900_22 Water Coolers

ESPO is seeking to renew its Water Coolers framework.

We intend to establish a multi-supplier framework for the supply of a wide range of water coolers including associated products and services such as maintenance / sanitisation and consumables such as water bottles and cups.

Tenderers must be able supply, install and maintain both Point of Use (Plumbed in) Water Coolers and Bottled Water Coolers to participate in this Framework.

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

To tender: (a) Go to https://www.eastmidstenders.org/; (b) Register (if not already registered on ProContract); (c) Search for tender opportunity '900_22' (via "View Opportunities from the 'EastMidsTenders' Portal); (d) Express an interest; (e) Download the tender 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).

Additional information: As part of the ongoing contract management process, during the period of the Framework Agreement, ESPO shall monitor the financial stability of the awarded Suppliers by reference to credit ratings 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 to the credit score is identified over the lifetime 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.

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.