Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
APUC Limited
Unit 27, Stirling Business Centre, Wellgreen
Stirling
FK8 2DZ
Contact
Lorona Watts
Telephone
+44 1314428950
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM77 - Perth & Kinross and Stirling
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
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Periodicals and Associated Services
Reference number
LIB1022 AP
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 22200000 - Newspapers, journals, periodicals and magazines
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
The Authority is seeking to appoint a Subscription Agent to supply to manage the supply and delivery of periodicals
and the associated services.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £38,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 22211000 - Journals
- 22210000 - Newspapers
- 22212000 - Periodicals
- 22212100 - Serials
- 22213000 - Magazines
- 22211100 - Official journals
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
Scotland and Northern Ireland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
For the appointment of a Subscription Agent to manage the supply and delivery of periodicals and the associated services.
A Periodical being defined as any domestic or foreign publication supplied in a print or electronic format.
The publication may take various formats, such as a magazine, newspaper, or journal to name a few examples, and may be issued in successive parts, at regular intervals and may continue indefinitely.
The appointed agent will be required to act on behalf of the:
* HE/FE institutions in Scotland
* HE institutions of Northern Ireland
* The members of the Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries(SCURL)
* The Scottish Government
* NHS Education Scotland (SHEDL deals only) acting on behalf of The Knowledge Network.
Parties eligible to use the Framework Agreement are as listed in Appendix E — List of Institutions. Members of APUC - http://www.apuc-scot.ac.uk/
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 60
Cost criterion - Name: Commercial / Weighting: 40
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The Framework Agreement will commence on the 01/01/2025 for an initial period of 2 years and will expire on the 31/12/2026.
The Authority reserves the right to extend the Framework Agreement for a further 2 x 12 month periods subject to satisfactory performance and continued requirement by Institutions for the service provision.
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
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
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
Please refer to the “Qualification Envelope” of the ITT within PCS-T to answer the selection criteria
Please refer to Part IV Selection Criteria: Questions within 4B.5 of the SPD
Tenderers must confirm they can provide the following supporting evidence prior to award:
Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = GBP 5 Million
Product and Public Liability Insurance = GBP 5 Million
Please refer to Part IV Selection Criteria: Questions within 4B.6 of the SPD
The successful tenderer will be required to provide 2 years audited accounts, or equivalent if awarded to the Framework Agreement
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
Please refer to the “Qualification Envelope” of the ITT within PCS-T to answer the selection criteria
Please refer to Part IV Selection Criteria. Please refer to question 4C.4 of the SPD - : Technical and Professional Ability
section
Tenderers must confirm they have (or have access to) the relevant supply chain management and tracking systems to ensure a resilient and
sustainable supply chain. This includes confirmation that they have the systems in place to pay subcontractors through the supply chain
promptly (i.e. no later than 30 days after the invoice (or similar claim) relating to the payment is presented) and effectively, and provide
evidence when requested of:
a) their standard payment terms
b) ≥95% of all supply chain invoices being paid on time (in accordance with the terms of contract) in the last financial year
If the bidder is unable to confirm (b) they must provide an improvement plan, signed by their Director, which improves the payment
performance.
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
SUBMISSION OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
Prior to the commencement of the Framework Agreement, the Contractor will provide the Authority with contact details of the Management Information contact who will be provided with a template spreadsheet/reporting schedule along with a username and password for the management information website http://www.ucsp.ac.uk/
The Contractors must provide the information on a quarterly basis, within 10 working days following the start of each quarter by logging into the website and uploading the template document. If there has been no spend for the quarter then this will still require you to log in and record a nil spend return.
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 a single operator
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: 2023/S 000-033130
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
5 July 2024
Local time
4:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
5 July 2024
Local time
4:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: December 2027
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
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.
The following should be submitted prior to award. It is for information only and will not be scored.
Form of Tender:
Please confirm that you will be in a position to submit prior to award “Appendix A – Form of Tender” in the Technical Questionnaire in PCS-Tender.
Freedom of Information
Please confirm that you will be in a position to submit prior to award “Appendix B – Freedom of Information” if applicable in the Technical Questionnaire in PCS-Tender.
Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct
Please confirm that you will be in a position to submit prior to award “Appendix D – Sustain Supply Chain Code of Conduct” in the Technical Questionnaire in PCS-Tender.
General Data Protection Regulation
Please confirm that you will be in a position to submit prior to award “Appendix G – GDPR Contractor Assessment Form” in the Technical Questionnaire in PCS-Tender.
Sustain SCM RP Section 1
Appendix J SCM RP Section 1 Appendix J in the Technical Questionnaire in PCS-Tender.
At this stage in the process this document has been provided for information only and will not be scored. On award to the Framework Agreement the completion of the questionnaire will be a contractual obligation and appointed Contractors will receive an invite to complete the questionnaire online.
Library Management Systems
Appendix H "Library Management Systems" in the Technical Questionnaire in PCS-Tender.
To be completed and submitted at the time of tender
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 26835. 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:
It is a requirement that the range of the subscription and information management services to be delivered under this framework agreement will be delivered by a main contractor.
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see:
http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
Opportunity for internships, summer placements or apprenticeships for students.
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 26835. 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:
The required goods and service will be provided by the appointed Subscription Agent.
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
Opportunity for training, internships, summer placements or apprenticeships for students.
Donation of unused goods to local organisations within the geography of the framework agreement.
(SC Ref:767659)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Stirling Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court Sheriff Court
Sheriff Court House, Viewfield Place Stirling Country
Stirling
FK8 1NH
Telephone
+44 1786462191
Fax
+44 1786470456
Country
United Kingdom