Fall Protection Inspections, Equipment Servicing, Maintenance and Training

The University is seeking suitably experienced and qualified tenderers to fulfil it's requirements for inspections, equipment servicing, maintenance and training. The University's fall protection systems are located at the University of Southampton's campuses, Halls of Residence and other nearby satellite sites where the Universities Estates and Facilities team are responsible for the maintenance of buildings. The successful tenderer must be able to demonstrate their competency in delivering the services as outlined within the service specification (File 4) and be suitably certified and affiliated to a recognised industry representative group(s).

Inspection Services A recommendation with regards to the frequency of inspections will be required for all equipment and buildings as listed in section 3.1 of the specification. This should take into account legislation, equipment type, frequency of use as well as environmental conditions and should include a statement that periodic inspections should be carried out a least every 12 months. Interim inspections might be needed between detailed inspections, where the risk assessment has identified a hazard that could cause significant deterioration in the equipment, for example paint, chemicals or acidic or alkaline environments.

Training The successful tenderer will be able to deliver fall protection system and personal protection equipment training for new recruits and refresher training for existing staff. This should be in line with University training policies which require training updates on a 2-yearly basis. Any course provided must cover the following aspects of Working at Height and use of fall protection equipment:

• Falls from Height Overview. • Working at Height Legislation. • Harness Awareness Training • Overview of Fall Protection Systems installed at University buildings. • Overview of Fall Protection equipment supplied for use with Fall Protection Systems installed at University buildings. • Fall protection systems and personal protective equipment user instruction requirements. • Inspection techniques for personal protective equipment. • Suspension Syncope and Rescue. • Practical use of University fall protection systems and PPE including correct us of all travelling devices issued for use with University fall protection systems. • On completion of the course, certification must be provided to each attendee to indicate that they have undertaken the course and been judged competent in all areas. • Permit Authorisation training for line managers who control working at height activities

Additional information: E-Tendering Portal: The University is utilising an electronic tendering tool, In-Tend (https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton) to manage this procurement and to communicate with potential suppliers and/or tenderers (as appropriate).

All documentation in relation to this tender can be downloaded from In-Tend.

Potential suppliers/tenderers are advised that there will be no hard copy documents issued and all communications with the University, including the submission of Selection Stage and/or Invitation to Tender responses will be conducted via In-Tend. Regular monitoring of the portal is the responsibility of the potential supplier/tenderer.

If you are not already registered as a supplier with the University of Southampton, you will need to register in In-Tend in order to access the procurement documentation.

Once you have logged in as a supplier: click on 'Tenders'; locate the relevant project; and click 'View Details'. Once you are in the project screen, you will be able to register your organisation against the project and access all documentation by clicking 'Express Interest'.

Potential suppliers/tenderers are advised that formal expressions of interest in the project must be by way of completion and return of the relevant documents via In-Tend. Further instructions for the submission of responses are below:

To submit your return:

1. Log in 2. Click 'Tenders' 3. Locate the relevant project 4. View details 5. Click on the tab relating to the relevant project stage (e.g. 'Invitation to Tender') 6. Click on the 'Attach Documents' button and upload your return. 7. Check ALL your response documents are uploaded and displayed in the 'My Tender Return' panel. The system will only permit your organisation to make one return. 8. Click the red 'Submit Return' button.

Please note, to preserve the integrity of the procurement, all communications with the University must be made via the correspondence function within In-Tend. Publication of Award Details: In accordance with Regulation 50, paragraph (2) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. the University intends to publish the value of any resulting contract at the award stage, and reserves the right to do so. By submitting a response, potential suppliers/tenderers are consenting to publication of this information unless otherwise agreed in advance with the University.

Costs and Expenses: Potential suppliers/tenderers are solely responsible for their costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation and submission of responses and participation in this and all future stages of this procurement. Under no circumstances will the University be liable for any costs or expenses borne by potential suppliers/tenderers or any of their supply chain, partners or advisers in this procurement process.

The University is no