Awarded contract

Remote Locum Meat Hygiene Inspection Services

  • Food Standards Scotland (FSS)

F25: Concession award notice

Notice reference: 2023/S 000-036881

Published 15 December 2023, 8:43am



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Food Standards Scotland (FSS)

4th Floor, Pilgrim House, Old Ford Road

Aberdeen

AB11 5RL

Contact

Callum Ross

Email

callum.ross@gov.scot

Telephone

+44 1224285172

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKM - Scotland

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.foodstandards.gov.scot

Buyer's address

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA24524

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

National or federal Agency/Office

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Remote Locum Meat Hygiene Inspection Services

Reference number

FSS/2023/010G

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 85200000 - Veterinary services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The supplier will provide a service for the delivery of Official Controls (OCs) in accordance with relevant UK law in FSS AMEs. Typically, this also includes routine attendance in Approved Game Handling Establishments (AGHEs) for joint veterinary and inspector functions and duties. This contract covers remote areas within Scotland or reduced attendance requirements, where it would be uneconomical for FSS to deploy its own official veterinarians and/or meat hygiene inspectors. The requirement for these services is on a locum basis.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £45,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This concession is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £45,000

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85200000 - Veterinary services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM - Scotland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Food Standards Scotland’s (FSS) primary concern is consumer protection - making sure that food is safe to eat; ensuring consumers know what they are eating and improving nutrition. This contract will support this objective through the provision of verification through inspection and health marking in FSS Approved Meat Establishments (AMEs).

The supplier will provide a service for the delivery of Official Controls (OCs) in accordance with relevant UK law in FSS AMEs. Typically, this also includes routine attendance in Approved Game Handling Establishments (AGHEs) for joint veterinary and inspector functions and duties.

The contract covers remote areas within Scotland or reduced attendance requirements, where it would be uneconomical for FSS to deploy its own official veterinarians and/or meat hygiene inspectors. The requirement for these services is on a locum basis.

The initial contract period is for three years. There is an option to extend the contract for up to a further two years, i.e. up to a maximum contract period of five years.

The requirement has been divided into 6 lots by geographical area of performance. The collective estimated value of all contracts over the 5-year period is approximately GBP500K.

The figure shown under “Estimated value” represents our estimate of the maximum potential value. However, the contract is demand-led and out-turn value is likely to be less than this.

Whilst conducting market research it was found that there were no other qualified suppliers who could provide the services required under this contract on a local basis.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Concession is awarded on the basis of the criteria described below:

  • Criterion: All tenders will be evaluated to ensure compliance with FSS’s minimum requirements as set out in the Specification and Invitation to Tender
  • Criterion: All sections will be evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis, Tenderers must achieve a ‘Pass’ for all sections of the evaluation to be awarded a Contract

two.2.7) Duration of the concession

Duration in months

60

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 four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Form of procedure

Award procedure without prior publication of a concession notice in the cases listed below

  • The services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
    • absence of competition for technical reasons

Explanation:

The supplier will provide a service for the delivery of Official Controls (OCs) in accordance with relevant UK law in FSS AMEs. Typically, this also includes routine attendance in Approved Game Handling Establishments (AGHEs) for joint veterinary and inspector functions and duties.

The contract covers remote areas within Scotland or reduced attendance requirements, where it would be uneconomical for FSS to deploy its own official veterinarians and/or meat hygiene inspectors. The requirement for these services is on a locum basis.

Whilst conducting market research it was found that there were no other suppliers who could provide the services required under this contract on a local basis. The following justifications were given for this contract to be established via Non-competitive action with VEAT:

- The current contract has reported to have been performing well to date.

- No alternative suppliers were identified through the market research/benchmarking exercise


Section five. Award of concession

A concession/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of concession

five.2.1) Date of concession award decision

14 December 2023

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 1

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1

The concession has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the concessionaire

VSK Associates Ltd

51, Main Street

Dunlop

KA34AF

Telephone

+44 7792130967

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
The concessionaire is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of concession and main financing terms (excluding VAT)

Total value of the concession/lot: £45,000


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

(SC Ref:753371)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Edinburgh Sheriff Court & Justice of the Peace Court

Edinburgh

EH1 1LB

Country

United Kingdom