Smart: Scotland Due Diligence Framework

Glasgow: business and management consultancy and related services

Scottish Enterprise – Smart: Scotland Due Diligence Framework.

Contract notice

Services

Directive 2004/18/EC

Section I: Contracting authority

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

Scottish Enterprise
Atrium Court, 50 Waterloo Street
Contact point(s): Procurement
For the attention of: Linda Nailen
G2 6HQ Glasgow
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 1412482700
Fax: +44 1412481600

Internet address(es):

General address of the contracting authority: http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/

Address of the buyer profile: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00398

Further information can be obtained from: Scottish Enterprise
Atrium Court, 50 Waterloo Street
Contact point(s): Procurement
For the attention of: Linda Nailen
G2 6HQ Glasgow
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 1412482700
Fax: +44 1412481600
Internet address: http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/

Specifications and additional documents (including documents for competitive dialogue and a dynamic purchasing system) can be obtained from: Scottish Enterprise
Atrium Court, 50 Waterloo Street
Contact point(s): Procurement
For the attention of: Linda Nailen
G2 6HQ Glasgow
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 1412482700
Fax: +44 1412481600
Internet address: http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/

Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to: Scottish Enterprise
New Lanarkshire House, Strathclyde Business Park
Contact point(s): Procurement
For the attention of: Linda Nailen
ML4 3AD Bellshill
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 1698742099
Fax: +44 1698842211
Internet address: http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/

I.2)Type of the contracting authority

Regional or local agency/office

I.3)Main activity

Economic and financial affairs

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

Section II: Object of the contract

II.1)Description

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

Smart: Scotland Due Diligence Framework.

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

Services
Service category No 27: Other services
Main site or location of works, place of delivery or of performance: Scotland.
NUTS code UKM

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: 15
Duration of the framework agreementDuration in months: 48
Estimated total value of purchases for the entire duration of the framework agreementEstimated value excluding VAT:
Range: between 378 000 and 540 000 GBP

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

We require a Framework of Suppliers to deliver the Smart: Scotland Due Diligence programme. The framework will be split into the following lots:
Lot 1 Technical Due Diligence – Energy Sector.
Lot 2 Technical Due Diligence – Biochemical Sciences.
Lot 3 Technical Due Diligence – Engineering.
Lot 4 Technical Due Diligence – Technology.
Lot 5 Market Assessment Due Diligence.
It is anticipated that each lot will have three suppliers. We intend to send between 28 and 30 invitations to tender. Some suppliers may be invited to tender for more than 1 lot.
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=215330.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=215330.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)

79400000, 79410000

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: 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:

A framework of suppliers is required to deliver the Smart: Scotland Due Diligence Framework.
Smart: Scotland is a nationally-available grant scheme to support and encourage SME’s to undertake high risk research and development. As part of the assessment process, technical due diligence on all Smart: Scotland applications is carried out. Smart: Scotland can fund projects from a number of sectors including Aerospace Defence & Marine; Chemical Sciences; Construction; Creative Industries; Energy; Financial services; Food and Drink; Forest Industries; Life sciences; Textiles; Technology; Tourism and Manufacturing.
Smart: Scotland has an annual budget of 6.5mGBP and receives approximately 100 applications per year. The projects arrive from all sectors and request funding from 100-600KGBP with overall project values up to 4-5mGBP. Therefore the quality of the due diligence must be of the highest order to ensure that public sector funding is being used appropriately.
To allow for this sectoral range of applications, a framework of due diligence providers will be established. Around 80 due diligence exercises are undertaken each year and these will be spread across the consultancies within the framework depending on the technology to be assessed. Additionally, market assessment diligence will also be carried out for each application and we intend to appoint three suppliers within this category.
It is vital to the reputation of the Smart: Scotland scheme that quality assessment of applications is carried out by experts in the sector. It is also vital that this assessment is carried out in a timely manner that is within three weeks of the request being made.
Applicants can bid for more than one Lot within the framework. We intend to send between 28 and 30 invitations to tender. Some suppliers may be invited to tender for more than 1 lot.
It is anticipated that the project will commence in June 2012 and will be delivered over a three year period with the option to extend for a further one year.
Estimated value excluding VAT:
Range: between 378 000 and 540 000 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

Starting 1.6.2012. Completion 31.5.2015

Information about lots

Lot No: 1 Lot title: Technical Due Diligence – Energy Sector

1)Short description

The energy sector is likely to include projects which describe renewable energy technology, oil and gas technology, novel power generation and new carbon capture and storage innovations.

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79400000, 79410000

3)Quantity or scope

We anticipate 3 suppliers to deliver the Energy Sector Lot.
Estimated value excluding VAT:
Range: between 168 000 and 240 000 GBP

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

Duration in months: 48 (from the award of the contract)

5)Additional information about lots

Lot No: 4 Lot title: Technical Due Diligence – Technology

1)Short description

This sector is likely to include projects which describe innovations in electronics, photonics and sensor systems, information technology and software (including the games industry).

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79400000, 79410000

3)Quantity or scope

We anticipate 3 suppliers to deliver the Technology Lot.
Estimated value excluding VAT:
Range: between 168 000 and 240 000 GBP

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

Duration in months: 48 (from the award of the contract)

5)Additional information about lots

Lot No: 3 Lot title: Technical Due Diligence – Engineering

1)Short description

This sector is likely to include projects which describe innovations in advanced engineering, aerospace, defence and marine, construction industries and materials.

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79400000, 79410000

3)Quantity or scope

We anticipate 3 suppliers to deliver the Engineering Lot.
Estimated value excluding VAT:
Range: between 168 000 and 240 000 GBP

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

Duration in months: 48 (from the award of the contract)

5)Additional information about lots

Lot No: 5 Lot title: Market Assessment Due Diligence

1)Short description

This is a new aspect of the SMART: SCOTLAND diligence process. We expect that marketing diligence will be completed for all applicants that proceed to the diligence stage.

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79400000, 79410000

3)Quantity or scope

We anticipate 3 suppliers to deliver the Market Assessment Lotd.
Estimated value excluding VAT:
Range: between 210 000 and 300 000 GBP

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

Duration in months: 48 (from the award of the contract)

5)Additional information about lots

Lot No: 2 Lot title: Technical Due Diligence – Biochemical Sciences

1)Short description

This sector is likely to include projects which describe innovations in chemical sciences, food and drink and the life sciences.

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79400000, 79410000

3)Quantity or scope

We anticipate 3 suppliers to deliver the Biochemical Sciences Lot.
Estimated value excluding VAT:
Range: between 168 000 and 240 000 GBP

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

Duration in months: 24 (from the award of the contract)

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:

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

Terms and conditions for financing will be contained 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:

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: All relevant information will be contained in the Pre-qualification Questionnaire or Invitation to Tender document.

III.2.2)Economic and financial ability

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: All relevant information will be contained in the Pre-qualification Questionnaire or Invitation to Tender document.

III.2.3)Technical capacity

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met:
All relevant information will be contained in the Pre-qualification Questionnaire or Invitation to Tender document.

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 28: and maximum number 30
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates: We intend to send between 28 and 30 invitations to tender. Some suppliers may be invited to tender for more than 1 lot.

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:

P12-0121

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: 4.1.2012

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

6.1.2012 – 12:00

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

7.2.2012

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

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.1)Information about recurrence

VI.2)Information about European Union funds

VI.3)Additional information

(SC Ref:215330).

VI.4)Procedures for appeal

VI.4.1)Body responsible for appeal procedures

Scottish Government
Scottish Procurement and Commercial Directorate, Europa House, 450 Argyle Street
G2 8LG Glasgow
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 1412425466
Internet address: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government

Body responsible for mediation procedures

VI.4.2)Lodging of appeals

Precise information on deadline(s) for lodging appeals: The contracting authority will incorporate a minimum of 10 calendar days standstill period from the date information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. This period allows unsuccessful tenderers to seek further debriefing from the contracting authority before the contract is entered into. Any additional information should be requested from the contact detailed in this contract notice. If an appeal regarding the award of a contract has not been successfully resolved, the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (SSI 2006 No 1) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the Sheriff Court or Court of Session.

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

VI.5)Date of dispatch of this notice:28.11.2011