Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
The Common Services Agency (more commonly known as NHS National Services Scotland) ("NSS")
Gyle Square (NSS Head Office), 1 South Gyle Crescent
Edinburgh
EH12 9EB
Telephone
+44 1698794410
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM - Scotland
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://www.nss.nhs.scot/browse/procurement-and-logistics
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA11883
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
Health
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) eValidation System
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
Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS), part of NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), is seeking to procure software and support services for an eValidation solution. SNBTS is the specialist provider of safe high quality blood, tissue and cell products and services in Scotland. The key priority is to ensure that NHSScotland has enough blood to meet the transfusion needs of patients in Scotland.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £350,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS), part of NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), seeks to procure software and support services for an eValidation solution. SNBTS is the specialist provider of safe high quality blood, tissue and cell products and services in Scotland. The key priority is to ensure that NHSScotland has enough blood to meet the transfusion needs of patients in Scotland.
NSS wishes, on behalf of NHSScotland, to purchase support services for the eValidation System and other services associated with the software. NSS therefore invites tenders for the provision of these services from those economic operators who are interested and capable to provide these services.
The operational and functional requirement for the services is based on the requirements as contained in Appendix 1 of the Invitation to Tender (ITT). It is anticipated that NSS will enter into a contract in the form contained in Appendix 4 of the ITT. The contract will be a seven year (7) term with the option of a yearly annual extension thereafter plus break options at the end of years three (3), four (4), five (5) and six (6).
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Functional Requirements / Weighting: 45
Quality criterion - Name: Non-functional Requirements / Weighting: 30
Price - Weighting: 25
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £350,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
84
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Optional annual renewal following initial seven year term.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Optional annual renewal following initial seven year term.
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
All suppliers bidding for this requirement must submit a completed Single Procurement Document (SPD), which can be found within project 20171 on PCS-Tender.
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
SPD Q.4B.1.1: Bidders are required to provide statement of accounts or extracts relating to their business for the previous 3 years.
Where any are risks identified by the Authority as part of the due diligence carried out on the above information the Authority may require bidders to provide additional information to demonstrate financial standing. Additional information can include but not be limited to:
- parent company accounts (if applicable)
- deeds of guarantee
- bankers statements and references
- accountants’ references
- management accounts
- financial projections, including cash flow forecasts
- details and evidence of previous contracts, including contract values
- capital availability.
Bidders who cannot provide suitable evidence of a secure financial standing may be excluded from the procurement.
Q.4B.5.1 and Q.4B.5.2: It is a requirement of this contract that bidders hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commence of any subsequently awarded contract, the types and levels of insurance indicated below:
Employers liability insurance: 5 000 000 GBP;
Public liability insurance: 1 000 000 GBP;
Professional indemnity insurance: 1 000 000 GBP.
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
SPD 4C.1.2 Please provide details of three relevant examples of services carried out during the last three years.
4.C.2 Bidders will be required to confirm details of the technicians or technical bodies such as ISO or equivalent who they can call upon, especially those responsible for quality control. Please provide examples such as the following:
- Cyber Essentials
- ISO 9001 - Quality Management Systems
- ISO 27001 - Information Security Management
- ISO 27017 - Code of practice for information security controls
- ISO 27018 - Code of practice for protection of personally identifiable information (PII) in public clouds acting as PII processors
- UK Government 14 Cloud Security Principles
Please state the relevance of any such educational and professional qualifications.
4C.6: Bidders will be required to confirm that they and/or the service provider have relevant educational and professional qualifications such as the following: ISO27001 or equivalent ITIL qualifications [Helpdesk, etc] or equivalent other professional qualifications relevant to the services outlined in the Contract Notice.Please state the relevance of any such educational and professional qualifications.
And:
4C.6.1: Bidders will be required to confirm that they and/or the service provider's managerial staff have relevant educational and professional qualifications such as the following: ISO27001 or equivalent ITIL qualifications [Helpdesk, etc] or equivalent other professional qualifications relevant to the services outlined in the Contract Notice.
Please state the relevance of any such educational and professional qualifications.
4C.7: Bidders will be required to confirm that they will employ environmental management measures that meet the following requirements:
Compliance with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE).
4C.10: Bidders will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract and, if so, for what proportion of 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
10 January 2022
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
10 January 2022
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 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.
The Public Sector in Scotland is committed to the delivery of high quality public services, and recognises that this is critically dependent on a workforce that is well-rewarded, well-motivated, well-led, has access to appropriate opportunities for training and skills development, diverse and engaged in decision making. These factors are also important for workforce recruitment and retention, and thus continuity of service.
Public Bodies in Scotland are adopting fair work practices, which include:
— a fair and equal pay policy that includes a commitment to supporting the living wage, including, for example being a living wage
accredited employer;
— clear managerial responsibility to nurture talent and help individuals fulfil their potential, including for example, a strong commitment
to modern apprenticeships and the development of Scotland's young workforce;
— promoting equality of opportunity and developing a workforce which reflects the population of Scotland in terms of characteristics such
as age, gender, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation and disability;
— support for learning and development;
— stability of employment and hours of work, and avoiding exploitative employment practices, including for example no inappropriate use
of zero-hours contracts;
— flexible working (including for example practices such as flexi-time and career breaks) and support for family friendly working and
wider work life balance;
— support progressive workforce engagement, for example Trade Union recognition and representation where possible, otherwise
alternative arrangements to give staff an effective voice.
In order to ensure the highest standards of service quality in this contract we expect contractors to take a similarly positive approach to fair work practices as part of a fair and equitable employment and reward package.
Bidders will need to describe how they will commit to fair work practices for workers (including any agency or subcontractor workers) engaged in the delivery of this contract.
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 20171. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
The supplier must outline any community benefits which will be provided during the term of this contract.
(SC Ref:674699)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Sheriff Court House
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
Economic operators should approach the contracting authority in the first instance. However, the only formal remedy is to apply to the courts:
An economic operator that suffers, or is at risk of suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session.