Provison of Banking Services

Tender description

<b>SEFTON MBC</b> The Metropolitan Borough of Sefton services a population of over 275,000 and employs approximately 8,000 full time equivalent staff. With total gross expenditure of £646 million it is one of the largest metropolitan boroughs in the country, and requires a range of banking services and merchant services, as detailed in this tender. <b>LIAISON</b> <b> </b> The needs of the various Council Departments and Establishments are coordinated by the Head of Corporate Finance and ICT who will nominate a Liaison Officer for the Contract. Policy issues will be handled through this officer although day to day services will involve the relevant individual members of staff. The Bank or Merchant should appoint similar liaison officers. There should be a nominated Officer (and Deputy) for major activities / queries. For banking day-to-day activity there should be nominated staff to deal with specific queries (e.g. transfers between accounts, income, cash collection, cheque payments, BACS/CHAPS payments, foreign payments etc.), who can be contacted by telephone/fax. The contract period for identified services will be from 1 April 2016 - 31 March 2019, with a further possible annual extension over a further 2 periods each of 1 year. The first decision to renew the contract will be made by the 1 October 2018. Sefton Council requires the right to renegotiate tariffs at annual contract renewal dates. The council does not bind itself to the contract to accept the lowest or any of the prices submitted - the award will be made on the most economically advantageous tender incorporating the evaluation criteria set out within the document. Tenders MUST remain open for acceptance up to six calendar months. Sefton Council reserves the right to open renegotiations on any or all the terms of the contract. Tenderers must quote for all the services specified in the document. Partial tenders for parts of the lots presented will not be accepted. The Council's banking arrangements and merchant services with the successful contractor or contractors will be conducted in accordance with all relevant statutory requirements including in particular the Local Government Finance Acts 1988 and 1992 and the Education Reform Act 1988, and all Regulations made under these Acts.