National Framework for DNA Sampling Kits

The above Public Sector Bodies have a need for DNA (PACE) Sampling Kits (referring to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984). Which are used for taking DNA samples from subjects arrested or detained for recordable offences. Secretary of State for the Home Department.

UK-London: biological evidence collection kits

2012/S 202-332161

Contract notice

Supplies

Directive 2004/18/EC

Section I: Contracting authority

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

Secretary of State for the Home Department
2 Marsham Street
Contact point(s): Roberta Ashfield
SW1P 4DF London
UNITED KINGDOM
E-mail: supplier@gps.gsi.gov.uk, eEnablement@gps.gsi.gov.uk, roberta.ashfield@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Internet address(es):

General address of the contracting authority: http://homeoffice.gov.uk

Address of the buyer profile: https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk

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

Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local sub-divisions

I.3)Main activity

General public services
Public order and safety
Other: Public Procurement

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:

National Framework for DNA Sampling Kits.

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

Supplies
Purchase
Main site or location of works, place of delivery or of performance: Primarily in the UK.
NUTS code UKZ

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

Duration of the framework agreement

Duration in years: 3
Estimated total value of purchases for the entire duration of the framework agreement

Estimated value excluding VAT:
Range: between 2 600 000,00 and 4 000 000,00 GBP

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

The procurement is being led by the Home Office which will act as the Contracting Authority in putting in place a National Framework Agreement for use by UK public sector bodies identified at VI.3 (and any future successors to these organisations), which include Central Government Departments and their Arm’s Length Bodies and Agencies, and Non Departmental Public Bodies.
The above Public Sector Bodies have a need for DNA (PACE) Sampling Kits (referring to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984). Which are used for taking DNA samples from subjects arrested or detained for recordable offences.
Section 64 of PACE, as amended, allows samples to be taken from all persons arrested and detained in police custody in respect of a recordable offence, and for the DNA profiles obtained from these samples to be added to the National DNA Database (NDNAD). The samples are usually buccal/cheek scrapes or pulled hairs. Persons who are not suspects may also volunteer to provide samples to assist in police investigations and to provide written consent for the DNA profiles from these to be added to the NDNAD. Police Elimination Database (PED) samples are also collected.
The Home Office will enter into a framework agreement called the National Framework Agreement for DNA Sampling Kits with the winning bidder and the Agencies will call off their requirements using the terms and conditions under the Framework.
There is no guarantee of volumes of work under this Framework and the successful bidder must be able to provide all 3 types of DNA Sampling Kits specified within this procurement activity.

II.1.6)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

33954000

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:

To provide the provision of DNA Sampling Kits to the police forces of the UK, and criminal justice partner agencies throughout the UK, including but not limited to; PACE DNA Kit, Elimination DNA Kit and Police Elimination Kit. The duration of the Framework agreement is for a period of three years with a one year extension option.
Estimated value excluding VAT:
Range: between 2 600 000,00 and 4 000 000,00 GBP

II.2.2)Information about options

Options: no

II.2.3)Information about renewals

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

Duration in months: 36 (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:

Participants will be advised if this is necessary during the procurement. Parent company and/or other guarantees of performance and financial liability may be required by Home Office if considered appropriate. Details will be set out in the tender documentation.

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

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 will award a Framework Agreement to a single legal entity which will be required to act as prime contractor in respect of all responsibilities. No special legal form is required but if a contract is awarded to a consortium, the Contracting Authority may require the consortium to form a legal entity before entering into the Framework Agreement. It will be necessary for the satisfactory performance of this contract for the consortium to state a single address to which the Contracting Authority can refer all matters concerning the Framework Agreement.

III.1.4)Other particular conditions

The performance of the contract is subject to particular conditions: no

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: Candidates will be assessed in accordance with Part 4 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (as amended), on the basis of information provided in response to an Invitation to Tender (“ITT”). Information and formalities necessary for evaluting if requirements are met: See Guidance for Bidders in relation to the ITT.
This procurement will be managed electronically via the Government Procurement Service’s e-Sourcing Suite. To participate in this procurement, participants must first be registered on the e-Sourcing Suite. If you have not yet registered on the eSourcing Suite, this can be done online at https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk by following the link ‘Register for GPS eSourcing’. Please note that, to register, you must have a valid DUNS number (as provided by Dun and Bradstreet) for the organisation which you are registering, who will be entering into a contract if invited to do so. Full instructions for registration and use of the system can be found at.

http://gps.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/i-am-supplier/respond-tender

It should be noted that it may take up to 10 working days for Dun and Bradstreet to respond with a DUN S number.
Once you have registered on the eSourcing Suite, a registered user can express an interest for a specific procurement. This is done by emailing Roberta.Ashfield@Homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk and Beth.Reid@Homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk any time up to, but not later than 28.11.2012 in order to ensure they are assigned to the correct procurement.

Your email should be entitled ‘HO Supply of DNA Kits’- and must clearly state: the name and reference for the procurement you wish to register for; the name of the registered supplier; and the name and contact details for the registered individual sending the email. The eMail will be processed and then the buyer will enable the supplier to access the procurement online via the e-Sourcing Suite. The registered user will receive a notification email to alert them once this has been done.
For technical assistance on use of the e-Sourcing Suite please contact Government Procurement Service Helpdesk: Freephone: +44 3450103503.
Email: supplier@gps.gsi.gov.uk.

Responses must be published by the date in IV.3.4.

III.2.2)Economic and financial ability

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: Candidates will be assessed in accordance with Part 4 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (as amended), on the basis of information provided in response to an ITT.
See the Guidance for Bidders in relation to the ITT.
The ITT can be accessed at: https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk using the instructions detailed in III.2.1.

III.2.3)Technical capacity

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met:
Candidates will be assessed in accordance with Part 4 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (as amended), on the basis of information provided in response to an ITT.
See the Guidance for Bidders in relation to the ITT.
The ITT can be accessed at: https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk using the instructions detailed in III.2.1.

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

Payable documents: no

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

3.12.2012 – 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

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

IV.3.8)Conditions for opening tenders

Place:

Web-based portal.

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

1) Potential suppliers should note that, in accordance with the UK Government’s policies on transparency, Government Procurement Service intends to publish the Invitation to Tender (ITT) document, and the text of any Framework Agreement awarded, subject to possible redactions at the discretion of Home Office. The terms of the proposed Framework Agreement will also permit a public sector contracting authority, awarding a contract under this Framework Agreement, to publish the text of that contract, subject to possible redactions at the discretion of the contracting authority. Further information on transparency can be found at:
http://gps.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/about-government-procurement-service/transparency-and-accountability/transparency-procurement

2) The Contracting Authority expressly reserves the right (i) not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice; and (ii) to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering competition; and in no circumstances will the Contracting Authority be liable for any costs incurred by the candidates. If the Contracting Authority decides to enter into a Framework Agreement with the successful supplier, this does not mean that there is any guarantee of subsequent contracts being awarded. Any expenditure, work or effort undertaken prior to contract award is accordingly a matter solely for the commercial judgement of potential suppliers. Any orders placed under this Framework Agreement will form a separate contract under the scope of this Framework between the supplier and the specific requesting other contracting body. The Contracting Authority and other contracting bodies utilising the Framework reserve the right to use any electronic portal during the life of the agreement.
3) The duration referenced in Section II.1.4 is for the placing of orders.
4) The value provided in Section II.1.4 is only an estimate. We cannot guarantee to suppliers any business through this framework agreement.
5) The procurement is being led by the Home Office which is acting on behalf of itself, and other UK public sector bodies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (and their statutory successors and organisations created as a result of re-organisation or organisational changes). These will include (but is not limited to) the following public sector bodies (as defined in the public contracts regulations 2006 as amended) The Metropolitan Police Authority, Police Authorities, The Northern Ireland Policing Board, The Greater London Authority (or a functional body within the meaning of the Greater London Authority Act 1999), including The Police Forces of the United Kingdom, including The Channel Islands, Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Organised Crime Agency. Other government departments and agencies may also use the National Framework Agreement for DNA Sampling Kits for purchases and they and the multi agency team referred to above are collectively referred to as ‘the Agencies’.
The Contracting Authority and the Agencies reserve the right to procure some of their needs for DNA Sampling Kits outside of this procurement exercise.
6)Bidders will be expected to comply with BSI Publically available specification PAS 377:2012
7) Bidders will be expected to provide samples (list of samples and assessment details have been provided within ITT documentation) but are to include components and kits. These samples are to be provided free of charge as part of the Bidders submission for this procurement activity.
8) It is a requirement that the successful Bidder will be able to deliver the first batch of DNA sampling kits within three (3) months of framework award. An undertaking is sought from all Bidders to establish if they can meet this requirement. The Authority reserves the right to disqualify any Bidders who can’t meet this timetable.
9) The Home Office uses an eSourcing toolkit to enable its sourcing activities to be conducted over the Internet. Therefore, this procurement will be managed electronically via the Government Procurement Service’s e-Sourcing Suite. To participate in this procurement, participants must first be registered on the e-Sourcing Suite.
If you have not yet registered on the eSourcing Suite, this can be done online at https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk by following the link ‘Register for GPS eSourcing’. Please note that, to register, you must have a valid DUNS number (as provided by Dun and Bradstreet) for the organisation which you are registering, who will be entering into a contract if invited to do so. Full instructions for registration and use of the system can be found at.

http://gps.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/i-am-supplier/respond-tender

10) Responses must be published by the date in IV.3.4.
11) In order to ensure a considered response to any request for clarification, the last date upon which a supplier can submit clarifications is 12:00 HRS GMT on 19th November 2012.

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: The Authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. Applicants who are unsuccessful shall be informed by the Authority as soon as possible after the decision has been made as to the reasons why the Applicant was unsuccessful. If an appeal regarding the award of the contract has not been successfully resolved, The Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (SI 2006 No. 5 as amended) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by breach of the rules to take legal action. Any such action must be brought within the applicable limitation period. Where a contract has not been entered into, the Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the authority to amend any document and may award damages. If the contract has been entered into the Court may, depending on the circumstances, award damages, make a declaration of ineffectiveness, order the Authority to pay a fine, and/or order that the duration of the contract be shortened. The purpose of the standstill period referred to above is to allow the parties to apply to the Courts to set aside the award decision before the contract is entered into.

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

VI.5)Date of dispatch of this notice:17.10.2012