Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Essex County Council
County Hall, Market Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1QH
Contact
Mr Jawid Hassani
Telephone
+44 333
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH3 - Essex
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://procontract.due-north.com
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://procontract.due-north.com
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
CO0345 MULTI-TAX ADVISORY SERVICE
Reference number
DN679848
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79221000 - Tax consultancy services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Council is seeking a supplier to provide a multi-tax advisory service covering all relevant indirect and direct taxes.
The service should be provided through a mix of channels as deemed appropriate but should be based on remote digital access options (e.g. Microsoft Teams, e-mail, etc) with an option for on-site physical presence for distinct pieces of work.
The service is expected to work closely with and complement the ECC Financial Accounting Team.
The service will be used primarily within the Council’s Financial Services and Financial Accounting teams but shall have scope for future growth should demand dictate over the term.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Council is seeking a supplier to provide a multi-tax advisory service covering all relevant indirect and direct taxes.
The service should be provided through a mix of channels as deemed appropriate but should be based on remote digital access options (e.g. Microsoft Teams, e-mail, etc) with an option for on-site physical presence for distinct pieces of work.
The service is expected to work closely with and complement the ECC Financial Accounting Team.
The service will be used primarily within the Council’s Financial Services and Financial Accounting teams but shall have scope for future growth should demand dictate over the term.
The key outcomes of the service provision being sought are:
• Cost effective, efficient and professional Tax-advisory support service
provided to the Council’s customers; and
• a seamless service provision, with selected partner considered an
extension of the Council’s In-house Finance team
It is envisaged that this multi-tax advisory service will be delivered through a combination of:
• A multi-tax support service (e.g. helpline/portal), providing unlimited access to specialists during standard working hours who will respond to queries on indirect and direct taxes within 48 hours. Any advice provided orally to the Authority will be followed up with written confirmation, usually via electronic means (e-mail, or other).
• Consultancy days tailored to advising on more complex tax matters or specific projects or issues (minimum of 10 days per annum, but with the option to purchase additional days at an agreed daily rate) which may require on site ECC presence. The Bidder is required to ensure that personnel appointed are suitably skilled and qualified to undertake the specific task.
• Assessment of the Authority’s performance in different areas of tax compliance, to be delivered through a combination of health checks, process reviews, audits and/ or benchmarking.
• Assistance with preparation for HMRC inspections and with making voluntary disclosures (should the need arise), to minimise any penalties that may be imposed due to errors or omissions.
• Assistance with Section 33 recovery method partial exemption calculations.
• Assistance with resolving disputes (should the need arise) with HM Revenue and Customs, through investigation, negotiation, mediation and litigation.
• Technical updates, commentary and analysis on strategic and topical issues and opportunities.
• Provision of up-to-date reference material and manuals.
• Provision of annual training events (for two delegates, with the option to purchase additional places as required), with modules covering a range of different taxes, with particular focus upon the taxation of public sector bodies and those taxes that the Council may encounter through partnerships, pooling, cost sharing and outsourcing.
• A client liaison manager will oversee the provision of the tax advisory service to the Council and will meet with relevant Council officers to discuss and review its tax position.
• Access to above services will be via Council’s Deputy Chief Accountant being the primary point of contact for client liaison, and the Services should be scalable to meet demand.
• Acceptance testing: The Bidder will conduct Acceptance Testing of the solution to ensure it is compliant with all relevant policies and procedures prior to Contract commencement.
• The Council shall have the option to undertake reviews of the Solution and any related Acceptance Testing processes, or procedures to ensure that the solution remains compliant over the Contract term.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical Questions / Weighting: 55
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 5
Price - Weighting: 40
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
Options to extend for a further period of up to 24 months.
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 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
23 August 2023
Local time
3:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
28 July 2023
Local time
4:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court, Royal Court of Justice
London
Country
United Kingdom