Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Zero Waste Scotland Ltd
Ground Floor, Moray House, Forthside Way
Stirling
FK8 1QZ
procurement@zerowastescotland.org.uk
Telephone
+44 1786433930
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM - Scotland
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA20802
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
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
Prior Information Notice - Circular Bioeconomy Research and Analysis Services
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Zero Waste Scotland intends to procure services for the provision of targeted research, analysis and scoping in support of circular bioeconomy and food systems projects on a call off basis.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £600,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 90713000 - Environmental issues consultancy services
- 71241000 - Feasibility study, advisory service, analysis
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
One of the most immediate and urgent societal challenges is to achieve food security through sustainable agriculture whilst adapting to a changing climate.
The Scottish food system comprises activities including production, processing, retailing, and consumption that are governed by laws, regulations, certifications, and market trends, which are in turn driven by public awareness, scientific research, and government policy at multiple levels across national and international jurisdictions. In combination with a similarly diverse range of bio-physical drivers and constraints, understanding these inter-related factors, and the potential trade-offs of change, is critical to enabling better outcomes across future food and nutrition security, social and economic equality and wellbeing, and future environmental sustainability supporting Scotland’s ambitious net zero and waste reduction targets.
Understanding of the wider circular bioeconomy is critical as it describes resource efficiency and circularity across the whole system and considers non-food and feed applications for biomass such as energy crops which also have relevance. As such, an accurate and comprehensive understanding of Scotland’s bioresources including location, technical and valorisation potential, temporal variability, and benefits/consequences of intervention is essential.
To support development in this areas, Zero Waste Scotland intends to procure a new Circular Bioeconomy Research and Analysis framework agreement that will enable access to specialist skills, knowledge, and experience to facilitate and deliver targeted research, analysis and scoping of future circular bioeconomy projects, with a particular focus on food systems, including the linkages and interdependencies within and between sub-systems, stakeholders, and drivers.
These services will be provided on a call off basis to help Zero Waste Scotland develop a systems model that delivers evidence led, actionable, high impact recommendations to guide policy and activity and contribute to sustainable change and a thriving Scottish bioeconomy.
Zero Waste Scotland intends to undertake a Restricted Procedure to procure this framework agreement, in accordance with regulation 29 (restricted procedure) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Zero Waste Scotland anticipates that the Circular Bioeconomy Research and Analysis framework agreement will be for a maximum period of four (4) years, including all optional extension periods, and will have a maximum value of 600 thousand GBP, exclusive of VAT. We anticipate that this will be a single Lot, single Supplier agreement to ensure consistency between inter-related outputs from the various call off projects over the term of the agreement, but we will consider a multi-Supplier agreement where this would increase capacity / capability without causing issues in terms of technical feasibility or duplication of effort.
Zero Waste Scotland intends to host two online Supplier Engagement Events, on 26th and 31st August 2021 respectively. These events – which will be about ninety (90) minutes in duration – will provide interested parties with further information on: the anticipated aims, objectives, and requirements of the framework agreement; the skills, knowledge and experience we are seeking; and the procurement process that will be followed.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions about the anticipated service requirements and / or the procurement process, and to provide further input and insight into the delivery mechanism that may help shape the final service provision.
To register your interest in attending one of these events, please follow this link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=y72tjiPZdUu8YBPMGioFV2gJwTy0241GshIsMKSGLUFUMTdFWEQ3WlhDSzlLRFo3UEpZQUZDNDNZWC4u
Further details will be emailed to you prior to the event.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
3 September 2021
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Zero Waste Scotland anticipates that this opportunity may be of interest to economic operators who can provide technical support in the areas identified. Experience of circular bioeconomy and food systems is preferred, but we will consider economic operators who have provided the same or similar types of services previously where the relevance and transferability of the skills, knowledge and experience can be clearly demonstrated.
The Contractor awarded this framework agreement must be able to provide all services that will be identified in the Invitation to Tender document. However, economic operators are not required or expected to be able to provide all of those services themselves and are encouraged to investigate opportunities for partnership working and / or sub-contracting arrangements where this would ensure appropriate coverage / and provide additional capacity for delivery of call off projects.
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=662106.
(SC Ref:662106)