Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Heriot-Watt University
Moyen House, Research Park North, Heriot-Watt University
Riccarton, Edinburgh
EH14 4AP
Contact
charyleen Emslie
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00307
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
The Provision of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Agency Services
Reference number
HWU-UK-2122-111
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The University is seeking a Contractor to deliver an enhanced digital experience for Prospective Students, Alumni and Partners across the University website estate.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £700,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Main site or place of performance
Heriot-Watt University
Riccarton Campus
Edinburgh
EH14 4AS
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
3The University is seeking an agency for SEO and Content Strategy that will cover all Brand awareness and positioning, Marketing and recruitment campaigns, student recruitment (both on-campus and HW Online), Graduate Apprenticeships, Enterprise, Edinburgh Business School, Staff Recruitment and general promotion over a range of media types, and across a range of UK and international markets.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 75
Cost criterion - Name: Commercial / Weighting: 25
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
36
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The University reserves the right to extend the Agreement for a further 12 months period, subject to satisfactory performance and continuation of the University’s requirements
two.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Envisaged number of candidates: 5
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates:
SPD Section 4.C: Technical and Professional Ability
Question Scoring Methodology:
100 – Value Add - The Tenderer has provided a strong methodology addressing all the key points requested and has also provided detail of relevant value add that they can provide.
75 – Good - The Tenderer response is relevant and good. The response is sufficiently detailed to demonstrate a good understanding and provide details on how the requirements will be fulfilled.
50 - Acceptable - The Tenderer has provided an acceptable methodology addressing most of the key points listed above in detail OR the Tenderer has provided all the key points listed above but lacks detail in answering the question fully. The response provides confidence that
the requirements can be met.
25 - Minor Concerns - The Tenderer has provided a methodology addressing some of the key points listed above in detail OR the Tenderer has provided most of the key points listed above but lacks detail. The response provided does not provide confidence fully that the requirements can be met.
0 - Major Concerns - The Tenderer has failed to address the question, submitted a nil response or any element of the response gives cause for major concern
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
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulations 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
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
Bidders will be required to have a minimum “general” yearly turnover of the amount listed below, for the last 2 years. Where turnover information is not available for the time period requested, the bidder will be required to state the date which they were set up/started trading.
The Successful Contractor will be required to provide two years audited accounts, or equivalent prior to awarded to the Contract, or confirm in their tender submission the publicly accessible, free, online location of accounts if available in such a format. There must be no qualification or contra-indication from any evidence provided in support of the Contractor’s economic and financial standing.
It is a requirement of this contract that bidders hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any contract, the types and levels of insurance listed below.
Bidders also must confirm they can provide the following supporting evidence at point of award
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
Turnover Requirements
Bidders will be required to have a minimum “general” yearly turnover of 1,400,000 GBP for the last 2 years.
Insurance Requirements
It is a requirement of this contract that bidders hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any contract, the following types and levels of insurance:
Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = 5,000,000 GBP
Product Liability Insurance = 5,000,000 GBP
Public Liability Insurance = 1,000,000 GBP
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
Please refer to these statements when completing Section 4C of the SPD.
4C.1.2. Bidders will be required to provide relevant examples of services carried out in the past three years that demonstrate that they have the relevant experience to deliver the service as described in part II.2.4 of the Contract Notice.
Examples should include the following:
- Project name
- Project value
- Project description
- Personnel involved
- Project Successes/Problems
- Client Referee
Four relevant examples are requested to be submitted.
Each example must not exceed 800 words and two A4 pages.
As stated above in ‘2. Selection Stage Evaluation Criteria & Guidance’, each example will be assessed with a weighting of 25% per example provided
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Restricted 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
31 August 2022
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
12 September 2022
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
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.
Tenderers will be asked to submit the following forms. These forms are for information only and will not be scored.
Form of Tender
Bona Fide Tender
Freedom of Information
Supply Chain Code of Conduct
The Successful Tenderer must confirm that they comply with the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
The Successful Tenderer will be required to provide two years audited accounts, or equivalent prior to awarded to the Contract, or confirm
in their tender submission the publicly accessible, free, online location of accounts if available in such a format. There must be no
qualification or contra-indication from any evidence provided in support of the Contractor’s economic and financial standing.
Where the capability & capacity of a subcontractor, members of a consortia or any other body will be relied on, separate SPD(s) are
required from each of those other parties relied on.
Where subcontractors are to be used but their capability & capacity are not relied on, the University may choose to request separate
SPD(s).
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 21889. The ITT code is pqq_5928.
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this PQQ exercise. The Project code is 21889. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
(SC Ref:701659)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Sherriff Court House
Edinburgh
Country
United Kingdom