Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY (Defra Network eTendering Portal)
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Contact
DGCEnquiries@defra.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs
Buyer's address
https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Environment
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
UK Hydrocarbons Monitoring Network 2024
Reference number
C24959
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 90731100 - Air quality management
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The UK Hydrocarbon Network measures ambient benzene concentrations at various sites around the United Kingdom.
Benzene is monitored to assess compliance with UK Objectives (between 3.25 and 16.25 µgm-3 depending on area and compliance date, expressed as a running annual mean), as well as with the corresponding EC Air Quality Directive Limit Value (5 µgm-3 annual average).
As the Objectives and Limit Values for benzene relate to the annual average concentration, it is not necessary to use a monitoring method with short time resolution. Sampling is therefore undertaken using pumped samplers, located at monitoring stations operated within the Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN)
The Environment Agency (EA) on behalf of United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) requires a Supplier to provide the Central Management and Control Unit (CMCU) and the Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) for the UK Hydrocarbon Monitoring Network.
The Monitoring contracts team within Survey, National Monitoring has been managing the UK Hydrocarbons Network contract on behalf of DEFRA since April 2016. This tender is to replace the current contract which has been running for 6 years (1st September 2018 until 31st August 2023) with an additional 1-year extension until August 24.
The networks consist of interdependent elements, split between an automatic and a non-automatic network.
The Hydrocarbon Network Operator is responsible for the management of the network of air pollution monitoring sites throughout the UK for the measurement and assessment of Benzene and volatile organic compounds at automatic sites. The operator will be responsible for upkeep, collection, analysis QA/QC and transfer of data to contractors who have responsibility for wider dissemination of the data.
The tender is for the full seven-year period which is a five-year contract with the option of extending for a further two years.
The objective is to continue delivery and encompass new monitoring using automatic analysers that can measure additional hydrocarbons to align with changes to the pollution climate of the UK.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £0.01
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 90731100 - Air quality management
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This opportunity is advertised by Defra group Commercial (DgC) on behalf of the Environment Agency (EA).
The Environment Agency work to create better places for people and wildlife and support sustainable development. EA is an executive non-departmental body, sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. For further information please visit Environment Agency - GOV.UK (Environment Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The UK Hydrocarbon Network measures ambient benzene concentrations at various sites around the United Kingdom.
Benzene is monitored to assess compliance with UK Objectives (between 3.25 and 16.25 µgm-3 depending on area and compliance date, expressed as a running annual mean), as well as with the corresponding EC Air Quality Directive Limit Value (5 µgm-3 annual average).
As the Objectives and Limit Values for benzene relate to the annual average concentration, it is not necessary to use a monitoring method with short time resolution. Sampling is therefore undertaken using pumped samplers, located at monitoring stations operated within the Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN)
The Environment Agency (EA) on behalf of United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) requires a Supplier to provide the Central Management and Control Unit (CMCU) and the Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) for the UK Hydrocarbon Monitoring Network.
The networks consist of interdependent elements, split between an automatic and a non-automatic network:
The Automatic Hydrocarbon Network is currently made up of four sites (although one is temporarily closed due to the landowner rebuilding the wider site, and theft of equipment), at which the levels of x 29 hydrocarbons (volatile organic compounds) are continuously measured using automatic gas chromatographic (TD-GC-FID) analysers including benzene and 1,3-butadiene.
The UK Non-Automatic Hydrocarbon Network measures ambient benzene concentrations at various sites around the United Kingdom.
The Hydrocarbon Network Operator is responsible for the management of a national network of air pollution monitoring sites throughout the UK for the measurement and assessment of Benzene (as non-automatic sites and automatic sites) as well as volatile organic compounds at automatic sites. The operator will be responsible for upkeep, collection, analysis QA/QC and transfer of automatic and non-automatic data to contractors who have responsibility for wider dissemination of the data.
This procurement helps support the Environment Agency’s corporate strategy. Environment Agency: EA2025 creating a better place - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) – provides the Environment Agency’s commitment to measure healthy air to protect the environment and people. This network measures ozone pre-cursors, an important piece of the monitoring jigsaw where measurements will track measured contributions of Hydrocarbons, which go on to form ground level ozone.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £0.01
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 October 2024
End date
31 December 2031
This contract is subject to renewal
No
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.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Any questions, requests to participate or tender submissions must be submitted electronically via this portal.
If you need technical help with the Atamis system, either when registering, or when completing a tender, please contact the Atamis support team e-mail Support@Atamis.co.uk or phone Tel: 029 2279 0052.
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
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
30 July 2024
Local time
3:00pm
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: 5 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
28 June 2024
Local time
6:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Public Procurement Review Body
N/A
N/A
N/A
publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Public Procurement Review Body
N/A
N/A
N/A
publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Public Procurement Review Body
N/A
N/A
N/A
publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit