School Support Service Solution.
Contract notice
Services
Section I: Contracting authority
I.1)Name, addresses and contact point(s)
Academies Enterprise Trust
Kilnfield House, Foundry Business Park, Station Approach
For the attention of: Vik Verma
SS5 4HS Hockley
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 7826840561
E-mail:
Fax: +44 1702207605
Internet address(es):
General address of the contracting authority: http://www.academiesenterprisetrust.org
Further information can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)
Specifications and additional documents (including documents for competitive dialogue and a dynamic purchasing system) can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to: The above mentioned contact point(s)
I.2)Type of the contracting authority
Other: School Academy Trust
I.3)Main activity
Education
I.4)Contract award on behalf of other contracting authorities
The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities: yes
Section II: Object of the contract
II.1)Description
II.1.1)Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority:
School Support Service Solution.
II.1.2)Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance
Services
Service category No 11: Management consulting services [6] and related services
Main site or location of works, place of delivery or of performance: The services will be required throughout the United Kingdom.
Service category No 11: Management consulting services [6] and related services
Main site or location of works, place of delivery or of performance: The services will be required throughout the United Kingdom.
NUTS code UK
II.1.3)Information about a public contract, a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system (DPS)
The notice involves a public contract
II.1.4)Information on framework agreement
II.1.5)Short description of the contract or purchase(s)
AET is seeking to establish a shared services vehicle to deliver all transactional, commercial and centre of excellence services to the AET Group in conjunction with a commercial provider.
For the avoidance of doubt, the AET Group includes: AET, its subsidiary companies, AET Solutions, London Academies Enterprise Trust, Unity City Academy, all existing academies and any new subsidiaries or schools added to the AET Group in the future.
AET requires expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced organisations to enter into an agreement to deliver the services to the AET Group.
The delivery of the services will be via the setting-up of a joint venture, which it is envisaged will be a Limited Liability Partnership ('LLP') or another appropriate corporate structure with a commercial provider ('Joint Venture Partner'). The joint venture will then contract with the AET Group to provide the services ('Services Contract').
The subject of this procurement is to select the Joint Venture Partner and the associated Services Contract. It is envisaged that the proposed joint venture, via the Services Contract and/or via third party contracts procured by the joint venture for the benefit of the AET Group, would deliver services relating to potentially all aspects of AET's business operations including, without limitation, in the following areas:
a. Transactional (including back office) services
- Finance - including accounting, audit, financial advice, business planning, procurement, contract and supply chain management, compliance, risk management and assurance services;
- Facilities management - including both hard and soft facilities management services;
- Human resources - including employee relations, payroll, policy development, reward and remuneration services, business change advice, equality and diversity advice, and selection and recruitment;
- Information and communications technology - including infrastructure services and learning technology support;
- Business intelligence - including infrastructure services and technology advice;
- Operations - including support in the development of transactional services through project management, risk management and continuous improvement; and
- Procurement - including purchasing and contract management.
b. Commercial
Commercial services will ensure the effective use of school funds and assets and wider consultancy and business development support. The commercial team will enable academies to identify external sources of revenue to support the delivery of education. This service would include consultancy and business development support. This service will also oversee the management of leisure facilities and community use.
c. Centre of excellence
Centre of excellence including a full range of educational support and advisory services. The service encompasses the school improvement services required to support every AET academy to achieve and sustain outstanding education. The services cannot replace the education of students within academies by teachers, but instead will support the delivery of education through challenge, monitoring and support.
It is proposed that services will be introduced in a phased manner with the early phases focusing on transactional services. The final approach will be determined as part of the negotiation stage of this procurement.
As part of its role as the Joint Venture Partner, the commercial provider will also be required to provide governance, project management, implementation, transition and exit services over the life of the joint venture. It will also be required to help identify new business opportunities that the joint venture may develop and/or tender for and to support any related bidding processes.
It is also envisaged that:
(i) the Joint Venture Partner will provide expertise to develop the infrastructure and processes to provide the services;
(ii) the Joint Venture Partner will be required to identify investment opportunities related to AET's business operations and, if required, to provide such investment itself and/or secure appropriate third party funding; and
(iii) the joint venture will inherit various legacy contracts, relevant staff and relevant assets from the AET Group as determined through this procurement.
Initially the joint venture vehicle will supply services exclusively to the AET Group but may, in the future, provide services to other education providers. The joint venture vehicle will provide significant parts of the services itself, but may also subcontract or procure other third parties to provide certain services as agreed in any relevant contract documentation that will be agreed between the parties.
Currently, transactional (including back office), commercial and centre of excellence (educational support and advisory) services are provided either by the AET Group or are outsourced to third party providers via services contracts. It is envisaged that the joint venture company will manage these contracts within its scope and/or itself deliver these services.
The aim of the joint venture will be to consolidate services within the scope of the Requirements across the AET Group. The venture will ensure value for money through continuous improvement across the AET Group can be achieved whilst still providing a world-class service to our academies. The successful venture will enable AET to continue to deliver outstanding educational outcomes for our students.
For the avoidance of doubt, the AET Group includes: AET, its subsidiary companies, AET Solutions, London Academies Enterprise Trust, Unity City Academy, all existing academies and any new subsidiaries or schools added to the AET Group in the future.
AET requires expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced organisations to enter into an agreement to deliver the services to the AET Group.
The delivery of the services will be via the setting-up of a joint venture, which it is envisaged will be a Limited Liability Partnership ('LLP') or another appropriate corporate structure with a commercial provider ('Joint Venture Partner'). The joint venture will then contract with the AET Group to provide the services ('Services Contract').
The subject of this procurement is to select the Joint Venture Partner and the associated Services Contract. It is envisaged that the proposed joint venture, via the Services Contract and/or via third party contracts procured by the joint venture for the benefit of the AET Group, would deliver services relating to potentially all aspects of AET's business operations including, without limitation, in the following areas:
a. Transactional (including back office) services
- Finance - including accounting, audit, financial advice, business planning, procurement, contract and supply chain management, compliance, risk management and assurance services;
- Facilities management - including both hard and soft facilities management services;
- Human resources - including employee relations, payroll, policy development, reward and remuneration services, business change advice, equality and diversity advice, and selection and recruitment;
- Information and communications technology - including infrastructure services and learning technology support;
- Business intelligence - including infrastructure services and technology advice;
- Operations - including support in the development of transactional services through project management, risk management and continuous improvement; and
- Procurement - including purchasing and contract management.
b. Commercial
Commercial services will ensure the effective use of school funds and assets and wider consultancy and business development support. The commercial team will enable academies to identify external sources of revenue to support the delivery of education. This service would include consultancy and business development support. This service will also oversee the management of leisure facilities and community use.
c. Centre of excellence
Centre of excellence including a full range of educational support and advisory services. The service encompasses the school improvement services required to support every AET academy to achieve and sustain outstanding education. The services cannot replace the education of students within academies by teachers, but instead will support the delivery of education through challenge, monitoring and support.
It is proposed that services will be introduced in a phased manner with the early phases focusing on transactional services. The final approach will be determined as part of the negotiation stage of this procurement.
As part of its role as the Joint Venture Partner, the commercial provider will also be required to provide governance, project management, implementation, transition and exit services over the life of the joint venture. It will also be required to help identify new business opportunities that the joint venture may develop and/or tender for and to support any related bidding processes.
It is also envisaged that:
(i) the Joint Venture Partner will provide expertise to develop the infrastructure and processes to provide the services;
(ii) the Joint Venture Partner will be required to identify investment opportunities related to AET's business operations and, if required, to provide such investment itself and/or secure appropriate third party funding; and
(iii) the joint venture will inherit various legacy contracts, relevant staff and relevant assets from the AET Group as determined through this procurement.
Initially the joint venture vehicle will supply services exclusively to the AET Group but may, in the future, provide services to other education providers. The joint venture vehicle will provide significant parts of the services itself, but may also subcontract or procure other third parties to provide certain services as agreed in any relevant contract documentation that will be agreed between the parties.
Currently, transactional (including back office), commercial and centre of excellence (educational support and advisory) services are provided either by the AET Group or are outsourced to third party providers via services contracts. It is envisaged that the joint venture company will manage these contracts within its scope and/or itself deliver these services.
The aim of the joint venture will be to consolidate services within the scope of the Requirements across the AET Group. The venture will ensure value for money through continuous improvement across the AET Group can be achieved whilst still providing a world-class service to our academies. The successful venture will enable AET to continue to deliver outstanding educational outcomes for our students.
II.1.6)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)
79400000, 79000000, 60000000, 79210000, 72222300, 79631000, 79993000, 79418000, 79200000, 79211000, 79414000, 79211110, 79993100, 98000000, 79310000, 79311410, 79413000, 80410000, 85311300, 85312320, 79300000, 79342000, 79634000, 80310000, 85312300, 80500000, 92000000, 79311400, 79411100, 80000000, 80340000, 80510000, 79410000, 79411000, 75200000, 79312000, 85312310, 80511000, 80570000
II.1.7)Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): no
II.1.8)Lots
This contract is divided into lots: no
II.1.9)Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: yes
II.2)Quantity or scope of the contract
II.2.1)Total quantity or scope:
Details of the scope of the project are already given at section II.1.5 above. An estimate is given below relating to the project in terms of its potential value in GBP including all options. This is an estimate only and the actual contract value over the life of the contract may be more or less than this estimate depending on the tenders received and the options exercised (if any).
Estimated value excluding VAT:
Range: between 200 000 000 and 400 000 000 GBP
Estimated value excluding VAT:
Range: between 200 000 000 and 400 000 000 GBP
II.2.2)Information about options
Options: yes
Description of these options: The Services Contract (as defined in Section II.1.5) will be for an initial period of 7 years with options (to be exercisable under the Services Contract) to extend the Services Contract for a period or periods up to a further 3 years depending on business needs. The joint venture may continue beyond the duration of the Services Contract subject to AET's procurement strategy in relation to any re-competition of the Services Contract.
Description of these options: The Services Contract (as defined in Section II.1.5) will be for an initial period of 7 years with options (to be exercisable under the Services Contract) to extend the Services Contract for a period or periods up to a further 3 years depending on business needs. The joint venture may continue beyond the duration of the Services Contract subject to AET's procurement strategy in relation to any re-competition of the Services Contract.
II.2.3)Information about renewals
This contract is subject to renewal: no
II.3)Duration of the contract or time limit for completion
Duration in months: 120 (from the award of the contract)
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1)Conditions relating to the contract
III.1.1)Deposits and guarantees required:
If it is considered appropriate by the contracting authority, an indemnity, guarantee, bond or other form of appropriate security may be required.
III.1.2)Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them:
As contained within the tender documents.
III.1.3)Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded:
The contracting authority reserves the right to require groupings of economic operators to take a particular legal form or to require a single economic operator to take primary liability for a contract to be performed by a group of economic operators or to require each party to undertake joint and several liability in respect of the entire contract irrespective of the form the grouping takes.
III.1.4)Other particular conditions
The performance of the contract is subject to particular conditions: yes
Description of particular conditions: As contained in the tender documents.
Description of particular conditions: As contained in the tender documents.
III.2)Conditions for participation
III.2.1)Personal situation of economic operators, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: In accordance with Articles 45 and 46 of Directive 2004/18/EC and Regulation 23 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006, as set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire available from the address in section I.1.
III.2.2)Economic and financial ability
Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: In accordance with Article 47 of Directive 2004/18/EC and Regulation 24 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006, as set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire available from the address specified in Section I.1.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required: As set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required: As set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire.
III.2.3)Technical capacity
Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met:
In accordance with Article 48 of Directive 2004/18/EC and Regulation 25 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006, as set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required:
As set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire.
In accordance with Article 48 of Directive 2004/18/EC and Regulation 25 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006, as set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required:
As set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire.
III.2.4)Information about reserved contracts
III.3)Conditions specific to services contracts
III.3.1)Information about a particular profession
Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession: no
III.3.2)Staff responsible for the execution of the service
Legal persons should indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff responsible for the execution of the service: yes
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1)Type of procedure
IV.1.1)Type of procedure
Negotiated
Some candidates have already been selected (if appropriate under certain types of negotiated procedures) no
Some candidates have already been selected (if appropriate under certain types of negotiated procedures) no
IV.1.2)Limitations on the number of operators who will be invited to tender or to participate
Envisaged minimum number 3
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates: As set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire available from the address in section I.1.
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates: As set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire available from the address in section I.1.
IV.1.3)Reduction of the number of operators during the negotiation or dialogue
Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated yes
IV.2)Award criteria
IV.2.1)Award criteria
The most economically advantageous tender in terms of the criteria stated in the specifications, in the invitation to tender or to negotiate or in the descriptive document
IV.2.2)Information about electronic auction
An electronic auction will be used: no
IV.3)Administrative information
IV.3.1)File reference number attributed by the contracting authority:
POSS1213
IV.3.2)Previous publication(s) concerning the same contract
no
IV.3.3)Conditions for obtaining specifications and additional documents or descriptive document
IV.3.4)Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
17.1.2014 - 16:00
IV.3.5)Date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
5.2.2014
IV.3.6)Language(s) in which tenders or requests to participate may be drawn up
English.
IV.3.7)Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
IV.3.8)Conditions for opening of tenders
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1)Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: no
VI.2)Information about European Union funds
The contract is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no
VI.3)Additional information
Section I.4) Reference in this section to the contracting authority purchasing on behalf of other contract authorities is a reference to the fact that the arrangements are being put in place for the benefit of the AET Group, which includes AET, its subsidiary companies, AET Solutions, London Academies Enterprise Trust, Unity City Academy, all their existing academy schools and any new subsidiaries or schools added to the group in the future.
Section II.1.9): Reference in this section to variant bids is a reference to proposed solutions under the negotiated procedure. AET may permit those bidders invited to negotiate to propose and/or submit bids for more than one solution. Where this is permitted, the requirements for any additional solutions will be set out in the invitation to negotiate.
Section II.2.1) The value range specified is an estimate and indicative only. Since the full extent of the services required will only emerge as the contract progresses, and necessary services are identified, the final contract value may fall above or below this value range. The upper figure also includes the potential options detailed in Section II.2.2.
Section II.2.2) and II.3): The Services Contract (as defined in Section II.1.5) will be for an initial period of seven years with options (to be exercisable under the Services Contract) to extend the Services Contract for a period or periods up to a further three years depending on business needs giving a total term of 10 years. The joint venture may continue beyond the duration of the Services Contract subject to AET's procurement strategy in relation to any re-competition of the Services Contract.
Section III.3.2): The requirements in relation to the names, professional qualifications and experience of the staff responsible for the execution of the services will be as set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire, which is available from the address specified in section I.1.
Section IV.1.2): The minimum number relates to the number to be invited to negotiate. AET reserves the right to invite less than 3 bidders to negotiate should there be less than 3 bidders interested and pre-qualified.
Section IV.3.4): Requests to participate must be made by completing and returning a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire by the date and time (which refers to GMT) specified in section IV.3.4 and in accordance with the instructions set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire. Completed Pre-Qualification Questionnaires submitted after the deadline may not be considered. The Pre-Qualification Questionnaire will be made available to potential providers who have registered their interest via the email address set out at section I.1.
Section IV.3.5): The date for issue of invitation to negotiate documents is provisional and may be subject to change.
Right to Cancel: AET reserves the right to discontinue the procurement process at any time, which shall include the right not to award a contract, and does not bind itself to accept the lowest tender, or any tender received, and reserves the right to award the contract in part, or to call for new tenders should it consider this necessary.
AET shall not be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by any candidate or tenderer in connection with the completion and return of the information requested in this Contract Notice, or in the completion or submission of any tender, irrespective of the outcome of the competition or if the competition is cancelled or postponed.
All dates, time periods and values specified in this notice are provisional and AET reserves the right to change these.
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs): AET is keen to encourage the involvement of SMEs and supplier diversity and is therefore willing to consider options and approaches which provide opportunities for supplier diversity within bidders' supply chains.
Section II.1.9): Reference in this section to variant bids is a reference to proposed solutions under the negotiated procedure. AET may permit those bidders invited to negotiate to propose and/or submit bids for more than one solution. Where this is permitted, the requirements for any additional solutions will be set out in the invitation to negotiate.
Section II.2.1) The value range specified is an estimate and indicative only. Since the full extent of the services required will only emerge as the contract progresses, and necessary services are identified, the final contract value may fall above or below this value range. The upper figure also includes the potential options detailed in Section II.2.2.
Section II.2.2) and II.3): The Services Contract (as defined in Section II.1.5) will be for an initial period of seven years with options (to be exercisable under the Services Contract) to extend the Services Contract for a period or periods up to a further three years depending on business needs giving a total term of 10 years. The joint venture may continue beyond the duration of the Services Contract subject to AET's procurement strategy in relation to any re-competition of the Services Contract.
Section III.3.2): The requirements in relation to the names, professional qualifications and experience of the staff responsible for the execution of the services will be as set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire, which is available from the address specified in section I.1.
Section IV.1.2): The minimum number relates to the number to be invited to negotiate. AET reserves the right to invite less than 3 bidders to negotiate should there be less than 3 bidders interested and pre-qualified.
Section IV.3.4): Requests to participate must be made by completing and returning a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire by the date and time (which refers to GMT) specified in section IV.3.4 and in accordance with the instructions set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire. Completed Pre-Qualification Questionnaires submitted after the deadline may not be considered. The Pre-Qualification Questionnaire will be made available to potential providers who have registered their interest via the email address set out at section I.1.
Section IV.3.5): The date for issue of invitation to negotiate documents is provisional and may be subject to change.
Right to Cancel: AET reserves the right to discontinue the procurement process at any time, which shall include the right not to award a contract, and does not bind itself to accept the lowest tender, or any tender received, and reserves the right to award the contract in part, or to call for new tenders should it consider this necessary.
AET shall not be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by any candidate or tenderer in connection with the completion and return of the information requested in this Contract Notice, or in the completion or submission of any tender, irrespective of the outcome of the competition or if the competition is cancelled or postponed.
All dates, time periods and values specified in this notice are provisional and AET reserves the right to change these.
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs): AET is keen to encourage the involvement of SMEs and supplier diversity and is therefore willing to consider options and approaches which provide opportunities for supplier diversity within bidders' supply chains.
Transparency: AET is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) and may be required to disclose information received in the course of this procurement under FOIA or the EIR. In addition, and in accordance with the UK Government's policies on transparency, AET intends to publish procurement documentation and the text of any resulting contractual arrangements, subject to possible redactions at the discretion of AET. Any redactions, whether in relation to information requests under FOIA, the EIR or policies on transparency will be in accordance with those grounds prescribed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. Further information on transparency can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-and-contracting-transparency-requirements-guidance
VI.4)Procedures for appeal
VI.4.1)Body responsible for appeal procedures
As specified in section I.1 and the address/URL details remain the same.
VI.4.2)Lodging of appeals
Precise information on deadline(s) for lodging appeals: AET will incorporate a standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. That notification will provide full information on the award decision. The standstill period, which will be for a minimum of 10 calendar days, provides time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract is entered into.
Part 9 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (SI 2006 No 5) (as amended) provides for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the Regulations to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Any such action must be brought within the applicable limitation periods.
Part 9 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (SI 2006 No 5) (as amended) provides for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the Regulations to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Any such action must be brought within the applicable limitation periods.
VI.4.3)Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained
VI.5)Date of dispatch of this notice:
12.12.2013