NL440 Merseyside Sites Term Landscape & Cleansing Contract 2017 - 2020

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is the single, national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England. Our vision is to create opportunity for people to live in homes they can afford in places they want to live, by enabling local authorities and communities to deliver the ambition they have for their own areas. For more information visit www.gov.uk/hca. In the achievement of this vision, the HCA 'holds' large expanses of land and built estate. The HCA will work with local partners to develop, invest in and dispose of the assets in pursuit of the economic development and regeneration objectives agreed by local partners and in support of local strategies. Whilst these sites help facilitate the delivery of the vision for the organisation, they also bring duties of care, health and safety, trespass and other liabilities and responsibilities. As part of the solution to manage such liabilities the HCA procure Services to undertake routine and emergency activities on its estate. The HCA's procurement is led by its duty of care in relation to health & safety and building conservation as well as their responsibilities surrounding the economy, environment and society. The HCA is seeking to appoint a competent Supplier for the provision of landscape management and cleansing services at 9 Sites located within its Merseyside portfolio. Typical planned works under this Contract comprise, but are not exclusively limited to the following; Site inspections, whereby the Contractor shall indicate; all matters relating to the maintenance specification, recommendations for necessary works, incidences of vandalism, flytipping, trespass and adjustments to the scheduled works; Grass cutting; Shrub maintenance; Weed Control and Cleansing. Suppliers should be aware that Unplanned works may arise over the term of the Contract which will be instructed by the HCA as and when required in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the Contract. Suppliers should note that this is a performance based Contract, the performance of which will be monitored through Key Performance Indicators (KPI's). The minimum level of Public & Employers Liability insurance cover needed for this Contract is �5 million and �10 million respectively. The Homes and Communities Agency wish to appoint a single Supplier to undertake the above Service for an initial 24 month term with provision for a further 12 month extension on written instruction of the Employer. Services are expected to be have commenced on site by 01st October 2017. All Suppliers must be confident that they have the capacity to start the Contract within the required timescale. The Merseyside Sites will be available for viewing during this Tender. Suppliers will be required to visit the sites prior to Pricing and will be required to confirm this within the Tender return.

Additional information: The opportunity can be accessed via the HCA eTendering system. Tenderers wishing to be considered for this contract must register their expression of interest and submit a tender through the HCA eTendering system. If not already registered, candidates should register on the HCA eTendering system at https://procontract.due-north.com/Login All discussions, meetings and communications will be conducted in English.

The contract will be subject to English law. Tenders and all supporting documents must be priced in GBP and all payments under the contract will be made in GBP.

This procurement and award is subject to the transparency arrangements being adopted by the UK Government. These arrangements include the publication of tender documentation issued by the HCA and the contract between the HCA and supplier. Bidders should highlight any areas they consider commercially sensitive in order for the HCA to be able to honour our transparency obligations without undermining the bidders commercial interests.

Candidates are advised that the HCA is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ("The Act"). If a candidate considers that any of the information supplied as part of this procurement procedure should not be disclosed because of its commercial sensitivity, confidential or otherwise, they must, when providing this information, clearly identify the specific information they do not wish to be disclosed and clearly specify the reasons for its sensitivity. The HCA shall take such statements into consideration in the event that it receives a request pursuant to the Act which relates to the information provided by the interested party. Please note, it is insufficient to include a statement of confidentiality encompassing all the information provided in the response.

The HCA takes a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption and sets high standards of impartiality, integrity and objectivity in relation to the stewardship of public funds and the management of its activities. The principles contained within this policy apply to both internal and external audiences, including anyone wishing to undertake business or engage with the HCA. Please refer to our Anti-bribery and Corruption Policy by visiting https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/anti-bribery-and-corruption-policy for further information.