Public procurement notice: Prior Information Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2016-06-07
Buyer: Ministry of Defence, C&C, Other
Country: UK
Region: UNITED KINGDOM
Contract type: Services
CPV classification: 75220000: Civil defence services
Estimated value: 200000000 GBP

Technical requirements: A document which provides a top level summary of the composition of the regional lots by unit and the nature of the services required can be obtained via the following email addresses: DefComrclCC-Air3@mod.uk or DefComrclCC-Air3a@mod.uk The facility does not exist to attach the document to this notice.
The United Kingdom Royal Air Force has a requirement for a range of services to be provided at various locations throughout the UK. These services include off-aircraft mechanical and electrical/electronic support, airfield support and operation, motor transport operations and maintenance, logistic support services, armoury support and general support. Not all locations will require all services; details of the required services at each location will be given in later notices. Collectively these requirements are being addressed by the name Programme HADES which is a Category B programme with a combined value exceeding 200 000 000 GBP over 5 years. (This may be extended by a maximum of 2 1-year option periods, subject to the criteria detailed below, which could potentially increase the total procurement value by approximately a further 100 000 000 GBP).
These services are complementary to — and do not replace — several other UK Defence contracting arrangements coming into effect including HESTIA, Marshall and Next Generation Estates Contracting (NGEC).
This notice follows on from the previous Request for Information (reference 367430-2015) issued on 13.10.2015, and the subsequent Market Day held at RAF High Wycombe on 16.11.2015.
Having taken due account of the views received from Industry during the various post-Market Day discussions, it is the Programme Team's intention to contract for the HADES service requirements on the basis of 3 regional Lots. The contracts awarded will be firm priced, and for a core duration period of 5 years. 2 further 1 year option periods may be awarded (subject to the relevant internal approvals), based upon a combined assessment of the RAF's operational requirements at the time, and the performance record of the relevant contractor.
It is anticipated that the procurement process will be run under the auspices of the Competitive Negotiated Procedure of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations (DSPCR) 2011.
The Programme HADES procurement will allow any commercial entity including partnerships, consortiums or special procurement vehicles demonstrating the necessary resources, skills and commitment to be considered for participation. Companies may apply to bid for whichever lots they choose up to the maximum of 3 subject to satisfactory pre-qualification.
Following pre-qualification for each Lot and particular focus on financial standing of those applying for multiple lots, the top 4 scoring responders for each Lot will be selected to submit initial bids. Evaluation of the pre-qualification responses will be based on technical, financial and commercial criteria including past performance on similar contracts, project management and ability to sustain/improve capability as well as other criteria that will be published with the PQQ documentation. It should also be noted that pre-qualification will examine commitment to the use of SMEs and Apprenticeship schemes.
The initial bids will then be subject to an evaluation process to down-select a short-list of the 3 highest scoring bidders against each Lot. The Programme Team will then conduct negotiations with the down-selected companies prior to requesting a Revise or Confirmation Offer (ROCO) bid to establish a preferred bidder for each Lot.
Evaluation of initial and ROCO bids will be based on identifying the Most Economically Advantageous Tender for each regional Lot on a 50:50 price: technical basis. Criteria will include effective management of service delivery, safety culture, governance, risk, compliance and managing relations with MoD/other contractors all of which will be detailed in further notices and the procurement documentation.
Key programme milestones are listed below (these should be regarded as indicative only at this stage):
From 2.4.2014, the Government is introducing its new Government Security Classifications Policy (GSC) to replace the current Government Protective Marking Scheme. A key aspect of this is the reduction in the number of security classifications used. All suppliers to the Department are encouraged to make themselves aware of the changes as it may impact on this Requirement. The link below to the Gov.uk website provides information on the new GSC.
The Authority reserves the right to amend any condition related to security of information to reflect any changes in national law or government policy. If any contract documents are accompanied by instructions on safeguarding classified information (e.g. a Security Aspects Letter), the Authority reserves the right to amend the terms of these instructions to reflect any changes in national law or government policy, whether in respect of the applicable protective marking scheme, specific protective markings given, the aspects to which any protective marking applies or otherwise.
Advertising Regime OJEU: This contract opportunity is published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), the MoD Defence Contracts Bulletin and www.contracts.mod.uk GO Reference: GO-201663-DCB-8305777.