Public procurement notice: Qualification System With Call For Competition
Published: 2016-10-01
Buyer: Achilles Systems AS, on behalf of the Nordic utilities listed in Section VI)
Country: NO
Contract type: Supplies
CPV classification: 03000000 | 09000000 | 14000000 | 15000000 | 16000000
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: SELLIHCA is a qualification system for suppliers to Nordic utilities operating within production, transmission and distribution of electric power, district heating/cooling and associated services.
SELLIHCA has been established as an industry-based scheme in order to improve efficiency and reduce costs throughout the supply chain for both buyers and suppliers and to ensure that supplier applications are dealt with fairly and consistently by subscribing utilities.
Utilities subscribing to SELLIHCA are listed here http://www.achilles.com/files/communitypdfs/Sellihca/Sellihca-customers-en.pdf
The subscribing utilities will use SELLIHCA for requirements subject to EU procurement rules, but reserve the right to publish individual notices for specific requirements where they deem it necessary, even though they relate to the product and service categories covered by SELLIHCA. The qualification system may be used for contracts not subject to EU procurement rules at each subscriber‘s discretion. Subscribing utilities may use SELLIHCA for sourcing goods and services related to facilities or operations beyond the European Economic Area (EEA).
A complete overview of products and services acquired through SELLIHCA is available here http://www.achilles.com/files/communitypdfs/Sellihca/sellihca-codes-en.pdf
However as SELLIHCA is in transition to a new set of product and service codes suppliers and contractors are requested to select those as well http://www.achilles.com/files/communitypdfs/Sellihca/sellihca-aucs-codes-en.pdf
The qualification process may consist of several stages where pre-qualification in SELLIHCA is common for all participating utilities, while the individual utility may add other stages. Some utilities have established extended pre-qualification requirements regarding Language, Personnel skills, Insurances etc. If a subscribing utility considers the information available after the initial qualification stage as inadequate to establish a bidders list, a request for additional information will be sent out to pre-qualified suppliers. The preparation of bidder lists will be established based on suppliers and contractors which have passed the initial pre-qualification, without further notification of requirements in the “Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Communities” (OJEU/TED).
In accordance with the Utilities Directive article 77, §3 the members reserve the right to include qualified suppliers from the qualification system CONNEXIO if these suppliers meet the individual utility’s selection criteria for a specific tender.
Suppliers and contractors may apply for qualification at any time. Qualification in SELLIHCA requests the suppliers and contractors to complete an Order Form including company name, address, legal entity no. and contact person and pay an annual qualification fee, levied as a contribution towards the annual administration costs of SELLIHCA. The annual fee is ranging from 3 900 to 7 900 NOK. VAT will be added for Norwegian suppliers and contractors. The Order Form can be obtained from Achilles or accessed here http://www.achilles.com/files/communitypdfs/Sellihca/sellihca-orderform-en.pdf
In addition qualification in SELLIHCA requests the suppliers and contractors as a general rule to complete an electronic questionnaire covering detailed information about: General information, Personnel, Locations, Associated companies, Legal and Financial information, Quality System information, Health, Safety and Environmental System information, Capacity Information, Information regarding products and services offered including references from past supplies.
Certain basic commercial requirements must be satisfied (i.e. up public registration of the legal entity, the supplier is not involved in any debt settlement proceedings or in any other way placed under public administration). SELLIHCA is open to manufacturers or distributors making business arrangements directly with the buyer (direct contractual relationship between the manufacturers/distributors and the buyer). Managing Director/CEO of the supplier or contractor organization must confirm the validity of the information provided via the electronic questionnaire, and grants the subscribers the right to perform QA and HSE verification audits upon prior written notice. The preparation of bidder lists will then be established based on suppliers and contractors which have passed the initial pre-qualification.
Please find more information about the qualification requirements and required documentation here: http://www.achilles.com/files/communitypdfs/Sellihca/sellihca-requirements-en.pdf
The qualification system is in principle of unlimited duration, but supplier and contractor information must be updated minimum once per year. Suppliers and contractors that wish to qualify for the first time can obtain further information about the qualification requirements and process from Achilles referred to in Section 1 (www.achilles.com/en/sellihca). For suppliers and contractors already qualified under this scheme a reminder for renewal will be sent directly to such companies well before expiry of the qualification period.
The cost of qualification is ranging from 3 900 to 7 900 NOK payable prior to the dispatch of the qualification documentation. VAT will be added for Norwegian suppliers.
Suppliers and contractors already qualified are able to update their information in the qualification system at any time during the qualification period.