be appointed to the framework contract.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £3,400,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79100000 - Legal services
- 79110000 - Legal advisory and representation services
- 79111000 - Legal advisory services
- 79112000 - Legal representation services
- 79140000 - Legal advisory and information services
- 79130000 - Legal documentation and certification services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The scope of this agreement is the provision of legal services to the further and higher education sector in Scotland including all of the following specialisms
*Commercial-Business incorporating but not limited to the following:
Procurement & other contract law
Debt collection
Commercial corporate governance
Joint ventures
Banking, finance, insurance and taxation
Company formation
Corporate finance
Bond Issuance, mergers and acquisitions
Academic research (including grants) & research originated knowledge transfer
Competition law
Freedom of Information
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
Intellectual Property
Technology Law including Software Licensing Agreements
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Software Licensing Agreements
*Property & Estates incorporating but not limited to the following:
Conveyancing
Landlord and tenant law
General estate management issues
Planning law
Major building projects
Student accommodation
Construction and Engineering
Environmental law
Property litigation and dispute resolution
*People / HR Matters incorporating but not limited to the following:
Employment dispute resolution including tribunals
Employment relations
Employment contracts and policies
UK Visas & Immigration matters
Equality and diversity
Organisational change
Health and safety
TUPE
Pension law and advice
Student support and regulatory matters
Data protection
Freedom of Information
Fair Working Practices
*Charity incorporating but not limited to the following:
Charity law
Fundraising and sponsorship
Constitutional and parliamentary issues (including bulls, charters and statutes)
*Charity corporate governance
International incorporating but not limited to the following:
Public International Law
Law of the Sea
International Criminal Law
International ventures
International Humanitarian Law
International Human Rights Law
Refugee Law
Private International Law
Supranational Law
Institutions shall be entitled to appoint a single firm to advise and/or represent on all matters of law, which may include some or all of the specialist areas in technical expertise described above. This may involve the provision of a full legal advice service to an Institution or may involve working in partnership with an in-house legal resource, providing supplementary legal resource or expertise from time to time as caseload requires across more than one of the specialisms.
Contractors must be able to provide a service which encompasses all of the above specialisms as a minimum.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 70
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
24
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a period of up to 24 months in multiple extensions subject to satisfactory performance and continued Institutions' requirements
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: Yes
Identification of the project
Individual call-off contracts under this Framework Agreement may be financed by European Union Funds.
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 in 2015
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
Providers must be accredited by the professional body relevant to the delivery of these services (Law Society of Scotland)
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
Please refer to Question 4B.5 of the SPD and Economic and Financial Standing section of the Contract Notice. Tenderers must confirm that they can provide the following supporting evidence prior to award:
Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = 5 Million GBP
Public Liability Insurance = 5 Million GBP
Professional Liability Insurance = 2 Million GBP
To demonstrate and evidence suitable economic standing, successful Contractors will be required to provide 2 years audited accounts, or equivalent if awarded to the Framework Agreement.
Alternatively, if the Contractor is unable to provide the required accounting information, e.g. due to being a new business, then they will be required to provide a banker's letter demonstrating their willingness to the support the Contractor's organisation over the term of the framework agreement.
Please refer to 4B.6 of the SPD.
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
Not Applicable
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.1) Information about a particular profession
Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession
Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision
Bidders must be a member of the Law Society of Scotland
Please see SPD Question 4A.1a
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 several operators
Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 7
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
Originally published as:
Date
2 August 2021
Local time
12:00pm
Changed to:
Date
6 August 2021
Local time
12:00pm
See the change notice.
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
2 August 2021
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: 48 months
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
Suppliers should confirm they will be in a position to complete (at point of award) the following:
Appendix A Form of Tender
Appendix B Freedom of Information
Appendix D APUC Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct
Appendix G GDPR Assessment
Appendix H Sustain Tool Section 1
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 18627. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
The Contracting Authority does not intend to include a sub-contract clause as part of community benefits (as per Section 25 of the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014) in this contract for the following reason:
Sub-Contracting is not a significant part of the overall anticipated contract spend.
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:
The Contractor will work with the Authority to deliver Community Benefits or social value where they are identifiable throughout the term of the Framework Agreement. Examples of Community Benefits or social value are providing training opportunities to staff and students, apprenticeships and investment in the local community.
(SC Ref:653326)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Sheriff Court House
Viewfield Place
Stirling
FK8 1NH
Country
United Kingdom