Tender

Waste Water Monitoring in Wales

  • Welsh Government

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2022/S 000-016859

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-034880

Published 20 June 2022, 4:24pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Welsh Government

Corporate Procurement Services, Cathays Park

Cardiff

CF10 3NQ

Email

CPSProcurementAdvice@gov.wales

Telephone

+44 3000257095

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKL - Wales

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://gov.wales/?lang=en

Buyer's address

https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0007

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://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml

Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at

https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Waste Water Monitoring in Wales

Reference number

C525/2021/2022

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 73110000 - Research services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The wastewater monitoring contract is required to support the Client’s wastewater monitoring programme and continue to develop intelligence and surveillance of wastewater, providing sample collection, transportation and analysis across 50 wastewater treatment works (WwTW) and other near-source locations for public health and environment protection in Wales.

The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated the global profile of Wastewater Based Epidemiology (WBE) as a capability to help monitor different indicators present in wastewater networks. Wastewater monitoring has been used to track the spread of COVID-19 across the UK and the methods and scientific capability has grown considerably over this time.

The Client is developing a case for wastewater monitoring in Wales as an indicator to enhance our public health surveillance systems and create a robust and timely flow of actionable data to support our response to the COVID-19 and other future public health emergencies. This capability could potentially be established earlier than with existing public health intelligence, surveillance and management of infectious disease outbreaks.

The wastewater programme aims to support the Client’s commitment of promoting a better understanding of human, animal and environmental health through the ‘One Health’ agenda.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £4,368,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 72300000 - Data services
  • 90700000 - Environmental services
  • 85148000 - Medical analysis services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKL - Wales

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Wastewater monitoring of COVID-19 and potential VOCs/VUIs supports the Welsh Government’s wellbeing objectives and goals in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, in particular:

-A prosperous Wales

-A resilient Wales,

-A healthier Wales, and

-A globally responsible Wales

The wastewater monitoring programme helps support Welsh Government in strengthening its capacity to respond to future public health emergencies and crises.

Wastewater based epidemiology (WBE) is a rapidly developing science, and the new technology developed and deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to support more sustainable services in Wales. The programme has the potential to shift the balance of our health and care system towards earlier detection and intervention, helping to prevent illness and to prolong independence.

The business need for wastewater has been enhanced since the reduction and withdrawal of mass community testing and lateral flow testing. Wastewater surveillance is used as part of a basket of indicators to assist in the management of COVID-19.

In addition to this, the programme has been developing the capability to detect other environmental, animal and human health indicators to assist with policy development and management of the clients responsibilities in this area. This work has included the monitoring of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and other communicable diseases like Influenza and Novovirus.

The programme helps Welsh Government maintain wastewater monitoring for COVID-19 at 50 sites across Wales as part of ‘Covid stable’ and ‘Covid urgent’ arrangements. The programme will also undertake regular surveillance of wastewater at up to 5 other sites in Wales, providing sample collection, transportation and analysis.

The aims of the contract are as follows:

-Maintain a network of up to 50 wastewater treatment works (WwTW) sampling locations in Wales, including the provision and installation of necessary equipment and samplers to ensure proper operation and maintenance.

-Provide a regular, frequent regime of sampling on at least 5 days a week at WwTW in Wales, including arrangements for effective access, sample collection, transportation and storage.

-Undertake appropriate analysis methods to determine levels of SARS-CoV-2 and other indicators which could include, ARGs (AMR), Enterovirus, Influenza, Novovirus, Polio in wastewater as required by the Client.

-Maintain and adopt best practice approaches for the analysis of wastewater samples from global wastewater testing initiatives or research.

-Undertake genomic sequencing of wastewater samples to assist in the identification of specific genetic indicators or variants.

-Maintain a library of historical wastewater samples (a biobank) that have been collected in the course of the current contract over the last 2 years as well as for this contract, in such a format that retrospective analysis and genome sequencing may be carried out at the request of the Client.

-Undertake surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 at four Welsh Prison sites, providing sample collection, transportation and analysis as required by the Client.

-Undertake surveillance of wastewater at up to 7 hospital sites in Wales, providing sample collection, transportation and analysis as required by the Client.

-Undertake surveillance of wastewater at up to 5 other sites in Wales, providing sample collection, transportation and analysis as required by the client.

-Have the capability to undertake urgent (sampling commenced within 72 hours) surveillance at up to 2 concurrent sites within sewer networks for short periods of time (up to 4 weeks) in response to the changing requirements of public health emergencies (surge capacity).

-Provide detailed insights and interpretation into the levels of monitored indicators in wastewater to help inform policy and decision making.

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: £4,368,000

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

Duration in months

6

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

The contract duration is 6 months with an option to extend by an additional 6 months available to the Client.

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

The maximum budget for the initial contract duration of 6 months is GBP 2184000, and the maximum budget for the additional 6 months extension is GBP 2184000 - the total maximum contract value in section II.2.6 is for the potential maximum contract term of 12 months.


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 per the information in the tender 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.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

as per the information in the tender documents

three.2.2) Contract performance conditions

as per the information in the tender documents

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

1 August 2022

Local time

2:00pm

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English, Welsh

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

1 August 2022

Local time

2:00pm


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: Yes

Estimated timing for further notices to be published: after 6 or 12 months

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

E-Tender Information:

https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk

- The first person from your Organisation to use the Platform will be required to register on behalf of the Organisation.

- Registration involves accepting a User Agreement, and providing basic information about your Organisation and about the User performing the Registration.

- The User who performs the Registration becomes the Super User for the Organisation.

- On registering on the Platform the Super User will select a Username and will receive a password.

- The Password will be sent by e-mail to the email address that was specified in the User Details section of the Registration page.

- In order to log-in to the Platform please enter your Username and Password.

- Note: If you forget your Password then visit the homepage and click “Forgot your password?”

- Registration should only be performed once for each Organisation.

- If you think that someone in your Organisation may have already registered on this Platform then you must not register again.

- Please contact the person who Registered (i.e. the Super User) in order to arrange access to the Platform.

- Contact the Helpdesk immediately if you are unable to contact the Super User (for example if they have left your Organisation).

- Note: If your Organisation is already registered on the Platform then you must not make any additional registration. Please contact the Helpdesk to gain access to the Platform.

- Tenders must be uploaded to the BravoSolution portal by 2pm

How To Find The ITT:

- Once logged in you must click on ‘ITT’s Open to all Suppliers’

- The e-tender references for this contract are: project_50393, itt_94975.

- Click on the title to access summary details of the contract. If you are still interested in submitting a tender, click the ‘Express an Interest button’. This will move the ITT from the ‘Open to all Suppliers’ area to the ‘My ITT’s’ on the home page.

- You will then see the full details of the ITT in the qualification and technical envelopes along with any relevant documents in the ‘Attachments’ area.

- Should you have any questions on the ITT, please use the ‘Messages’ area to contact the buyer directly – Please do not contact the named person at the top of this notice.

NOTE: The authority is using eTenderwales to carry out this procurement process. To obtain further information record your interest on Sell2Wales at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=122050

Under the terms of this contract the successful supplier(s) will be required to deliver Community Benefits in support of the authority’s economic and social objectives. Accordingly, contract performance conditions may relate in particular to social and environmental considerations. The Community Benefits included in this contract are:

community benefits will be non-core for this contract

(WA Ref:122050)

The buyer considers that this contract is suitable for consortia.

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

High Court

Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Telephone

+44 2079477501

Country

United Kingdom