500_23 Consultancy for Decarbonisation / Net Zero Strategies

ESPO is seeking to establish a multi supplier framework agreement for the provision of consultancy services for Decarbonisation / Net Zero Strategies. This will be an ESPO national framework for the provision of consultancy and project management services in relation to the renewable and low carbon energy sector. This may include objective advice relating to net zero strategy and carbon reduction programmes including the identification of low carbon options with recommendations as well as implementation and delivery advice.

The framework will consist of 2 Lots based on total contract value.

Lot 1 - Consultancy services for decarbonisation / net zero strategies (Consultancy requirements under £50,000) - i.e., to appeal to Customers with smaller Consultancy requirements with a total assessed value for consultancy services under £50,000.

Lot 2 - Consultancy services for decarbonisation / net zero strategies (Consultancy requirements of £50,000 and over) - i.e., to appeal to Customers with large Consultancy requirements with a total assessed value for consultancy services of £50,000 and over.

Whilst tenderers are not expected to specialise in all of the areas listed within the specification there will be a requirement for tenderers to be able to offer a broad base of consultancy advice relating to decarbonisation and net zero and therefore it is proposed that tenderers should be able to offer:

For Lot 1 - at least 50% of the areas listed within the specification. For Lot 2 - at least 75% of the areas listed within the specification.

The framework agreement has the option to extend for up to a further 24 months. The total estimated value stated includes the option period.

ESPO shall monitor the financial stability of the awarded suppliers during the period of the Framework Agreement by reference to credit ratings agency reports. ESPO shall obtain a credit score for the suppliers on or before the Framework start date as a base score and where a significant change 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 offences involved, 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 '500_23' (via "View Opportunities" from the 'EastMidsTenders' Portal); (d) Express an interest; (e) Download the tender documents from the website (documents can be found in the first question of the Online Questionnaire, but to see these you will first need to click on "Start my response" followed by "Edit" next to the Question set, and "Answer question" next to the first question - for any additional help accessing please refer to the guide that is included within the Proactis portal ProContract for this opportunity).

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.

An eAuction process may be used to award subsequent call off contracts following the reopening of competition among the parties to the Framework Agreement.