Executive Recruitment Tender for Scottish Universities

Framework Agreement

UK-Edinburgh: placement services of personnel

2012/S 18-029157

Contract notice

Services

Directive 2004/18/EC

Section I: Contracting authority

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

APUC Limited
14 New Mart Road
Contact point(s): Operational Procurement
For the attention of: Michael McLaughlin
EH14 1RL Edinburgh
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 1314428930
Fax: +44 1314428931

Internet address(es):

General address of the contracting authority: http://www.apuc-scot.ac.uk/home.htm

Address of the buyer profile: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10402

Further information can be obtained from: APUC Limited
14 New Mart Road
Contact point(s): Operational Procurement
For the attention of: Michael McLaughlin
EH14 1RL Edinburgh
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 1314428930
E-mail: mmclaughlin@apuc-scot.ac.uk
Fax: +44 1314428931
Internet address: http://www.apuc-scot.ac.uk/home.htm

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

Body governed by public law

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

Aberdeen College

Adam Smith College

Angus College

Anniesland College

Ayr College

Banff and Buchan College

Barony College

Borders College

Cardonald College

Carnegie College

Central College of Commerce

Clydebank College

Coatbridge College

Cumbernauld College

Dumfries and Galloway College

Dundee College

Edinburghs Telford College

Elmwood College

Forth Valley College

Glasgow College of Nautical Studies

Glasgow Metropolitan College

Inverness College

James Watt College

Jewel and Esk College

John Wheatley College

Kilmarnock College

Langside College

Lews Castle College

Moray College

Motherwell College

Newbattle Abbey College

North Glasgow College

North Highland College

Oatridge College

Orkney College

Perth College

Reid Kerr College

Sabhal Mor Ostaig

Shetland College

South Lanarkshire College

Stevenson College

Stow College

West Lothian College

Edinburgh College of Art

Edinburgh Napier University

Glasgow Caledonian University

Glasgow School of Art

Heriot-Watt University

Queen Margaret University

Robert Gordon University

Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

Scottish Agricultural College

UHI Millennium Institute

University of Aberdeen

University of Abertay Dundee

University of Dundee

University of Edinburgh

University of Glasgow

University of St Andrews

University of Stirling

University of Strathclyde

University of the West of Scotland

Members of the following purchasing consortia have agreed in principle to participate in the Framework Agreement: Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges, London Universities Purchasing Consortium, North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium, North Eastern Universities Purchasing Consortium, Higher Education Purchasing Consortium Wales, and Southern Universities Purchasing Consortium. Each relevant Institution/ Consortium may join the new Framework Agreement when their existing supply agreements expire; this means that from the beginning of the Framework Agreement, participation would be phased in. The Framework Agreement will also be available for use by the other UK Higher Education regional purchasing consortia as well as all Higher and Further Education institutions in the UK should they wish to join the Framework Agreement at a later date; this will be with the prior agreement of the participating consortia

Section II: Object of the contract

II.1)Description

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

Executive Recruitment.

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

Services
Service category No 22: Personnel placement and supply services
Main site or location of works, place of delivery or of performance: Multiple UK Higher and Further Education Institutions.
NUTS code UK

II.1.3)Information about a public contract, a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system (DPS)

The notice involves the establishment of a framework agreement

II.1.4)Information on framework agreement

Framework agreement with several operators
maximum number of participants to the framework agreement envisaged: 10
Duration of the framework agreement

Duration in years: 4
Estimated total value of purchases for the entire duration of the framework agreement

Estimated value excluding VAT:
Range: between 20 000 000 and 40 000 000 GBP

II.1.5)Short description of the contract or purchase(s)

APUC Ltd is seeking Contractors to provide executive recruitment (headhunting) services for senior roles within the UK Higher and Further Education Sector.
The scope of the Services to be provided under this Framework Agreement fall within the definition of a “Part B” Services Framework Agreement as listed in Annex II B of Directive 2004/18/EC and Part B of Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 as amended.
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=218766.

The awarding authority has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via a ‘Tender Submission Postbox’ facility. Further details of this facility are available at http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/PostBox/Postbox_Explain.aspx?ID=218766.

Suppliers 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. The postbox closes precisely at the time stated.

II.1.6)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79610000, 79600000

II.1.7)Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

II.1.8)Lots

This contract is divided into lots: yes
Tenders may be submitted for one or more lots

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:

The scope of the Services to be provided under this Framework Agreement fall within the definition of a “Part B” Services Framework Agreement as listed in Annex II B of Directive 2004/18/EC and Part B of Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 as amended.
The supply and delivery of executive search and headhunting services to UK universities and colleges.
Full details will be provided in the Invitation to Tender document.
Estimated value excluding VAT:
Range: between 20 000 000 and 40 000 000 GBP

II.2.2)Information about options

Options: yes
Description of these options: The duration of the Framework Agreement is 36 months with the option to extend for an additional year.
Provisional timetable for recourse to these options:
in months: 36 (from the award of the contract)

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

Starting 2.4.2012. Completion 1.4.2016

Information about lots

Lot No: 1 Lot title: Academic Sector Specific Senior Roles

1)Short description

APUC Ltd is seeking to appoint Executive Search Agents to provide headhunting services for Higher and Further Education institutions in the UK, to recruit executives for academic sector specific senior roles.

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79610000, 79600000

3)Quantity or scope

It is envisaged that APUC Ltd shall appoint up to five (5) Contractors to service this lot. Contractors for Call-Off Contracts will be appointed by mini-competition once the requirement has been identified by the Institution.
The scope of the Services to be provided under this Framework Agreement fall within the definition of a “Part B” Services Framework Agreement as listed in Annex II B of Directive 2004/18/EC and Part B of Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 as amended.

4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion

5)Additional information about lots

Lot No: 2 Lot title: Professional Services Directors

1)Short description

APUC Ltd is seeking to appoint executive recruitment agents to provide headhunting services for the assessment and supply of professional services directors to Higher Education and Further Education Institutions in the UK.

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79610000, 79600000

3)Quantity or scope

It is envisaged that APUC Ltd shall appoint up to 5 (five) Contractors to service this lot. Contactors will be ranked in order of their scores, with the Contractor obtaining the highest score ranked first.
The scope of the Services to be provided under this Framework Agreement fall within the definition of a “Part B” Services Framework Agreement as listed in Annex II B of Directive 2004/18/EC and Part B of Schedule 3 to the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 as amended.

4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion

5)Additional information about lots

Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information

III.1)Conditions relating to the contract

III.1.1)Deposits and guarantees required:

Details to be provided in the Invitation to Tender.

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

Details to be provided in the Invitation to Tender.

III.1.3)Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded:

Details to be provided in the Invitation to Tender.

III.1.4)Other particular conditions

The performance of the contract is subject to particular conditions: yes
Description of particular conditions: Details to be provided in the Invitation to Tender.

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: Tenderers must demonstrate business probity. If one or more questions are applicable, APUC Ltd shall treat the Tenderer as ineligible.
Tenderers must confirm whether any of the directors, partners or any other person who has the powers of representation, decision or control of the organisation ever been convicted of criminal offences specified in the Invitation to Tender.
If one or more questions are applicable, APUC Ltd shall treat the Tenderer as ineligible.

III.2.2)Economic and financial ability

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: Where a business is established and is required to have its accounts audited, the last 2 years audited accounts must be provided.
or
If a business is exempt from the audit requirement, the last two years annual accounts must be provided and certified by an independent Chartered Accountant or accompanied by a positive banker’s reference for the bidder.
or
If a business was recently set up and not audited, annual or endorsed accounts have been produced, unaudited or management accounts for the 3 months prior to the application date must be provided and certified by an independent Chartered Accountant or accompanied by a positive bankers reference for the bidder.
and
If a business is part of a group, you will need to include similar accounts for the parent and ultimate holding companies.
Non-provision of such evidence to a satisfactory standard will be deemed to be a failure to meet minimum standards of economic and financial standing and Tenderers will be eliminated from the tendering process.
Tenderers must provide evidence of relevant insurance as detailed in the Invitation to Tender, including Employers liability insurance, Public liability insurance and professional liability insurance.

III.2.3)Technical capacity

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met:
Tenderers must agree to the provision of management information reports.
Tenderers must offer a minimum placement guarantee of 12 months.
Lot 1 only – Tenderers must have completed a minimum of 5 Senior Academic Sector Specific assignments in the last 3 years with evidence attached.

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

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

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 below

1. Technical. Weighting 65

2. Financial. Weighting 35

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:

BA-PFB015

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

Prior information notice

Notice number in the OJEU: 2011/S 147-244618 of 8.8.2011

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

23.2.2012 – 12:00

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

IV.3.8)Conditions for opening tenders

Date: 22.2.2012 – 14:00
Place:

APUC Ltd, 14 New Mart Road, Edinburgh, EH14 1RL via the Public Contracts Scotland website.

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.1)Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: 36 to 48 months after Contract Award

VI.2)Information about European Union funds

VI.3)Additional information

(SC Ref:218766).

VI.4)Procedures for appeal

VI.4.1)Body responsible for appeal procedures

VI.4.2)Lodging of appeals

Precise information on deadline(s) for lodging appeals: Placement of personnel is a Part B service, however, APUC Ltd will incorporate a voluntary standstill period of 10 days following electronic notification to unsuccessful applicants of the award decision.

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

VI.5)Date of dispatch of this notice:25.1.2012