Collective Energy Switching Scheme Kent

The Council is seeking to appoint (on behalf of the Participating Councils) a service provider to deliver an IT based solution to run a collective energy switching scheme. This will include undertaking engagement with energy suppliers to run (reverse) auctions on behalf of the residents of the Participating Councils.

UK-Royal Tunbridge Wells: IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

2013/S 014-019402

Contract notice

Services

Directive 2004/18/EC

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1)Name, addresses and contact point(s)

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Town Hall
For the attention of: Louise Woollen
TN1 1RS Royal Tunbridge Wells
UNITED KINGDOM
E-mail: louise.woollen@tunbridgewells.gov.uk

Internet address(es):

General address of the contracting authority: www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk

Electronic access to information: www.delta-esourcing.com

Electronic submission of tenders and requests to participate: www.delta-esourcing.com

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

Regional or local authority

I.3)Main activity

General public services
Environment
Housing and community amenities
Recreation, culture and religion

I.4)Contract award on behalf of other contracting authorities

The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities: yes

Dover District Council
Council Offices, White Cliffs Business Park, Whitfield
CT16 3PJ Dover
UNITED KINGDOM

Gravesham Borough Council
Civic Centre, Windmill Street
DA12 1AU Gravesend
UNITED KINGDOM

Dartford Borough Council
Civic Centre, Home Gardens
DA1 1DR Dartford
UNITED KINGDOM

Section II: Object of the contract

II.1)Description

II.1.1)Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority:

Collective Energy Switching Scheme

II.1.2)Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance

Services
Service category No 7: Computer and related services
NUTS code UKJ4

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)

IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support. Marketing services. Electronic auction services. The Local Authorities named below (the Participating Councils) have agreed that Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (the Council) shall act as the lead authority to act on behalf of the Participating Councils to jointly procure a suitably qualified intermediary to establish a collective energy switching scheme for their combined area. The joint aim of the Participating Councils is to run a local collective switching scheme to enable their residents to access a better deal on their energy bills, and make provision for vulnerable consumers within the scheme. The Council is seeking to appoint (on behalf of the Participating Councils) a service provider to deliver an IT based solution to run a collective energy switching scheme. This will include undertaking engagement with energy suppliers to run (reverse) auctions on behalf of the residents of the Participating Councils (including those residents using pre-paid meter cards and in affordable and/or social housing). However, the scheme should not exclude residents outside those administrative areas. The solution shall include:
1. Project management support for the lead authority;
2. A website to enable online registrations for the scheme;
3. Implementation of a paper based process for residents without access to the internet;
4. Robust data security measures to protect resident’s data;
5. A helpdesk service for residents’ queries regarding the auction;
6. Standardised marketing materials and communications support;
7. Training and and guidance to each Participating Council’s staff;
8. Energy supplier negotiation, communicating the results of the reverse auction and other associated administrative functions.
The intention is to initiate the first scheme at the start of March 2013 (in order to maximise the potential benefit to communities).
The Participating Councils are:
Dartford Borough Council
Dover District Council
Gravesham Borough Council
Tunbridge and Wells Borough Council

II.1.6)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

72000000, 79342000, 79342410

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: no

II.2)Quantity or scope of the contract

II.2.1)Total quantity or scope:

See paragraph 2 of the Additional Information set out in section VI.3 below.

II.2.2)Information about options

Options: no

II.2.3)Information about renewals

This contract is subject to renewal: yes
Number of possible renewals: 1
In the case of renewable supplies or service contracts, estimated timeframe for subsequent contracts:
in months: 12 (from the award of the contract)

II.3)Duration of the contract or time limit for completion

Duration in months: 12 (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:

The Council reserves the right to request deposits, guarantees or other forms of security. Further details will be provided in the tender documents.

III.1.2)Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them:

The main financing conditions and payment arrangements will be set out in 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:

Requests to participate may be submitted by a single candidate or a grouping of economic operators (consortia). In the event of a successful consortium bid, the Council may specify that the consortium takes a particular legal form and/or require that a single consortium member takes primary liability or that each member contracts on the basis of joint and several liability irrespective of the legal form accepted. Where a subsidiary is used, the ultimate parent company may be required to provide a guarantee in respect of the performance of the contract by the subsidiary.

III.1.4)Other particular conditions

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: Please refer to tender documents for requirements.

III.2.2)Economic and financial ability

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: See tender documents for requirements.
In accordance with Article 47 of Directive 2004/18/EC and Regulation 24 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (as amended).
An independent financial check will be undertaken to determine the financial stability of candidates.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required: See tender documents for required minimum levels of Public Liability and Employers Liability Insurance Cover.

III.2.3)Technical capacity

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met:
(j) An indication of the proportion of the contract which the services provider intends possibly to subcontract
In accordance with Articles 48 to 50 of Directive 2004/18/EC and Regulation 25 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (as amended).

III.2.4)Information about reserved contracts

III.3)Conditions specific to services contracts

III.3.1)Information about a particular profession

III.3.2)Staff responsible for the execution of the service

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1)Type of procedure

IV.1.1)Type of procedure

Open

IV.1.2)Limitations on the number of operators who will be invited to tender or to participate

IV.1.3)Reduction of the number of operators during the negotiation or dialogue

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:

IV.3.2)Previous publication(s) concerning the same contract

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

25.2.2013 – 15:00

IV.3.5)Date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates

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

in days: 90 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)

IV.3.8)Conditions for opening of tenders

Date: 25.2.2013 – 16:00
Place:

Committee Room C, Town Hall , Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1RS

Persons authorised to be present at the opening of tenders: no

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.1)Information about recurrence

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

1. (1) This contract opportunity is akin to a public services concession contract and, as such, the publication of a contract notice in respect of this opportunity is being undertaken by the Council (on behalf of the Participating Councils) on a voluntary basis.
(2) Moreover, as public services concession contracts are expressly excluded from the scope of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (as amended), the Council(s) do not consider themselves bound by those Regulations in any way.
(3) Any references to the EC Directive 2004/18/EC or the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (as amended) in this contract notice, or any other tender document(s) should be read with the above in mind.
(4) While the Council(s) are basing this tender process on the open procedure provided for in the Regulations, they do not consider themselves bound by the provisions regarding that procedure and reserve the right to depart from the open procedure as provided for in the Regulations at any time.
(5) In particular, the Council, entirely at its discretion, reserves the right to negotiate (for and on behalf of the Participating Councils) with the short listed bidders.
2. (1) The appointed service provider will be remunerated on a per-switcher commission basis.
(2) The level of commission is for the appointed service provider to determine with the energy suppliers. The contract value is indeterminate given that it will depend on the deal reached with energy suppliers for each scheme and the number of switchers over the life of the contract. The Council(s) offer no guarantee or assurance of any kind that any particular value will be achieved and/or maintained.
(3) The appointed service provider will share a level of the commission it receives with the Council. The level of commission to be shared with the Council will form the basis of the financial evaluation during the tender stage.
3. The BIP Solutions e-Source system will be used to facilitate this tender process. The Invitation to Tender and associated documents can be obtained from www.delta-esourcing.com

1. Go to the Home Page
2. Select Login/Register
3. Select Register as Supplier
4. Enter Personal Contact Details
5. Enter Organisation Details
6. Enter Access Code 666M77Y6YG in the appropriate box
7. Enter verification code (As displayed)
8. Tick Terms and Conditions
9. Press Signup
10. Go to Step Three – Confirmation
11. Open the tender box ‘Collective Energy Switching Scheme’ and upload the documents to your own IT system.
All communications should be made via this system.
Supplier registration is free of charge. If you experience problems, then please contact the Delta helpdesk via email: helpdesk@delta-esourcing.com or call 0845 270 7050 for further assistance.

5. Candidates are advised that the Council(s) are subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘the Act’). If a candidate considers that any of the information supplied as part of this procurement procedure should not be disclosed because of its commercial sensitivity, confidentiality or otherwise, they must, when providing this information, clearly identify the specific information they do not wish to be disclosed and clearly specify the reasons for its sensitivity. The Council(s) will take such statements into consideration in the event that it/they receive a request pursuant to the Act which relates to the information provided by the interested party.; Please note that it is not sufficient to include a statement of confidentiality encompassing all the information provided in the response.
6. The Council(s) shall not be responsible for any costs, charges or expenses incurred by the candidates or tenderers and accepts no liability for any costs, charges or expenses, irrespective of the outcome of the competition, or if the competition is cancelled or postponed.
7. The Council reserves the right to change any date(s) or time period(s) specified in this notice.
8. The Council reserves the right not to award any or part of this contract.
To view this notice, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/respondToList.html?noticeId=47669433

GO Reference: GO-2013115-PRO-4516053

VI.4)Procedures for appeal

VI.4.1)Body responsible for appeal procedures

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Town Hall
TN1 1RS Royal Tunbridge Wells
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 1892526121

VI.4.2)Lodging of appeals

Precise information on deadline(s) for lodging appeals: The Council will incorporate a voluntary standstill period at the point information on the contract is communicated to tenderers based on Regulation 32A of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (as amended). The Council will do so of its own preference and in the interests of transparency, but does not consider itself bound by those Regulations in any way.

VI.4.3)Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained

VI.5)Date of dispatch of this notice:15.1.2013