Natural gas

Tender description

Commercial Services is 1 of the largest trading organisations of its kind in the UK with a turnover currently in excess of 600 000 000 GBP per annum and employing over 800 people from its base in Kent. With its Schools Supplies Division set up nearly 70 years ago by Kent County Council, it has grown organically since then to supply an ever-increasing range of best value goods and services to other publicly funded organisations. These include local government, education establishments, the care sector and emergency services. Laser Energy Buying Group was established as part of Commercial Services in 1989, in response to the increasing competitiveness of the deregulated energy markets and now provides complete energy solutions to 160 Local Authorities and other Public Sector bodies throughout the UK. Kent County Council (the Contracting Authority) is the largest local authority in England covering an area of 3 500 square kilometres. It has an annual expenditure of over 1 000 000 000 GBP on goods and services and a population of 1 300 000. The Council provides a wide range of personal and strategic services on behalf of its residents, operating in partnership with 12 district councils and 289 parish/town councils. In accordance with best procurement practice, EU and UK Procurement Directives and Regulations, the Contracting Authority has created a Framework Agreement (the Agreement) divided in to Lots — Lot 1 — for the fixed term fixed price procurement of gas supplies and Lot 2 — procurement of electricity for Non-Half Hourly and Half Hourly metered and Certified Unmetered supplies. The procurement process adopted by the Contracting Authority is based upon the ‘Open’ Procedure, as detailed in the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and the EU Combined Procurement Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council. In brief the process will be as follows: — Only those organisations that express their interest in this opportunity via the Kent Business Portal will receive this Invitation to Tender (ITT); — All submitted compliant bids will be evaluated in accordance with the instructions contained within this document.