Short Term Procurement Management Requirement

The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) invites applications to manage a service tender process that is scheduled to start in January 2025.

HBLB is a non-departmental public body (NDPB) sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. HBLB is required by the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 to collect a statutory levy from the horseracing business of bookmakers and apply the funds raised to one or more of the following objectives:

- the improvement of breeds of horses; - the advancement or encouragement of veterinary science or veterinary education; - the improvement of horseracing.

In connection with the stated objectives and in the interests of the health and well-being of the horse population in Great Britain, HBLB contracts with a third party to provide a surveillance and monitoring service covering equine infectious disease in Great Britain. The current service agreement is due to expire on 31 October 2025, and a tender process for renewal of the service agreement is planned to start in January 2025.

A press release announcing the arrangements was issued in 2021 and can be found at https://hblb.org.uk/release/685.

HBLB is looking for a management consultant or consultancy to facilitate the tender process for the provision of the above service and to provide advice on transition to the new service and its safe contractual implementation. The assignment will include the following tasks:

- Assistance with drafting tender documents - Attendance at meetings with the appointed oversight committee - Responsibility for posting of final tender document on Government website - Responding to queries from potential applicants - Collating, inspecting and analysing applications in respect of costs/functions/other features - Arrangement and management of application review and interview processes - Communication with applicants - Assisting HBLB in drafting new agreement - Advice on future agreement monitoring strategy

Parties tendering for this service must be able to evidence:

- Knowledge and experience of the government procurement process - Practical understanding of the British horseracing industry - Knowledge regarding the management of equine welfare particularly with regard to infectious disease - Experience of drafting contract opportunities and the resulting service contracts - Acceptable value for money

Additional information: Please carefully read the instructions and information below. Failure to comply with the instructions may invalidate your tender.

1. Contract Period

The contract is expected to be for a period of up to six months but the exact duration will depend on successful facilitation of the tender process for delivery of equine infectious disease surveillance and monitoring in Great Britain. The contract for the provision of this service must take effect from 1 November 2025.

It is expected that the total number of days will be around 20.

HBLB's preference would be for a fixed-price consultancy arrangement.

2. Receipt of Applications

Applications must be submitted by email to:

[email protected]

before closure of the stated tender period.

It is the responsibility of the tenderer to ensure that their tender is submitted before closure of the tender period; late tenders will not be considered.

All tenders submitted will be acknowledged when received.

3. Confidentiality of Applications

Please note the following requirements. You must not:

a) Tell anyone else what your proposed contract price is or will be, before the time limit for delivery of applications.

b) Try to obtain any information about anyone else's application or proposed application before the time limit for delivery of applications.

c) Make any arrangements with another individual or organisation about whether or not they should apply, or about their or your proposed contract price.

Failure to comply with these conditions may disqualify your tender.

4. Tender Selection

HBLB is not bound to accept any tender. Tender selection will depend on multiple criteria as listed in the contract description above and not price alone.

5. Freedom of Information

HBLB is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) therefore information submitted to HBLB may be subject to FOIA disclosure.

Commercially sensitive information or information given in confidence should be clearly marked.

All FOIA requests for information will be dealt with according to Government's Freedom of Information Code of Practice.