Planning

Stray Dog Service Market Engagement

  • Southend-on-sea City Council

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-036549

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0424ff

Published 12 December 2023, 3:25pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Southend-on-sea City Council

Civic Centre

SOUTHEND-ON-SEA

SS26ER

Contact

Corporate Procurement

Email

procurementadvisors@southend.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 1702215000

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKH31 - Southend-on-Sea

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://procurement.southend.gov.uk/southend/portal.nsf/index.htm

Buyer's address

https://procurement.southend.gov.uk/southend/portal.nsf/index.htm

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://procurement.southend.gov.uk/southend/portal.nsf/index.htm

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

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://procurement.southend.gov.uk/southend/portal.nsf/index.htm

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Regional or local authority

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Stray Dog Service Market Engagement

Reference number

DN701887

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 98380000 - Dog kennel services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

As part of this market engagement, the Council invites electronic responses from organisations who are positioned to successfully provide the Council's Stray Dog Service.

Based on the budget information available at the time, Southend-on-Sea City Council (the Council) published a contract notice relating to its Stray Dog Service (the Service) in August of 2023, on Contracts Finder.

As part of that procurement process, the proposed pricing received in regard the future running of the Service came in between £250,000 and £350,000 (over the full duration of the proposed contract (5 Years)). As a result, the Council has withdrawn the procurement process to ensure compliance with its obligations under the legislation, including its responsibility to adequately advertise the opportunity and achieve best value.

(For the avoidance of doubt, the sizable range between the figures provided above is to assist in protecting the commercially sensitive information received by the Council as part of the withdrawn procurement process.)

In response to the updated commercial information made available to the Council, as part of the withdrawn procurement process, the Council are undertaking market engagement (via Prior Information Notice (PIN)) advertised on the Find a Tender Service and the equivalent notice on Contracts Finder.

The Council will be running a revised procurement process in compliance with the amended Public Contracts Regulations 2015 in due course. This notice is not being used as a call for competition. However, the information received in response to this notice will be key in assisting the Council to evaluate its options in regard this future procurement process, and the procedure which it uses.

The provisioning of the Service will include, but will not be limited to, the collection of stray dogs from within Council areas, providing of kennelling for stray dogs, reuniting dogs with their owners, collection of fees from reclaiming owners (on behalf of the Council) and the rehoming of unclaimed dogs.

As a result, we are seeking further information relating to the legitimate technical capability within the market to successfully undertake our Service. The information outlining the technical capability of an organisation will be reasonably considered against:

• the scale, scope and value of the Service needed by the Council;

• the compliance with relevant legislation related to the running of the Service; and

• ensuring any future Service is geared to meet the needs of the residents of the City

Significant information relating to the nature and requirements of the withdrawn procurement process, and the required Service, are available via the Council's electronic tendering facility (ETF). They are offered to allow the organisations within the market to make an informed decision regarding this market engagement.

The further documentation relating to this notice and the written submission required of any organisation looking to take part in this market engagement exercise is available via:

https://procurement.southend.gov.uk/southend/portal.nsf/index.htm

The project reference is: DN701887

The deadline for receipt of clarification requests relating to this market engagement is: 14:00 on Friday 5th January 2024

The deadline for submission of expression of interests in regard this market engagement is: 14:00 on Monday 15th January 2024

Further details relating to the aims of this market engagement, accompanying documentation, any future procurement process, the possible future choice of procedure, and how to take part in the market engagement are accessible using the link above.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKH31 - Southend-on-Sea

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

As part of this market engagement, the Council invites electronic responses from organisations who are positioned to successfully provide the Council's Stray Dog Service.

Based on the budget information available at the time, Southend-on-Sea City Council (the Council) published a contract notice relating to its Stray Dog Service (the Service) in August of 2023, on Contracts Finder.

As part of that procurement process, the proposed pricing received in regard the future running of the Service came in between £250,000 and £350,000 (over the full duration of the proposed contract (5 Years)). As a result, the Council has withdrawn the procurement process to ensure compliance with its obligations under the legislation, including its responsibility to adequately advertise the opportunity and achieve best value.

(For the avoidance of doubt, the sizable range between the figures provided above is to assist in protecting the commercially sensitive information received by the Council as part of the withdrawn procurement process.)

In response to the updated commercial information made available to the Council, as part of the withdrawn procurement process, the Council are undertaking market engagement (via Prior Information Notice (PIN)) advertised on the Find a Tender Service and the equivalent notice on Contracts Finder.

The Council will be running a revised procurement process in compliance with the amended Public Contracts Regulations 2015 in due course. This notice is not being used as a call for competition. However, the information received in response to this notice will be key in assisting the Council to evaluate its options in regard this future procurement process, and the procedure which it uses.

The provisioning of the Service will include, but will not be limited to, the collection of stray dogs from within Council areas, providing of kennelling for stray dogs, reuniting dogs with their owners, collection of fees from reclaiming owners (on behalf of the Council) and the rehoming of unclaimed dogs.

As a result, we are seeking further information relating to the legitimate technical capability within the market to successfully undertake our Service. The information outlining the technical capability of an organisation will be reasonably considered against:

• the scale, scope and value of the Service needed by the Council;

• the compliance with relevant legislation related to the running of the Service; and

• ensuring any future Service is geared to meet the needs of the residents of the City

Significant information relating to the nature and requirements of the withdrawn procurement process, and the required Service, are available via the Council's electronic tendering facility (ETF). They are offered to allow the organisations within the market to make an informed decision regarding this market engagement.

The further documentation relating to this notice and the written submission required of any organisation looking to take part in this market engagement exercise is available via:

https://procurement.southend.gov.uk/southend/portal.nsf/index.htm

The project reference is: DN701887

The deadline for receipt of clarification requests relating to this market engagement is: 14:00 on Friday 5th January 2024

The deadline for submission of expression of interests in regard this market engagement is: 14:00 on Monday 15th January 2024

Further details relating to the aims of this market engagement, accompanying documentation, any future procurement process, the possible future choice of procedure, and how to take part in the market engagement are accessible using the link above.

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

1 February 2024


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

The further documentation relating to this notice and the written submission required of any organisation looking to take part in this market engagement exercise is available via:

https://procurement.southend.gov.uk/southend/portal.nsf/index.htm

The project reference is: DN701887

The deadline for receipt of clarification requests relating to this market engagement is: 14:00 on Friday 5th January 2024

The deadline for submission of expression of interests in regard this market engagement is: 14:00 on Monday 15th January 2024