Legal Services Framework Agreement

UK-London: Legal services

2013/S 091-155251

Contract notice

Services

Directive 2004/18/EC

Section I: Contracting authority

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

Network Housing Group Limited
Olympic Office Centre, 8 Fulton Road, Wembley
For the attention of: Cora Marler
HA9 0NU London
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 2070619000

Internet address(es):

General address of the contracting authority: http://www.networkhg.org.uk/

Address of the buyer profile: http://www.mytenders.org/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0441

Further information can be obtained from: Sweett (UK) Limited
60 Gray’s Inn Road
For the attention of: Applicants must register through MyTenders
WC1X 8AQ London
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 2070619000
Internet address: http://www.sweettgroup.com/

Specifications and additional documents (including documents for competitive dialogue and a dynamic purchasing system) can be obtained from: Sweett (UK) Limited
60 Gray’s Inn Road
For the attention of: Applicants must register through MyTenders
WC1X 8AQ London
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 2070619000
Internet address: http://www.sweettgroup.com/

Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to: Sweett (UK) Limited
60 Gray’s Inn Road
For the attention of: Applicants must submit through MyTenders
WC1X 8AQ London
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 2070619000
Internet address: http://www.sweettgroup.com/

I.2)Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

I.3)Main activity

Housing and community amenities

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

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

Yes, Please refer to Section II.1.5)

Section II: Object of the contract

II.1)Description

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

Legal Services Framework Agreement.

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

Services
Service category No 21: Legal services
Main site or location of works, place of delivery or of performance: Greater London, Inner London.
NUTS code UKJ

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 months: 48

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

Network Housing Group wish to establish a framework of Solicitors in connection with the contract provision and negotiation of the requirements which include mainly the provision of new homes including affordable rented accommodation, low cost home ownerships, private sale, mixed tenure schemes and some major refurbishment and regeneration.
Under the Framework Agreement Network Housing Group Limited and its subsidiaries (both current and future) will have the option to call-off contracts with Legal Advisors as and when works are required. The current subsidiaries of Network Housing Group Limited are Community Trust Housing, London Strategic Housing, Network Stadium Housing Association, Riversmead Housing Association, Willow Housing and Care and Network New Build Ltd (NNBL).
In addition, other Social Housing Providers in the UK (both those that are in existence now and those that may come into existence during the term of the Framework Agreement) will also be entitled to call-off contracts under the Framework Agreement. “Social Housing Provider“ for this purpose means any provider of social housing and includes Registered Providers (as listed on the Tenant Services Authority Website:
www.tenantservicesauthority.org), Local Authorities and ALMOs.

Applicants should note that, under the Framework Agreement, no organisation that is entitled to call off shall be under any obligation to do so.
Note: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the myTenders Web Site at http://www.myTenders.org/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=104256

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.myTenders.org/PostBox/Postbox_Explain.aspx?ID=104256

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)

79100000, 79110000, 79111000, 79112000, 79130000, 79140000

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

The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): yes

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:

Network Housing Group was established in 1974. It owns and manages 18,000 homes, mostly in Greater London and the Eastern Region, working with 33 local authorities to provide a range of housing and support services delivered through its locally based housing associations.
Network Housing Group Limited wishes to establish a Framework Agreement for Solicitors. Network Housing Group Limited has a significant development programme, and it is anticipated that up to 600 units per annum could be delivered through the existing Contractor and Consultant Framework Agreements across the geographical areas of operation, The estimated fee values during the life of the Legal Services framework is GBP 2,000,000 – 4,000,000
The requirements include legal services in connection with the provision of new homes including affordable rented accommodation, low cost home ownerships, private sale, mixed tenure schemes and some major refurbishment and regeneration.

II.2.2)Information about options

Options: no

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: 48 (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:

Appropriate levels of insurance will be required. Further information will be provided within the PQQ and tender documentation.

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

All financing conditions and payment arrangements will be set out in the PQQ and tender documentation.

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

No legal form is required. If the candidate is a joint venture or consortium, the Contracting Authority shall require members to accept joint and several liability.

III.1.4)Other particular conditions

The performance of the contract is subject to particular conditions: yes
Description of particular conditions: Consultants may be required to participate in the achievements of social/ or environmental policy objectives relating to recruitment, training, and supply chain initiatives. Accordingly contract performance conditions may relate to the social and environmental considerations.

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: (1) All candidates will be required to produce a certificate or declaration demonstrating that they are not bankrupt or the subject of an administration order, are not being wound-up, have not granted a trust deed, are not the subject of a petition presented for sequestration of their estate, have not had a receiver, manager or administrator appointed and are not otherwise apparently insolvent.
(2) All candidates will be required to produce a certificate or declaration demonstrating that the candidate, their directors, or any other person who has powers of representation, decision or control of the candidate has not been convicted of conspiracy, corruption, bribery, or money laundering. Failure to provide such a declaration will result in the candidate being declared ineligible and they will not be selected to participate in this procurement process.
(3) All candidates will be required to produce a certificate or declaration demonstrating that they have not been convicted of a criminal offence relating to the conduct of their business or profession.
(4) All candidates must comply with the requirements of the State in which they are established, regarding registration on the professional or trade register.
Candidates are referred to Regulation 23 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (as amended). Further information will be provided in the PQQ and Tender documentation generally.

III.2.2)Economic and financial ability

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: (1) All candidates will be required to provide evidence of relevant professional risk indemnity insurance.
(2) All candidates will be required to provide a statement, covering the 3 previous financial years including the overall turnover of the candidate and the turnover in respect of the activities which are of a similar type to the subject matter of this notice.
Candidates are referred to Regulation 24 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (as amended). Further information will be provided in the PQQ and Tender documentation generally.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required: Candidates may be subject to an independent financial check. Further information will be provided in the PQQ and Tender documentation generally.

III.2.3)Technical capacity

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met:
Candidates are referred to Regulation 25 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (as amended). Further information will be provided in the PQQ and Tender documentation.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required:
Candidates will be required to pass a Competency Assessment based on the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 Approved Code of Practice. Details are provided in the PQQ.

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

Restricted

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

Envisaged minimum number 5: and maximum number 10
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates: In accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (as amended) and as set out in the PQQ.

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:

103904-10.

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

IV.3.3)Conditions for obtaining specifications and additional documents or descriptive document

Time limit for receipt of requests for documents or for accessing documents: 7.6.2013

IV.3.4)Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

12.6.2013 – 14:00

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

26.6.2013

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

VI.2)Information about European Union funds

VI.3)Additional information

The Contracting Authority reserves the right to cancel the procurement process at any stage. The Contracting Authority does not accept liability for any cost incurred in tendering.
(MT Ref:104256)

VI.4)Procedures for appeal

VI.4.1)Body responsible for appeal procedures

High Court of England & Wales
The Strand
WC2A 2LL London
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 2079476000

Body responsible for mediation procedures

High Court of England & Wales
The Strand
WC2A 2LL London
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 2079476000

VI.4.2)Lodging of appeals

Precise information on deadline(s) for lodging appeals: Candidates are referred to the Public Contract Regulations 2006 (as amended).

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

The Cabinet Office c/o Efficiency and Reform Group
Rosebury Court, St Andrews Business Park
NR7 0HS Norwich
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 2079476000

VI.5)Date of dispatch of this notice:8.5.2013