Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
THE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH EAST COUNCILS LIMITED
Durham County Council,C/o Ros Layfield, Legal & Democr
DURHAM
DH15UL
UK
Contact person: Laura Kyle
Telephone: +44 1916380040
E-mail: energy@nepo.org
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.nepo.org
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
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
NEPO311 Water Retail Services
II.1.2) Main CPV code
65100000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
NEPO seeks to procure a Framework Agreement for Water Retail Services. The purpose of this PIN is to provide prior information to the market on the intentions of NEPO to procure such a Framework Agreement. This notice also provides an open invite to Market Consultation meetings.
NEPO intend to hold Market Consultation meetings with suppliers prior to this procurement project. The Market Consultation meetings are advertised openly using this notice.
The Market Consultation Questionnaire will be made accessible via the Open eTendering system on Thursday 16th May 2024 with a submission deadline of 12 p.m. Thursday 30th May 2024.
Suppliers wishing to access and complete the Market Consulation Questionnaire must first register on the eTendering system using the following link https://www.open-uk.org
Within the Soft Market Testing Questionnaire, Suppliers will be given the opportunity to register for a market consultation meeting via an Eventbrite Link.
Market consultation meetings are limited in number and will take place the week commencing Monday 3rd June 2024. Appointments will be no longer than 1 hour and 15 minutes, and NEPO intend to conduct these sessions virtually through online meeting platform applications. NEPO anticipates these virtual meeting sessions will take place on Microsoft Teams or other secure meeting platforms. The time and location of each appointment will be confirmed following the registration deadline and places will be secured on a first come first serve basis via the Eventbrite Link. NEPO reserves the right to seek assurances from interested suppliers prior to allocating a place.
Attendance at market consultation is optional and does not provide suppliers with an advantage in any future related procurement. Attendance also does not constitute as an intention to tender for any future related procurement. Please note the above dates may be subject to change depending on availability and supplier uptake.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
85 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
65000000
71800000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Framework Agreement is intended to capture the provision of Water Retail Services, including billing, customer service, the management of the water wholesaler relationship and water meter readings.
The Framework Agreement will also include provisions for assisting Member Authorities to reduce consumption, supporting Member Authorities' own energy efficiency aims. The inclusion of ancillary services such as Automated Meter Reading (AMR), leak detection and site audits reflects the opportunities available for Member Authorities to secure savings and added value through efficient water and wastewater management.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
23/09/2024
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
NEPO is a Central Purchasing Body as defined in the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (PCR15). The agreement will be available for use by all NEPO Members. A list of member organisations is available in the About section of the NEPO website at: www.nepo.org
This agreement will also be made available to all current and future NEPO Associate Members. Current Associate Members are listed in the Associate Member section of the NEPO website at: www.nepo.org/associate-membership/list
NEPO intends to make the resulting agreement available for use by all Contracting Authorities throughout all administrative regions of the UK (as defined by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015) including but not limited to Government Departments and their Agencies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies, Central Government, NHS Bodies, Local Authorities, Emergency Services, Coastguard Emergency Services, Educational Establishments, Registered Social Landlords and Registered Charities who have a need to purchase the above services.
Please see the following websites for further details:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/Localcouncils/index.htm
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
https://www.gov.uk/check-a-university-is-officially-recognised/recognised-bodies
http://www.schoolswebdirectory.co.uk/localauthorities.php
http://www.ukschoolsdirectory.net
https://www.gov.uk/find-school-in-england
https://education.gov.scot/ParentZone
http://hwb.wales.gov.uk/
https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/open-academies-and-academy-projects-in-development
http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/institutions/
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/workprovide/unicoll/heis/
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/workprovide/unicoll/fecs/
http://www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/AcuteTrustListing.aspx
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/nhswalesaboutus/structure
http://www.scottishambulance.com/TheService/organised.aspx
http://www.hscni.net/index.php?link=trusts
http://www.scottishambulance.com/AboutUs/HowWeOrganised.aspx
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/A-ZOfCentralGovernment/index.htm
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations
http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/gov.htm
http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/local-councils-in-northern-ireland
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/02/2421/1
https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/contact
https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/articles/list-public-bodies-which-ni-public-procurement-policy-applies
https://www.ons.gov.uk/
https://www.police.uk/forces/
http://www.police-information.co.uk/index.html
http://www.psni.police.uk/index.htm
http://www.scotland.police.uk/
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency http://www.fireservice.co.uk/information/ukfrs
http://www.gov.scot/Topics/archive/law-order/Police/PoliceServiceofScotland
http://www.fire.org.uk/fire-brigades.html
http://www.nifrs.org/areas-districts/
http://www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-area.aspx
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/current-registered-providers-of-social-housing
http://directory.scottishhousingregulator.gov.uk/pages/default.aspx
https://gov.wales/topics/housing-and-regeneration/publications/registered-social-landlords-in-wales/?lang=en
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/housing-associations
http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/About_us/Regulation/Registering_charities_index.aspx
http://www.oscr.org.uk/
https://idea.org.uk/
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/registerhomepage.aspx
http://www.sell2wales.gov.uk/Search/search_Auth.aspx
http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom/factsandfigures/housingplanning1/facts/socialhousing/?id=1822644
A complete list of permissible users is shown on the NEPO website below:
https://www.nepo.org/associate-membership/permissible-users
Organisations wishing to access the NEPO agreement will be required to register as a NEPO Associate Member in the first instance.
Further information can be found at: www.nepo.org
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
16/05/2024