Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Transport Scotland
George House, 2nd Floor, 36, North Hanover Street
Glasgow
G1 2AD
Contact
Rebecca Long
rebecca.long@transport.gov.scot
Telephone
+44 1412727100
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM82 - Glasgow City
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00099
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
National or federal Agency/Office
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Transport
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Framework for Archaeology Services at Transport Scotland
Reference number
TS/MP/SER/2020/12
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 71351914 - Archaeological services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Transport Scotland intends to undertake a public procurement competition for the provision of Archaeology Services, which are required on Transport Scotland projects. The services comprise of Invasive Archaeology Services, Non-Invasive Archaeology Services, and Advisory Services.
Over the forthcoming years, there a number of projects which shall require such archaeological services. These include, but are not limited to:
- A9 Dualling Programme; and
- A96 Dualling Programme
Due to the repeat need for these services, coupled with the exact requirement and timings being unknown, it is considered that these services would be best met through the use of a framework agreement. Furthermore, due to the nature and quantum of the services it is intended that the services will be divided into 3 lots:
- Lot 1 – Advisory Services;
- Lot 2 – Low Value ‘Non-invasive and Invasive Investigations’ and ‘Post Excavation Services’ (contract values <100k GBP)
- Lot 3 – High Value ‘Non-invasive and Invasive Investigations’ and ‘Post Excavation Services’ (contract values >100k GBP)
Following an analysis of future spend, the current estimated spend values per lot is as follows:
- Lot 1, 5M GBP
- Lot 2, 0.25M GBP
- Lot 3, 21M GBP
Transport Scotland is an agency of the Scottish Government and contracts in the name of and on behalf of the Scottish Ministers.
Transport Scotland will conduct the proposed procurement process on behalf of the Scottish Ministers.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £26,250,000
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 3 – Low Value ‘Non-invasive and Invasive Investigations’ and ‘Post Excavation Services’ (contract values >100k GBP)
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 71351914 - Archaeological services
- 71330000 - Miscellaneous engineering services
- 71600000 - Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services
- 45112450 - Excavation work at archaeological sites
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
Main site or place of performance
Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The services for Lot 3 are likely to include the following:
Non-Invasive and Invasive Investigations
Archaeological investigation, of which may comprise:
i) Management of and co-ordination with, any other specialist sub-contractors appointed by the Supplier, as required;
ii) Preparation of Health and Safety risk assessments and reports for all Services to be carried out on each site of interest;
iii) Liaison and compliance with the directions of Transport Scotland, the relevant engineering consultant(s) and the relevant local authority archaeologist and, if required, with Historic Environment Scotland;
iv) Preparation and submission of progress reports (frequency to be agreed with the project management team and Supplier)
v) Undertaking topographical/ earthwork survey(s); geophysical survey(s); building survey(s); field walking survey(s); and/or metal detector survey(s) at each relevant site;
vi) Trial trenching by machine (or by hand where specified) and subsequent evaluation and hand excavation;
vii) Undertaking strip, map and sample at each relevant site;
viii) Undertaking archaeological excavation(s) at each relevant site;
ix) Undertaking palaeo-environmental assessment and/or analysis at each relevant site; and
x) Seeking all necessary permissions prior to any work being undertaken.
Post Excavation Services
Post excavation services, of which may comprise:
i) Undertaking of post–excavation assessment, analysis and reporting on the results of an archaeological investigation;
ii) Publication at a level of detail appropriate to the significance of the results is required as well as ensuring submission of a summary of the works undertaken to the relevant and appropriate publications;
iii) Dissemination of the results through deposition of an ordered archive at the relevant public bodies and the deposition of a detailed report at Transport Scotland and local authorities offices; and
iv) Liaison and compliance with the directions of Transport Scotland, their technical advisor and all relevant public authorities.
It is envisaged that the services shall be provided at the Supplier’s construction sites with attendance required on an ad-hoc basis at Transport Scotland’s offices. However, on occasion, the Supplier may be required to undertake the following duties:
i. attend the offices, other construction sites or other locations within Scotland as and when required;
ii. attend meetings at Transport Scotland’s main office in Buchanan House, Glasgow or construction site offices as and when may be required;
iii. liaison with other Transport Scotland advisers/ consultants/ contractors at their specific offices/sites.
The Supplier was procured through the restricted procedure, a procedure under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. This is a two-stage procedure, comprising a prequalification stage and a tender stage. This Contract Notice and ESPD sets out the prequalification stage and Section II.2.9 of this Contract Notice describes the criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates that were taken forward to tender stage.
In order to be considered for this procurement competition, economic operators had to complete and submit an ESPD via the Public Contracts Scotland portal (www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk).
A total of 6 economic operators were invited to tender stage for Lot 3, and the 3 most economically advantageous tenderers were awarded onto the framework agreement.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 30
Cost criterion - Name: Cost / Weighting: 70
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.2.14) Additional information
The Framework Agreement is based on the Institute of Civil Engineers Conditions of Contract for Archaeological Investigation (2011). Each economic operator was invited to submit a Tender on the same contract terms.
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
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: 2020/S 138-340797
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
3
Title
Lot 3 – Low Value ‘Non-invasive and Invasive Investigations’ and ‘Post Excavation Services’ (contract values >100k GBP)
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
24 October 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 6
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 4
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 5
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 6
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
GUARD Archaeology Ltd
EH20 Business Centre, 6 Dryden Road
Loanhead
EH20 9LZ
Telephone
+44 1314481050
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKM73 - East Lothian and Midlothian
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Rubicon Heritage Services
Unit 2, Europa Enterprise Park, Midleton, Cork, Republic of Ireland
Cork
P25 TV25
Telephone
+44 7725208617
Country
Ireland
NUTS code
- IE - Ireland
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Headland Archaeology Ltd
13 Jane Street
Edinburgh
EH6 5HE
Telephone
+44 1314677705
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £21,000,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
(SC Ref:749123)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Sheriff Clerk's Office
PO Box 23, 1 Carlton, Place,
Glasgow
G5 9DA
Country
United Kingdom