Voluntary ex ante transparency notice
Directive 2014/24/EU
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Natural Resources Wales
Maes Y Ffynnon
Bangor
LL57 2DW
UK
Contact person: Naomi Hammond
Telephone: +44 03000653574
E-mail: naomi.hammond@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
NUTS: UKL
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0110
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Environment
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
NRWAS Water Purification System - Service & Maintenance Contract
II.1.2) Main CPV code
71900000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The contract involves the supply of consumables, provision of maintenance services (including diagnostics, Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM), and fault fixing), and the purchase of two additional water purification stations to integrate with the current system and maintenance contract.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Lowest offer:
152 615.00
GBP/ Highest offer:
212 001.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
71900000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Natural Resources Wales Analytical Services (NRWAS) at Swansea University is an analytical laboratory testing samples taken from sites across Wales. NRWAS provide high quality environmental testing and analysis by professional and experienced staff operating to the highest industry standard; accredited by UKAS, the national accreditation body for the United Kingdom to ISO/IEC 17025:2005. The analysis conducted at NRWAS is Inorganic chemistry, Metals analysis, Organic chemistry, and Microbiological analysis. The testing is conducted as part of the Welsh Government’s statutory obligations set out in the European Union’s Water Framework Directive (WFD); specifically achieving prescribed environmental quality standards listed in Directives 2008/105/EC, 2013/39 and 2015/495.
De-ionised and ultrapure water is essential in analytical laboratories. Purification removes contaminants that may interfere with testing processes. Purified water is used in many ways in water quality testing laboratories for instance to make analytical reagents, to rinse glassware and to make agar for microbiological applications. NRW Analytical Services requires ultrapure water for testing water quality samples collected by NRW.
The specialised water purification system procured by NRWAS in 2020 for their laboratory at Swansea University, was supplied by Merck Life Science and is currently serviced and maintained by the supplier. The service contract was included as part of the procurement of the new system which has now expired. This procurement is for a support and maintenance contract for the existing water purification system for the next 4 years.
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The contract includes the option to purchase two Milli-Q additional water purification stations to support the expansion of our operations. These new stations will be fully integrated with our existing system and covered under the same maintenance contract.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation:
A Speculative Notice, with requests for Expression of Interest (EOI), was posted in November to publicise this opportunity. We received two responses, one from the existing supplier and one from a company deemed unsuitable for the work. As the manufacturer and incumbent supplier, Merck Life Science Ltd, is uniquely positioned to supply the necessary consumables at a competitive rate and has the expertise to run diagnostics and undertake the Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) and fault fixing. Additionally, the manufacturer can integrate two new purification stations with our current system and maintenance contract, ensuring consistency and reliability in our operations.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section V: Award of contract/concession
V.2 Award of contract/concession
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession
23/05/2024
V.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Merck Life Science UK Limited
The Old Brickyard, New Road
Gillingham
SP84XT
UK
Telephone: +44 0800717181
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the concession and main financing terms (excluding VAT)
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
(WA Ref:141686)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
Telephone: +44 2079477501
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
23/05/2024