Tender

Improving offshore wind environmental assessments by better understanding how seabird populations respond to additional mortality caused by avian influenza

  • Scottish Government

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-028285

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0403a1

Published 26 September 2023, 9:11am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Scottish Government

4 Atlantic Quay, 70 York St

Glasgow

G2 8EA

Email

douglas.martin@gov.scot

Telephone

+44 1412420133

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKM - Scotland

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.scotland.gov.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10482

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/

Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at

https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/

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

Improving offshore wind environmental assessments by better understanding how seabird populations respond to additional mortality caused by avian influenza

Reference number

Case/667489

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 90713000 - Environmental issues consultancy services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Improving offshore wind environmental assessments by better understanding how seabird populations respond to additional mortality caused by avian influenza

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £750,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 90713000 - Environmental issues consultancy services
  • 73110000 - Research services
  • 73112000 - Marine research services
  • 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM - Scotland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This project will obtain up to date counts of species within colonies known to be impacted by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and which also are a potential consenting constraint for offshore wind farm (OWF) projects. Monitoring of numbers of breeding birds/pairs at a range of colonies and across several years (2024-2026) will provide robust estimates of Special Protection Area (SPA) population sizes that have been affected by HPAI for use in environmental assessments. This project will help document any further substantial changes to population sizes caused by outbreaks of HPAI during 2023 and beyond. This project will build upon colony counts undertaken during 2023 to help assess the ongoing impacts of HPAI. The project will also gather productivity data from a representative set of colonies, examine how these may vary temporally and spatially, and compare them with historic estimates. Consideration must also be given to how this updated information will be used in environmental assessments. Particular attention must be given to the need to consider SPA and non-SPA colonies in apportioning calculations and in determining whether, if not all colonies can be counted, how representative sampling of population size and productivity will be ensured. Given uncertainties about colony monitoring work that will be undertaken by other organisations in the future, as well as uncertainties around the future areas impacted by HPAI, the development of a thorough and clear monitoring plan by the contractor on an annual basis will be key to this work. Engagement with other bodies who may be planning on undertaking monitoring will also be crucial to avoid duplication of effort.

The overarching objectives of the project are therefore:

A. Develop and maintain a clear monitoring plan for relevant seabird colony counts;

B. Obtain up to date seabird colony population size and productivity data for agreed colonies;

C. Identify any spatial and temporal variation or patterns in changes in population size or productivity as a result of HPAI;

D. Consider how the new information collected should be incorporated into environmental assessments

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Understanding of Requirement / Weighting: 45

Quality criterion - Name: Project Resource / Weighting: 30

Quality criterion - Name: Schedule of Work / Weighting: 5

Quality criterion - Name: Quality and Risk / Weighting: 5

Quality criterion - Name: Climate Emergency / Weighting: 5

Quality criterion - Name: Community Benefits / Weighting: 2.5

Quality criterion - Name: Fair Work First / Weighting: 5

Quality criterion - Name: Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery / Weighting: 2.5

Price - Weighting: 30

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £750,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

39

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: Yes

Description of options

The Authority reserves the right to extend the period of contract for an additional period of up to 6 months ( 1 x 6 months), to no later than 30 September 2027.

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 regulation 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

Financial Ratios (ESPD 4B6) - Bidders must demonstrate a Current Ratio of 1.2 or more.

Current Ratio will be calculated as follows: Total Current Assets divided by Total Current Liabilities.

Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required

Minimum level(s) of standards required:

- Public Liability Insurance (In the sum not less) - 1,000,000 GBP;

- Professional Indemnity Insurance (In the sum not less) - 2,000,000 GBP;

- Employer’s Liability Insurance - employer’s liability insurance in accordance with any legal obligation for the time being in force.

Such insurance must be maintained for the duration of the Contract and for a minimum of 5 years following the expiry or termination of the Contract.

three.2) Conditions related to the contract

three.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract

Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract


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

31 October 2023

Local time

12:00pm

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: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

31 October 2023

Local time

12:00pm


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

Electronic payment will be used

six.3) Additional information

Question Scoring Methodology for Award Criteria outlined in invitation to tender

0 Unacceptable. Nil or inadequate response. Fails to demonstrate an ability to meet the requirement.

1 Poor. Response is partially relevant but generally poor. The response addresses some elements of the requirement but contains

insufficient/limited detail or explanation to demonstrate how the requirement will be fulfilled.

2 Acceptable. Response is relevant and acceptable. The response addresses a broad understanding of the requirement but may lack details on how the requirement will be fulfilled in certain areas.

3 Good. Response is relevant and good. The response is sufficiently detailed to demonstrate a good understanding and provides details on

how the requirements will be fulfilled.

4 Excellent. Response is completely relevant and excellent overall.

Tenderers are required to respond to Q4C.1.2 - Examples of similar service contracts, Q4C.4 relating to Supply Chain Management and Q4C.7 - Environmental Management and will also be asked to confirm that they will pay staff that are involved in the delivery of services under the contract, at least the real Living Wage.

Tenderers who do not pass these questions will not be subject to Commercial Analysis. As a result the tender will not be considered further.

Bidders must complete the SPD (Scotland) to demonstrate adherence to the Exclusion and Selection Criteria for this procurement.

If there are named subcontractors/technicians upon which the bidder will rely to meet the selection criteria, these named parties must

complete and reattach the SPD Supplier Response Form attached to SPD.

The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 25238. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343

(SC Ref:745416)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court

Sheriff Court House, 27 Chambers Street

Edinburgh

EH1 1LB

Country

United Kingdom