Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Natural Resources Wales
Welsh Government Offices Cathays Park , King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
UK
Contact person: Naomi Hammond
Telephone: +44 3000653000
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.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml
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
NRW Helicopter Support Services Framework Agreement 2025-2029
Reference number: project_57490 / itt_113588
II.1.2) Main CPV code
60424120
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
NRW is responsible for the management of the Welsh Government Woodland Estate (WGWE) and land in our care including National Nature Reserves.
NRW wishes to put in place an all-Wales multi-supplier Framework Agreement for the provision of Helicopter Support Services to help enable the Welsh Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) manage fires on our land, or neighbouring land where conditions pose a threat to our land, that have become well established and/or are out of control.
Services provided under this Framework Agreement may be required anywhere in Wales or land manged by NRW in England. Historically, however, the majority of firefighting work has been located in south Wales.
The number and extent of fires each year will determine the support NRW and FRS will require. Due to this unpredictability, NRW does not guarantee any work under this Framework Agreement.
The proposed duration of the Framework Agreement is 24 months with the option of extending for a further 2 x 12 months thereafter subject to satisfactory performance and annual price review
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
1 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
35612300
34711500
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The full description of requirements is provided in the tender documentation published on https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml.
Requirements include the provision of:
1. A helicopter suitably equipped for the aerial application of water using underslung bucket
2. Qualified and competent air crew rated for aerial application work and if required experienced ground support crew
3. Minimum 910 litre “Bambi” bucket or equivalent that can be operated at full capacity and the availability of at least 1 spare bucket.
4. If required, refuelling equipment (and fuel) including a minimum of 2000 litre bowser, suitable 4x4 towing vehicle and pollution control spill kits
5. Service Provider(s) must provide a means of effective real time communications between the pilot and the IC, usually in the form of Air band transceivers
6. All machinery and equipment to be supplied, remain serviceable and be serviced throughout the duration of the Framework Agreement by the Service Provider(s)
7. Liaison with FRS Incident Commander (IC) for briefings, including discussion on deployment.
8. Assessment of local onsite conditions by Service Provider(s) and the accurate application of water along the leading edge of the fire (fire front) unless directed otherwise by FRS.
Service Provider(s) are required to abide by the UK Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 Part SPO (Specialised Operations) or equivalent and must maintain throughout the framework all necessary certificates and qualifications required by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Service Provider(s) must have necessary insurance cover and will be required to observe first aid standards, and other such precautions, such as health and safety, and procedures on access to land and water sources. Service Provider(s) are required to report any notifiable incident, such as pollution, and report on its carbon emissions.
Service Provider(s) are not permitted to assign their obligations under this framework to sub-contractors; sub-contracting is not permitted under this FWA.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
1 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 48
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
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 III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
As per Procurement Tender Documents published at https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement with several operators.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2024/S 000-021363
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
17/02/2025
Local time: 11:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
17/02/2025
Local time: 14:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.3) Additional information
INSTRUCTIONS ON COMPLETING THE ITT
i) Suppliers should register on the eTendering portal https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk
ii) Once registered, suppliers must express their interest as follows:
a) login to the eTendering portal
b) select ITT'
c) select 'ITTs Open To All Suppliers'
d) access the listing relating to the contract (itt_113588 - NRW Helicopter Support Services Framework Agreement 2025-2029) and view details
e) click on 'Express Interest' button in the 'Actions' box on the left-hand side of the page
iii) Once you have expressed interest, the ITT will move to 'My ITTs', where you can download and view documents and where you can construct your reply as instructed. You must then publish your reply using the publish button.
iv) For any support in submitting your expression of interest, please contact the eTendering helpdesk on 0800 0112470 or at help@bravosolution.co.uk.
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=142973.
(WA: 142973)
An in-tender bidder briefing event will be held on Thursday 16 January 2025 at 10 am until 11.30 am. Bidders may register at the following link:
https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/6c554283-0bf6-4353-bc02-c7c61480d8be@8865ef0f-acde-487c-bf17-5cb50375d757
NOTE: The authority is using eTenderwales to carry out this procurement process. To obtain further information record your interest on Sell2Wales at http://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=147195
(WA Ref:147195)
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
10/01/2025