Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
The Minister for the Cabinet Office acting through Crown Commercial Service
9th Floor, The Capital, Old Hall Street
Liverpool
L3 9PP
supplier@crowncommercial.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 3454102222
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
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://crowncommercialservice.bravosolution.co.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://crowncommercialservice.bravosolution.co.uk
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
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Buying Better Food and Drink
Reference number
RM6279
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 15000000 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Crown Commercial Service (CCS) as the Authority intends to put in place a new Pan Government Collaborative Agreement for the provision of RM6279 Buying Better Food and Drink to be utilised by Central Government Departments and all other UK Public Sector Bodies, including Local Authorities, Health, Police, Fire and Rescue, Education and Devolved Administrations.
This will be a national agreement developed to support a simple customer journey through an online single access point; either using a single Tier 1 supplier, a consortium of suppliers, or Special Procurement Vehicle (SPV).
We are encouraging a consortium bid that can be made up of many small suppliers - all suppliers/producers will need to meet the minimum technical, ethical and policy requirements and Government buying standards for food.
Our initial contract value is estimated to attract £100 million worth of spend over the 4-year (2 + 1 +1) contract period, which is a small proportion of the annual £2.1 billion public sector food spend.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £100,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 03100000 - Agricultural and horticultural products
- 03200000 - Cereals, potatoes, vegetables, fruits and nuts
- 03300000 - Farming, hunting and fishing products
- 03400000 - Forestry and logging products
- 15000000 - Food, beverages, tobacco and related products
- 15100000 - Animal products, meat and meat products
- 15200000 - Prepared and preserved fish
- 15300000 - Fruit, vegetables and related products
- 15400000 - Animal or vegetable oils and fats
- 15500000 - Dairy products
- 15600000 - Grain mill products, starches and starch products
- 15800000 - Miscellaneous food products
- 15900000 - Beverages, tobacco and related products
- 55300000 - Restaurant and food-serving services
- 55500000 - Canteen and catering services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
CCS are looking to procure a Food & Drink commercial solution:
Free to use for all customers - Be simple, quick and easy to use for customers
Support all food producers (including SMEs) in accessing public sector food opportunities
Support public sector food buyers in buying better quality, safer, sustainable food that meets The Government Buying Standards for Food
Support public sector customers in meeting carbon net zero goals, by supporting sustainable food production and reducing carbon footprint.
Support investment in local communities, equality and diversity, reduction in Modern Slavery risks, resource efficiency
Offer regional supply and local distribution networks
This is a new agreement for CCS. There is no customer mandate for this agreement to be used.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 40
Price - Weighting: 60
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £100,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The initial duration of the Framework is 2 years, with an option to extend for two one (1) year periods.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues
Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue
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
Candidates will be assessed in accordance with Section 5 of the 2015 Public Contract Regulations (implementing the directive) on the basis of information provided in response to an invitation to tender (ITT) registering for access.
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.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with a single operator
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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2022/S 000-026625
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Originally published as:
Date
11 September 2023
Local time
2:59pm
Changed to:
Date
28 September 2023
Local time
2:59pm
See the change notice.
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
Tender must be valid until: 8 March 2024
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
11 September 2023
Local time
3:00pm
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
As part of this contract notice the following documents can be accessed at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d656a12d-9716-4d30-bc22-e45d2b40a173
1) Contract notice transparency information for the agreement;
2) Contract notice authorised customer list;
3) Rights reserved for CCS framework.
The Government Security Classifications (GSC) Policy came into force on 2 April 2014 and describes how HM Government classifies information assets to ensure they are appropriately protected. It applies to all information that Government collects, stores, processes, generates or shares to deliver services and conduct business.
Cyber Essentials is a mandatory requirement for Central Government contracts which involve handling personal information or provide certain ICT products/services. Government is taking steps to reduce the levels of cyber security risk in its supply chain through the Cyber Essentials scheme. The scheme defines a set of controls which, when implemented, will provide organisations with basic protection from the most prevalent forms of threat coming from the internet. To participate in this procurement, bidders must be able to demonstrate they comply with the technical requirements prescribed by Cyber Essentials, for services under and in connection with this
procurement.
Refer to https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/cyber-essentials-faqs for more information.
Some purchases under this framework Agreement may have requirements that can be met under this Framework Agreement but the purchase of which may be exempt from the Procurement Regulations (as defined in Attachment 1 – About the framework within the invitation to tender documentation). In such cases, Call-offs from this Framework will be unregulated purchases for the purposes of the Procurement Regulations, and the buyers may, at their discretion, modify the terms of the Framework and any Call-off Contracts to
reflect that buyer’s specific needs.
Registering for access:
This procurement will be managed electronically via the eSourcing suite. This will be the route for sharing all information and communicating with bidders. If you have recently registered on the eSourcing suite for another CCS procurement you can use the same account for this new procurement. If not, you will first need to register your organisation on the portal. Use the following link for information on how register and use the eSourcing tool:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esourcing-tool-guidance-for-suppliers
For assistance please contact the eSourcing Help desk operated by email at eEnablement@crowncommercial.gov.uk or call 0345 410 2222.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The Minister for the Cabinet Office acting through Crown Commercial Service
9th Floor, The Capital, Old Hall Street
Liverpool
L3 9PP
supplier@crowncommercial.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 3454102222
Country
United Kingdom