Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
The Guinness Partnership Ltd
30 Brock Street, Regents Place
London
NW1 3FG
Contact
Dennis Viljoen
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
National registration number
31693R
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.guinnesspartnership.com/
Buyer's address
https://procontract.due-north.com
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=af6aeab9-f8f6-ec11-8116-005056b64545
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/Advert/Index?advertId=af6aeab9-f8f6-ec11-8116-005056b64545
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Housing and community amenities
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Strategic Microsoft Partner
Reference number
DN619409
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 Guinness Partnership (TGP) is running this procurement to put a Framework Agreement with a panel of IT skills and knowledge specialists as may be required to support the business. TGP are looking for Partners with core Microsoft skills and competencies, primarily D365, but also to cover other Microsoft applications and infrastructure including SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, DevOps, and the Azure platform. The Strategic Microsoft Partners will be required to bring experience within the sector, with the expectation that they are certified via the new Microsoft Solutions Partner designations (or can evidence the legacy capabilities that translate towards these), which provides Guinness with assurance that the Partner brings the appropriate level of performance, skilling, and customer success to the relationship.
The proposed Framework will consist of 2 Lots, these Lots are:
Lot 1 – Dynamics 365
The scope of this lot will include:
• To deliver solutions with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform; ongoing management services for Dynamics 365, Business Central, Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Virtual Agents,
Lot 2 - Azure Capabilities
The scope of this Lot will include:
• Data & AI - to demonstrate capability helping Housing Sector customers manage data across multiple systems and potentially to build out analytics and AI solutions.
• Digital & App Innovation - to demonstrate helping Housing Sector customers build, run, and manage applications across multiple clouds, on premises or in a hybrid framework, you can evidence support within the Housing Sector migrating and deploying DevOps while using Azure, managing app services in Azure.
• Infrastructure - to demonstrate helping Housing Sector customers with migration of key infrastructure workloads to Microsoft Azure
The opportunity will be conducted using the Restricted Procedure and advertised as two (2) separate Lots, however potential suppliers will be able to bid for all Lots.
The framework will be accessible to all housing associations across England. Each Lot will have 3 suppliers on it.
The maximum duration of the Framework Agreement shall be for 48 months (4 years). The total value of this Framework shall be £16,000,000, Guinness's estimated spend under this Framework shall be £4,000,000, with £12,000,000 available to all other housing associations across England.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £16,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: 2
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 1 - Microsoft Dynamics
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
UNITED KINGDOM
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Where requested by the Buyer, suppliers will provide a range of Services to deliver full technology services predominately on an outcome basis. Services may include but not limited to:
Lot 1 – Dynamics 365
To deliver solutions with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform;
Ongoing management services for Dynamics 365,
Business Central,
Power BI,
Power Apps,
Power Automate,
Power Virtual Agents,
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £8,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Envisaged minimum number: 6
Maximum number: 7
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates:
As set out in the procurement documents
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) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 2 - Azure Capabilities
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
UNITED KINGDOM
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Where requested by the Buyer, suppliers will provide a range of Services to deliver full technology services predominately on an outcome basis. Services may include but not limited to:
Lot 2 - Azure Capabilities
• Data & AI - to demonstrate capability helping Housing Sector customers manage data across multiple systems and potentially to build out analytics and AI solutions.
• Digital & App Innovation - to demonstrate helping Housing Sector customers build, run, and manage applications across multiple clouds, on premises or in a hybrid framework, you can evidence support within the Housing Sector migrating and deploying DevOps while using Azure, managing app services in Azure.
• Infrastructure - to demonstrate helping Housing Sector customers with migration of key infrastructure workloads to Microsoft Azure
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £8,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Envisaged minimum number: 6
Maximum number: 7
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.1.2) 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
Restricted 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 several operators
Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 6
In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years:
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
21 September 2022
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
13 October 2022
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: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
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
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
Each Lot will be treated as a separate contract award procedure.
Details of the process and the rationale for it is set out in the procurement documents.
Guinness will use their e-sourcing portal for this competition on which the procurement
documents will be available once the opportunity is advertised and ready. Suppliers should
ensure they are registered in advance which can be done using the following link:
https://www.procontract.due-north.com.
Guinness reserves the right to discontinue this procurement at any time. Each Organisation must bear its own costs in relation to this procurement including the costs of responding to the SQ. Under no circumstances shall Guinness be required to reimburse any Organisation for any costs incurred in completing the SQ or participating in this procurement.
This framework is being procured by the Guinness Partnership Ltd., a registered Charitable Community Benefit Society registered number 031693R, whose registered office is at 30 Brock Street, Regent's Place, London, NW1 3FG (“Guinness”).
This framework is being procured by Guinness for and on behalf of the following entities (“Other Users”) who will all be entitled to conclude contracts based on this framework agreement:
• Any and all subsidiaries and entities within Guinness’ group of societies and companies (“the Guinness Group”), including but not limited to:
o The Guinness Partnership Ltd. (Company No: IP031693R)
o City Response Ltd., Trading As Guinness Property (Company No: 04471280)
o Guinness Care and Support Ltd. (Company No: IP30337R)
o Guinness Developments Limited (Company No: 04175094)
o The Guinness Housing Association Limited (Company No: IP17017R)
o Guinness Homes Limited (Company No: 05710006)
o Guinness Platform Limited (Company No: 06411652)
o Hallco 1397 Limited, Registration (Company No: 05998281); and
o Any existing and future entities which are contracting authorities within the Group;
• Social housing providers in the UK (both those that are in existence now and those that may be in existence in the future) – ‘Social Housing Provider’ for this purpose means any provider of social housing and includes, without limitation, registered providers which are listed on the regulator of social housing website and ALMOs and local authorities with retained social housing; and
• Any Public Authority (as defined in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for Public Authorities in England, or any Local Authority (as defined in the Local Government Act 1972 for Public Authorities in England); and
• Any Public Authority which is included in the UK public sector classification guide at https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalaccounts/uksectoraccounts/datasets/publicsectorclassificationguide; and
• Any wholly owned subsidiaries of any of the above organisations which are contracting authorities.
Other Users (save for those within The Guinness Group) must enter into a Joining Agreement with Guinness before they conclude contracts under the framework agreement.
Potential tenderers should note that Guinness does not guarantee any specific volume of work under this framework arrangement either from itself or Other Users.
Guinness reserves the right to abandon this procurement at any time. Guinness shall not, under any circumstances, be responsible for bidders tendering costs or any other costs or losses arising from such abandonment.
For further information regarding this tender please review the competition documents attached to the competition, or contact Guinness’ Procurement Team via their tender portal. Free and unfettered access is available at https://procontract.due-north.com/.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Public Procurement Review Service, Cabinet Office
London
publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom