Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Welsh Government
Corporate Procurement Services, Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
UK
Contact person: Kris Hawkins
Telephone: +44 3000253491
E-mail: kris.hawkins@gov.wales
NUTS: UKL
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://wales.gov.uk/?skip=1&lang=en
Address of the buyer profile: http://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0007
I.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Planning Applications Wales
Reference number: C159/2023/2024
II.1.2) Main CPV code
72400000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
“Planning Applications Wales”, acts as a “front end” to the planning application process in Wales, providing a consistent single form for planning applications and associated consents with built-in guidance and help, whilst also transferring the application information directly to the variety of ICT systems in use by Welsh Local Planning Authorities (“LPAs”).
.
The client requires a public facing online service, which can:
1. Develop, host and manage a fully bilingual suite of online planning application forms, which can be used to submit planning application information and associated electronic supporting documents to any LPA ICT system in Wales, by using existing XML data fields and interfaces currently in use by LPAs;
2. Use inline technical validation (such as field type restriction and mandatory requirement for attachments subject to scenarios, or answering certain questions) to enable smoother submission and validation of applications;
3. Host and manage versions of each application form “scenario” (there are currently 35) which can be downloaded (either blank or partially completed) to submit a planning application to a LPA in hard copy;
4. Supply printable versions of completed forms to LPAs, so that they can be stored, published on the LPA’s website or forwarded to stakeholders;
5. Host and manage accessible guidance and advice about the use of the planning application platform, as part of the online service, targeted at ley or novice users of the planning system; and
6.Provide a bilingual customer support service to assist users with operational queries and front-line support issues relating to the use of the application service, or the downloading of applications by LPAs.
.
Minimum requirements include but are not limited to evidence of information security certification and regular system penetration testing, quality assurance certification or equivalent, compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 to Level AA and ability to provide a service in line with the Welsh Language Standards.
.
Subject to approval, the estimated budget for the delivery of the requirement for the initial contract term of 3 years, is up to a maximum of 320,000GBP.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
72200000
72000000
72300000
48100000
72320000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Welsh Ministers (the Client) has not yet identified the most suitable procurement procedure to obtain the required services.
The purpose of this notice is to notify the market of the Services the Client are potentially looking to procure and to seek feedback from potential suppliers to gauge market interest and service availability. This information will be used by the Client to make an informed decision about the approach to re-procuring the service. We do not intend to solicit any commitment regarding product/service supply, pricing structures, or specific requirements.
II.2.14) Additional information
Potential suppliers are encouraged to both express interest in the notice and provide feedback on whether they could offer a solution within the indicated budget, an outline specification is available on request from the contact noted on this notice. Expressions of interest and responses are to be provided by the 26th of January 2024 at the latest.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
29/02/2024
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
The Welsh Government is placing this notice to notify suitably skilled Supplier(s) of a potential contract opportunity. Please note, this notice is a call for interest, there is not a start date for award procedure or an anticipated award date at this stage. There will be no formal assessing of responses, and nothing given or provided at this stage will be evaluated as part of any future procurement process.
While the contracting authority has decided to advertise on a voluntary basis, this does not represent a commitment to follow a particular procurement procedure. The Welsh Government will not reimburse, and shall not be responsible for, any costs, charges or expenses incurred by organisations responding to this notice.
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=136036.
(WA Ref:136036)
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
15/01/2024