Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
The Highland Council
Glenurquhart Road
Inverness
IV3 5NX
Contact
Special Projects Category Management Team
CPSSprocurement@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 1463702386
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM6 - Highlands and Islands
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00045
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
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
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
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
Supply & Delivery of Power Tools & Associated Items and Specified Services – 2025 - HC
Reference number
HC/Pl-H&C/PTs/2025
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 42600000 - Machine tools
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
The Council wishes to appoint 1 suitably qualified, experienced and competent Supplier submitting the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), to provide Goods and Services, for the Supply & Delivery of Power Tools & Associated Items and Specified Services (Including Services - HAVS & Noise Testing, PAT and Servicing & Training of Power Tools & Associated Items), for Highland Council Area.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £291,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 42600000 - Machine tools
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM6 - Highlands and Islands
Main site or place of performance
The Highland Council Area
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Council wishes to appoint 1 suitably qualified, experienced and competent Supplier submitting the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), to provide Goods and Services, for the Supply & Delivery of Power Tools & Associated Items and Specified Services (Including Services - HAVS & Noise Testing, PAT and Servicing & Training of Power Tools & Associated Items), for Highland Council Area.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 40
Price - Weighting: 60
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £291,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
36
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The Contract shall be for a 36 month period, with the option of multiple extensions to be extended by up to 12 months, subject to mutual agreement.
two.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Envisaged minimum number: 3
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates:
Please see SPD Instruction document and Initial Invitation to Tender (IITT).
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues
Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue
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
The Bidder must provide a current copy of Goods Vehicle Operator (GVO) Licence.
Minimum Educational and Professional Qualifications:
Held by the Supplier/Sub-Contractor:
- Evidence of quality assurance systems, such as ISO 9001 certification or equivalent.
- Relevant vocational qualifications in logistics, procurement, or engineering (e.g., NVQ Level 3+ or equivalent).
- Health & Safety certifications (IOSH Managing Safely or NEBOSH General Certificate)
- At least 3–5 years of experience in the supply of power tools or industrial equipment.
- Ability to provide technical support, warranty management, and product compliance (e.g., CE/UKCA marking).
- PAT (portable appliance testing), City & Guilds 2377 qualification.
Held by Supplier/Sub-Contractor managerial staff:
- Level 4–6 qualification in procurement, business, logistics, or supply chain management.
- IOSH Managing Safely or NEBOSH General Certificate
- Minimum 3–5 years in contract or supply management, preferably in tools, equipment, or construction-related sectors.
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
Minimum level(s) of standards required.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
Provide the organisations audited accounts covering the last financial 3 years and include the audited accounts for the years that have been audited to date in the business area covered by the Contact;
The Council will use an independent credit scoring organisation, Creditsafe, to check the financial status of the winning bidder(s). To minimise risk of failure, the desired risk score should not be below Moderate Risk as a minimum. The Council shall take a view on the risk to the Council should the winning bidder(s) credit rating fall below this and may involve further detailed financial checking/assessment.
Where it is considered that the additional supporting information does not provide satisfaction that the risk is mitigated, the bidder(s) shall be disqualified.
The winning tenderer and its sub-contractor(s) to provide a current copy and have as a minimum,
- 5,000,000 GBP Employers Liability Insurance (where applicable) for each and every claim;
- 5,000,000 GBP Public Liability Insurance for each and every claim;
- 5,000,000 GBP Products Liability Insurance for each and every claim.
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
As per Minimum level(s) of standards required.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
Bidders must have relevant experience to deliver the Goods and Services as described and must provide the following:
Provide details of how Quality Assurance is managed within the organisation and a copy of the organisations current Quality Assurance Scheme or Quality Management Policy;
Provide details of how Health & Safety (H&S) is managed within the organisation and a copy of the organisations current H&S Assurance Scheme or H&S Policy (or Statement for organisations with fewer than 5 employees);
Provide 2 copies of current risk assessments specifically relating to similar activities currently undertaken (or Statement for organisations with fewer than 5 employees);
Provide 2 copies of current examples of training record specifically relating to similar activities currently undertaken;
Provide 2 relevant examples of supplies and services carried out in the past 3 years;
Provide a statement of the relevant supply chain management and/or tracking systems used for the requirement;
Provide details of the technicians or technical bodies who they can call upon, especially those responsible for quality control for the requirement;
Provide quality control institute certificates (or from agencies of recognised competence) confirming that products meet the technical specifications or standards;
Provide details of business continuity and contingency proposals for the requirement;
Provide details of provisional exit plan for the requirement;
Confirm if Sub-Contracting, list the sub-contractors they propose to use and state which part/s of the Contract the sub-contractor(s) shall deliver and approximate value (if any);
Confirm "Non-Disclosure” items relating to FOI(S)A obligations (if any).
IN ADDITION, BIDDERS ARE DIRECTED TO THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED IN THE TENDER DOCUMENTS IN RELATION TO THIS TENDER, WHICH BIDDERS SHALL COMPLY WITH.
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Bidders are directed to the Tender Documents which they must comply with.
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
Competitive procedure with negotiation
four.1.4) Information about reduction of the number of solutions or tenders during negotiation or dialogue
Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated
four.1.5) Information about negotiation
The contracting authority reserves the right to award the contract on the basis of the initial tenders without conducting negotiations
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: 2024/S 000-760811
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
10 October 2025
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
10 November 2025
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
Tender must be valid until: 22 May 2026
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: The Contract shall be for a 36 month period, with the option of multiple extensions to be extended by up to 12 months, subject to mutual agreement.
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
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 29171.
For more information see: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
For more information see the SPD-Instructions document and IITT document and for further information on using PCS-Tender, please contact the PCS-Tender Team pcs-tender@gov.scot
Tenderers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
Note this is a Competitive Procedure with Negotiation (CPwN)] with 2 stages:
1. Qualification - SPD - following the assessment of the submitted SPDs and associated documents, shortlisted suppliers who have met the selection criteria, shall be invited to submit an initial tender. Please read the SPD Instruction Document and note Submission of responses by Bidders to the SPD at 12:00hrs on 10/10/25.
2. Tenders (Initial Invitation to Tender (IITT))-please read the IITT Instruction Document and note Submission of responses by Bidders (those invited) to the IITT at 12:00hrs on 08/12/25.
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this PQQ exercise. The Project code is 29171. 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:
Itemised at Appendix 2.2 Community Benefits Information Requirements
(SC Ref:797913)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Inverness Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
The Inverness Justice Centre, Longman Road
Inverness
IV1 1AH
Telephone
+44 1463230782
Country
United Kingdom