192_27 Mains Gas

Description

PLEASE NOTE, THIS TENDER (INCLUDING THE TENDER DOCUMENTS) IS RESTRICTED TO ONLY THOSE ORGANISATIONS THAT HOLD AN OFGEM GAS SUPPLY LICENCE.

ESPO are seeking to appoint a single supplier to a Framework covering the supply of mains gas and associated services. ESPO will act the intermediary to purchase gas on behalf of customers from across the public sector.

ESPO's current portfolio is approximately 6,000 sites.

As part of the on-going contract management process, during the period of the Framework Agreement, ESPO shall monitor the financial stability of the awarded Suppliers during the period of the Framework Agreement by reference to credit rating agency reports. ESPO shall obtain a credit score for the Supplier on or before the Framework start date as a base score and where a significant change in the credit score is identified over the life of the Framework Agreement, ESPO reserves the right to investigate the reasons for this significant change. Depending on the severity of the changes, it will be at the sole discretion of ESPO to suspend or even permanently remove the Supplier from the Framework Agreement.

To tender:
(a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity '192_27' (via "View Opportunities" from the 'EastMidsTenders' Portal); (d) Express an interest (if not already completed via the previously Published PIN); (e) Please refer to the below regarding access to the tender documents (will only be granted by ESPO once a Confidentiality Agreement has been completed and returned).

ESPO will impose on economic operators requirements aimed at protecting the confidential nature of information made available throughout the procurement procedure (as permitted by Regulation 21(3)) and, before receiving that information, economic operators will be required to complete and return a Confidentiality Agreement.

In the first instance, economic operators MUST complete an Expression of interest ('register interest') for this tender opportunity (as detailed above, and if not already completed via the previously Published PIN), after which you will be able to access the Messages area on the eProcurement Portal (ProContract).

To request access to the Tender documents, you MUST submit a Message on the eProcurement Portal for this Opportunity / Activity, confirming your Company Name and Registration Number. Upon verification of this information (including that an OFGEM Gas Supply Licence is held), ESPO will issue the Confidential Agreement (via the eProcurement Portal Messages), for this to be signed and returned. Access to the Tender documents will only be granted once this has been completed.

Additional information: As a Central Purchasing Body as defined in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, the Framework Agreement is open for use by Public Bodies (defined at https://www.espo.org/amfile/file/download/file/9608/) that also fall into one of the following classifications of user throughout all administrative regions of the UK: Local Authorities; Educational Establishments (including Academies); Central Government Departments and Agencies; Police, Fire & Rescue and Coastguard Emergency Services; NHS and HSC Bodies, including Ambulance Services; Registered Charities; Registered Social Landlords; The Corporate Office of the House of Lords, The Corporate Officer of the House of Commons; or any public body established by or under the Scotland Act 1998 or any Act of the Scottish Parliament. Details of the classification of end user establishments and geographical areas are available at: https://www.espo.org/legal.

ESPO has established a commercial trading company, ESPO Trading Limited, whose target clients are third sector organisations such as national and local charities, public sector mutual organisations and other organisations involved in the delivery of services to or for the public sector. The successful Supplier may be asked to enter into an additional separate framework agreement (the Second Framework) with ESPO Trading Limited on materially similar terms to that found in the tender pack to be entered into by ESPO itself.

Any Second Framework agreement will be a purely commercial agreement and will, for the avoidance of doubt, not be governed by the Public Contract Regulations 2015 or other public procurement legislation. ESPO Trading Limited may enter into the second framework agreement with the successful supplier and make it available to third sector clients who themselves are not required to follow the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or other public procurement legislation. Accordingly, this is provided for bidders information only.