Parcel delivery services

Tender description

Commercial Services is one of the largest trading organisations of its kind in Europe with a turnover in excess of 600 000 000 GBP and employing over 700 people from its base in Kent. Tracing its roots back to 1902, as an education stores department for Kent County Council, Commercial Services has subsequently grown organically 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 the emergency services. KCS is a trading unit of Commercial Services and provides a purchasing, warehousing and distribution service to a wide ranging customer base within local government and associated public bodies in Kent, neighbouring counties and across the UK. Kent County Council (the Council) is the largest local authority in England covering an area of 3 500 km2. It has an annual expenditure of circa. 1 000 000 000 GBP on goods and services with a population of 1 500 000. The Council provides a wide range of personal and strategic services on behalf of its residents, operating in partnership with 12 district councils and 309 parish/town councils. In accordance with best procurement practice, EU and UK Procurement Directives and Regulations, KCS wishes to create a Contract for the supply of an Outsourced Distribution Service. The procurement process adopted by the Contracting Authority is based upon the ‘Open’ Procedure, as detailed in the ‘Public Contract Regulations 2015’. KCS is seeking the provision of an outsourced next day delivery distribution solution to its customers outside of Kent; including the management of the loading bay operation for the required deliveries. Exact details of areas that will be serviced under this Contract will be advised and agreed between the parties post award and may be amended (increased or reduced) during the life of the Contract. The current KCS warehouse operation is at New Hythe, Aylesford, Kent. It should be noted, however, that during the life of this Contract this location may be subject to change and the successful company will be expected to move with the operation should it do so. KCS will continue to service its Kent based customers through its own fleet of vehicles (the loading bay management for this business will be run KCS). During peak trading periods when KCS capacity may be exceeded then the additional volume may be added to the distribution schedule of the outsourced Supplier.