Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2016-06-04
Buyer: Cobalt Housing Ltd
Country: UK
Region: Liverpool
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Competitive dialogue
CPV classification: 30211300 | 30213000 | 30213100 | 30236000 | 30237200
Estimated value: 2220000 GBP
Submission deadline: 2016-07-05
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Cobalt Housing requires certain hardware and elements of software to be provided, installed and supported to enable it to deliver a range of social housing activities to its customers. This includes both communications, ICT equipment and software.
Cobalt is currently part of Symphony Housing Group but expects to leave the Group in April 2017. The Group has provided the majority of aspects of Cobalt's IT and communications hardware, software and support, as further described in the Draft Specification document available to download through the URL indicated in this notice. These aspects include housing management, finance, facilities, asset management, electronic document management, e-procurement and mobile working. Cobalt is looking to procure hardware, software, support and maintenance to enable it to operate as a housing provider independent from Symphony Housing Group.
This contract is subject to renewal. The contract is likely to be for a 4 year term with the option for Cobalt to renew the contract 3 further times for periods of up to 2 years (i.e. up to 10 years if all options to extend are used).
Cobalt Housing is a registered housing association based in North Liverpool. Cobalt was formed in February 2003 following the transfer of homes from Liverpool City Council. It owns 6 000 mainly family homes in the Fazakerley, Croxteth and Norris Green areas of Liverpool. Its principal activities are the management, maintenance, improvement and development of affordable homes for rent. As the majority landlord in these areas, it is also actively engaged in a wide range of economic, neighbourhood and community regeneration activities in the area it serves.
Cobalt is currently part of Symphony Housing Group but expects to leave the Group in April 2017. The Group has provided the majority of aspects of Cobalt's IT and communications hardware, software and support, as further described in the draft Requirements document available to download through the URL indicated in this notice. These aspects include housing management, finance, facilities, asset management, electronic document management, e-procurement and mobile working. Cobalt is looking to procure hardware, software, support and maintenance to enable it to operate as a housing provider independent from Symphony Housing Group.
Cobalt would encourage and is open to a wide range of solutions including a contractual arrangement with an IT provider or participating in or joining with arrangements with users of existing IT systems and service agreements who may also be a registered social housing provider. To the extent necessary, this notice advertises requirements on behalf of both Cobalt and any such provider.
The value range is based on the minimum equalling to the anticipated 4 year contract value and the maximum equalling the anticipated 10 year contract value.
Cobalt may wish to enter into a corporate arrangement with the economic operator during the proposed contract period. This would be on the basis that such a structure created additional benefits for either Cobalt or both parties. The arrangement may be in the form of a cost sharing group or other joint venture structure. Additionally or alternatively, Cobalt would consider structuring arrangements to join into existing contractual provision between a social housing provider and a supplier. This could include another social housing provider being the lead in such arrangements.
Cobalt proposes to structure the dialogue to ensure that economic operators are able to present solutions in the most effective and efficient way.
Economic operators should note that Cobalt reserves the right to suspend or abandon this procurement at any time. The current timetable and proposals to leave the Symphony Housing Group structure are still to be finalised.
Cobalt will incorporate a minimum 10 day standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers by way of a standstill letter. The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the Regulations to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).

Eligibility requirements: As stated in the procurement documents. Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents. Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents.
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents.