Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Carmarthenshire County Council
County Hall
Carmarthen
SA31 1JP
UK
Telephone: +44 1267234567
E-mail: walespensionpartnership@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
NUTS: UKL14
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0281
I.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Regulated third party operator services for the Wales Pension Partnership
II.1.2) Main CPV code
66131100
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Wales Pension Partnership (“WPP”) was established in 2017. The WPP is a collaboration of the eight LGPS funds (Constituent Authorities *) covering the whole of Wales and is one of eight national Local Government Pension pools.
The eight Constituent Authorities have an existing contract with Link Fund Solutions Limited to provide regulated third party operator services for WPP. The current contract is due to end in December 2024.
The contracting authority (Carmarthenshire County Council), on behalf of the WPP, shall be conducting a procurement process to appoint a regulated third party operator for WPP’s ACS sub fund requirements following expiry of that existing contract. It is anticipated that if a new provider is appointed, the contract will commence approximately 6 months prior to the expiry of the existing contract to allow for transition planning. The procurement will be conducted in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (or any replacement regulations that may come into force prior to the commencement of the procurement).
This PIN is to notify interested suppliers of regulated third party operator services that WPP shall be conducting a market engagement as below:
- Date: 9 March 2023
- Time: to be confirmed
- Location: Marriot Hotel, Mill Lane, Cardiff, CF10 1EZ
The purpose of the market engagement day will be to:
(i) provide information to interested suppliers regarding the upcoming procurement procedure; and
(ii) to obtain any feedback on the proposed scope of services and proposed service delivery model. The appointed provider shall be required to engage directly with the existing operator’s current delegates (including investment advisors, investment managers and providers of transfer agency and fund accountancy services) and depositary for an interim period to facilitate service continuity.
Accompanying documents can be found in the general attachments area. Please refer to Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 for information about the proposed scope of services.
If your organisation is capable of delivering all of the services and you wish to attend the market engagement day, you must contact the Wales Pension Partnership via email at: walespensionpartnership@carmarthenshire.gov.uk before Friday 17 February 2023 and provide the name of your organisation and the name of the person(s) attending.
The eight constituent authorities are Carmarthenshire County Council (Host Authority), City and County of Swansea Council, City of Cardiff Council, Flintshire County Council, Gwynedd Council, Powys County Council, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and Torfaen County Borough Council
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
14 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
66522000
66523000
66131100
66141000
66520000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL14
Main site or place of performance:
Wales Pension Partnership
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Wales Pension Partnership (“WPP”) was established in 2017. The WPP is a collaboration of the eight LGPS funds (Constituent Authorities *) covering the whole of Wales and is one of eight national Local Government Pension pools.
The eight Constituent Authorities have an existing contract with Link Fund Solutions Limited to provide regulated third party operator services for WPP. The current contract is due to end in December 2024.
The contracting authority (Carmarthenshire County Council), on behalf of the WPP, shall be conducting a procurement process to appoint a regulated third party operator for WPP’s ACS sub fund requirements following expiry of that existing contract. It is anticipated that if a new provider is appointed, the contract will commence approximately 6 months prior to the expiry of the existing contract to allow for transition planning. The procurement will be conducted in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (or any replacement regulations that may come into force prior to the commencement of the procurement).
This PIN is to notify interested suppliers of regulated third party operator services that WPP shall be conducting a market engagement as below:
- Date: 9 March 2023
- Time: to be confirmed
- Location: Marriot Hotel, Mill Lane, Cardiff, CF10 1EZ
The purpose of the market engagement day will be to:
(i) provide information to interested suppliers regarding the upcoming procurement procedure; and
(ii) to obtain any feedback on the proposed scope of services and proposed service delivery model. The appointed provider shall be required to engage directly with the existing operator’s current delegates (including investment advisors, investment managers and providers of transfer agency and fund accountancy services) and depositary for an interim period to facilitate service continuity.
Accompanying documents can be found in the general attachments area. Please refer to Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 for information about the proposed scope of services.
If your organisation is capable of delivering all of the services and you wish to attend the market engagement day, you must contact the Wales Pension Partnership via email at: walespensionpartnership@carmarthenshire.gov.uk before Friday 17 February 2023 and provide the name of your organisation and the name of the person(s) attending.
The eight constituent authorities are Carmarthenshire County Council (Host Authority), City and County of Swansea Council, City of Cardiff Council, Flintshire County Council, Gwynedd Council, Powys County Council, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council and Torfaen County Borough Council
II.2.14) Additional information
For further details on the Wales Pension Partnership please visit the following website:
https://www.walespensionpartnership.org/
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
01/09/2023
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at http://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=128136.
(WA Ref:128136)
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
17/01/2023