Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
North Ayrshire Council
Cunninghame House, Friars Croft
Irvine
KA12 8EE
Procurement@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 1294324220
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM93 - East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire mainland
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00337
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Free School Meal Provision, Food Vouchers
Reference number
NAC/STA/5143
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 15897300 - Food parcels
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Free School Meal Provision, Food Vouchers
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £600,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM93 - East Ayrshire and North Ayrshire mainland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Free School Meal Provision, Food Vouchers
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
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 four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
Sodexo has fair redemption fees and has not subjected North Ayrshire Council ("NAC") to any price increases since the voucher scheme was implemented back in 2020 despite rising supplier costs across other service areas. Sodexo has proved to be excellent value for money and provided an exemplar service which can be relied upon, particularly at short notice, and given the importance of this service to those entitled. The vouchers provided by Sodexo are only charged to NAC when they are used, and NAC are charged the face value for the voucher. Sodexo then charges a redemption fee per redeemed cost which covers support, invoicing, transaction fees and administration. This fee is a fixed fee per voucher and therefore the cost to NAC is variable based on the volume/amount of vouchers NAC procure and use. This fee has been held at constant prices for several years despite increased supplier costs in other service areas. The bulk of the costs is in the vouchers themselves. Sodexo redemption fees are reasonable and are considerably cheaper and quicker to execute than other available options. Sodexo provides a service which is currently unmatched in terms of competitive pricing.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
NAC/STA/5143
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
1 July 2022
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Sodexo Motivation Solutions UK Ltd
Avalon House, Breckland, Linford Wood
Milton Keynes
MK14 6LD
Telephone
+44 8450509532
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £600,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
(SC Ref:699041)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Kilmarnock Sheriff Court
Sheriff Court House, St Marnock Street
Kilmarnock
KA1 1ED
Telephone
+44 1563550024
Country
United Kingdom