Library, archives, museums and other cultural services

Tender description

The Council is the Library Authority within its area and is subject to the statutory duties to provide a comprehensive and efficient Library service as set out in the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964. The Council is seeking to outsource its Libraries and Archive Services and is seeking a partner organisation to operate and manage those Services on the basis of a 5-year services contract. Such Organisations would be expected to be able to demonstrate the ability to operate manage and deliver the services in an effective and economic fashion; and to have or be able to quickly acquire a local knowledge and understanding of the community within the area of the Council and to be able to gain support of that community and to be able to add social value and benefit beyond the immediate delivery of Services. Provision of Libraries and Archive Services. This is a procurement for Services specified in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as those covered by the Light Touch Regime (LTR). The Authority is advertising this opportunity within OJEU in accordance with the spirit of the EU Public Procurement Regime and to conduct the procurement process in an open and fair manner so as to increase competition. The procurement exercise will be conducted in accordance with Regulations 74 to 77 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the information contained in the Invitation to Tender and associated documents. The successful Contractor(s) are required to take account of sustainable development e.g. environmental, social and economic impacts of delivery and to actively participate in the protection of the environment. Accordingly contract performance and conditions may relate in particular to social and environmental considerations. Please note that estimated spend figures provided in this notice are based on historical information and cannot be guaranteed under this contract. Details of the project are located under the All Opportunities link via the Dudley MBC e-tendering website www.blackcountrybusiness.co.uk which is also where you can express an interest and receive the documentation. Once you have done this you must log back into the website using the details provided following registration and locate the contract document under Tenders; My Tenders on the menu. The Tender should be received no later than 13.12.2016 at (noon) 12:00 hours and will be available for download until 23:59 hours on 12.12.2016. URL: www.blackcountrybusiness.co.uk To access documents bidders are required to register with the website. This may be done in 2 ways; 1) Use the Register/Sign In button located on the Home screen or 2) find the project under the All Opportunities link and use the Express Interest button. Companies who have previously registered with the website will be invited to input their login details. Once an expression of interest has been accepted by the system, Users Must log back into the system to access documents. Now they will appear under the My Tenders tab. Further assistance with the system may be obtained by contacting the System Administrator on 01384 814862 or contracts@dudley.gov.uk Guidance documents are also published under the Help screen which can be found on the home screen at www.blackcountrybusiness.co.uk The Council expressly reserves the right: i) Not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice; ii) To make whatever changes it sees fit to the content and structure of the tendering competition; iii) To award contract(s) in respect of any part(s) of the requirement covered by this notice; and iv) To award contract(s) in stages and in no circumstances will the Council be liable for any costs incurred by candidates. Please note further description of service required: The Council would make available the buildings currently used for the provision of the Services by granting Leasehold interests. The overall proposal will be on a cost neutral basis to the provider. The current staff would transfer to the provider under TUPE provisions and the Council would intend to invest in the process by an initial dowry and on-going yearly payments. Services currently provided by the Council to its library and museums service would be available to the provider by agreement and the IT services would be made available for at least 2 years from inception. The Council is currently reviewing its Cultural Services, depending upon the review the Council may look to add to those services at some point in the future subject to further discussion and agreement with the successful provider.