Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2017-11-24
Buyer: The Minister for the Cabinet Office acting through Crown Commercial Service
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Open procedure
CPV classification: 48440000 | 48441000 | 66000000 | 66110000 | 66113000
Estimated value: 30000000 GBP
Submission deadline: 2017-12-21
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Crown Commercial Service (the Authority) is seeking to establish a single Supplier Framework Agreement, for use by central government and wider public sector organisations (Contracting Authorities) identified at VI.3, for the provision of Supplier Early Payment Solutions (SEPS) which will encompass both Supply Chain Finance solution (SCF) and a Discount solution. This Framework Agreement will be managed by the Authority and Call Off Contracts will be managed by Contracting Authorities. This Framework Agreement will provide Contracting Authorities with the ability to pay Suppliers in advance of their contracted payment term (e.g. thirty (30) days). This Framework Agreement will offer the Supplier Early Payment Solutions (SEPS) via an online portal and will enable Contracting Authorities to choose the option(s) that meet their requirements.
The Framework Supplier will fund the SCF solution to Contracting Authorities Suppliers. There will be a single fixed cost rate (other than one (1) month GBP LIBOR fluctuations) charged by the Framework Supplier to the Contracting Authorities Supplier for receiving early payment. The Discount solution will enable Contracting Authorities to use their own funds to offer the early payment in return for a discount. The interaction between the Contracting Authorities Supplier and the Framework Supplier shall be facilitated by an online portal which can allow for dynamic discounting. Dynamic discounting means that Contracting Authorities Suppliers are able to select which of its invoices they want paid early and on which date, before their contracted payment term. There may be a need for technical integration into the Contracting Authorities ERP for the supplier online Discount solution.
This Framework Agreement will be for an initial period of 36 months with the option to extend for up to one further period of twelve (12) consecutive months, at the Authority's discretion. However individual Call Off Contracts may extend beyond the life of the Framework Agreement.
Bidders will be assessed in accordance with Section 5 of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (implementing the Directive) on the basis of information provided in response to an Invitation to Tender (ITT). This procurement will be managed electronically via the Crown Commercial Services eSourcing Suite. To participate in this procurement, bidders must first be registered on the eSourcing 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 CCS 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: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esourcing-tool-guidance-for-suppliers
Once you have registered on the eSourcing Suite, a registered user can express an interest for a specific procurement (RM6001 Supplier Early Payment Solutions). This is done by emailing: ExpressionOfInterest@crowncommercial.gov.uk
Your email must clearly state: the name and reference for the procurement you wish to register for; the name of the registered bidder; and the name and contact details for the registered individual sending the email. The Authority will process the email and then enable the registered bidder to access the procurement online via the eSourcing Suite. The registered user will receive a notification email to alert them once this has been done. As a user of the eSourcing Suite you will have access to the eSourcing Suite messaging service which facilitates all messages sent to you and from you in relation to any specific RFX event. Please note it is your responsibility to access these messages on a regular basis to ensure you have sight of all relevant information. For technical assistance on use of the eSourcing Suite please contact the Authority's helpdesk email at: eEnablement@crowncommercial.gov.uk
Responses must be submitted by the date stated in IV.2.2 of this Contract Notice. Cyber Essentials is mandatory for Central Government Contracts which involves handling personal information and providing certain ICT products and services. The Government is taking steps to further reduce the levels of cyber security risk in its supply chain through the Cyber Essentials scheme. The scheme defines a set of controls which, when properly implemented, will provide organisations with basic protection from the most prevalent forms of threat coming from the internet. There are 2 levels of certification; Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essential Plus. To participate in this procurement, bidders must be able to demonstrate that they comply with the technical requirements prescribed by Cyber Essentials, or equivalent, for Services under and in connection with this Procurement. The Authority considers that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) will not apply at the Framework level. However, it is the responsibility of bidders to take their own advice and consider whether TUPE is likely to apply in the particular circumstances of the Call Off Contract and to act accordingly. The bidder is encouraged to carry out its own due diligence. The Authority expressly reserves the right (i) not to award any Framework Agreement 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 Authority be liable for any costs incurred by the bidder.
The Framework Agreement will be awarded to the bidder whose price is the lowest and is ranked 1st at the end of the eAuction.
This Framework Agreement will be for an initial period of 36 months with the option to extend for up to one further period of twelve (12) consecutive months at the Authority's discretion. However, individual Call Off Contracts can extend beyond the life of the Framework Agreement. The values provided in Section II.1.5 and II.2.6 are only estimates. We cannot guarantee any business through this Framework Agreement. As part of this Contract Notice the following documents can be accessed at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1256db19-77b3-45df-9dce-e89f14811fac
1. Contract Notice List of Potential Customers. 2. Contract Notice — Reserved Rights for CCS Framework. 3. Contract Notice — Transparency Info for CCS Framework. 4. Contract Notice — Lot Structure. This Procurement will be evaluated in accordance with the process set out in the Invitation to Tender documentation. The Authority reserves the right to run all stages of the Procurement concurrently.

Eligibility requirements: Bidders will be assessed in accordance with Section 5 of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (implementing the Directive) on the basis of information provided in response to an Invitation to Tender (ITT). This procurement will be managed electronically via the Crown Commercial Services eSourcing Suite. To participate in this procurement, bidders must first be registered on the eSourcing 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 CCS 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: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esourcing-tool-guidance-for-suppliers Once you have registered on the eSourcing Suite, a registered user can express an interest for a specific procurement (RM6001 Supplier Early Payment Solutions). This is done by emailing: ExpressionOfInterest@crowncommercial.gov.uk Your email must clearly state: the name and reference for the procurement you wish to register for; the name of the registered bidder; and the name and contact details for the registered individual sending the email. The Authority will process the email and then enable the registered bidder to access the procurement online via the eSourcing Suite. The registered user will receive a notification email to alert them once this has been done. As a user of the eSourcing Suite you will have access to the eSourcing Suite messaging service which facilitates all messages sent to you and from you in relation to any specific RFX event. Please note it is your responsibility to access these messages on a regular basis to ensure you have sight of all relevant information. For technical assistance on use of the eSourcing Suite please contact the Authority's helpdesk email at: eEnablement@crowncommercial.gov.uk Responses must be submitted by the date stated in IV.2.2 of this Contract Notice. Cyber Essentials is mandatory for Central Government Contracts which involves handling personal information and providing certain ICT products and services. The Government is taking steps to further reduce the levels of cyber security risk in its supply chain through the Cyber Essentials scheme. The scheme defines a set of controls which, when properly implemented, will provide organisations with basic protection from the most prevalent forms of threat coming from the internet. There are 2 levels of certification; Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essential Plus. To participate in this procurement, bidders must be able to demonstrate that they comply with the technical requirements prescribed by Cyber Essentials, or equivalent, for Services under and in connection with this Procurement. The Authority considers that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) will not apply at the Framework level. However, it is the responsibility of bidders to take their own advice and consider whether TUPE is likely to apply in the particular circumstances of the Call Off Contract and to act accordingly. The bidder is encouraged to carry out its own due diligence. The Authority expressly reserves the right (i) not to award any Framework Agreement 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 Authority be liable for any costs incurred by the bidder.

Award value: 30000000