Library services

Tender description

Hertfordshire County Council is currently out to procurement for the provision of library services in Hertfordshire. Further information in regards to this opportunity can be found in II.2.4) Description of the procurement field (OJEU Contract Notice refers). Organisations wishing to take part in this project are invited to "express interest" which will give access to the full procurement documents in the e-tendering system. Please see VI.3) Additional information for further information. Any questions relating to this procurement must be made via the correspondence area in the e-Tendering system, in accordance with the procurement documents and can be addressed to the main contact as shown in the details above. The Council is seeking to appoint a service provider to deliver its library service in line with the Council’s "Inspiring Libraries" strategy (the "Services"). Interested organisations are referred to the procurement documents including the specification for further detailed information on the description of the procurement, the Contract and the Council's needs and requirements. The proposed contract is to commence 1.8.2019 for mobilisation with a service transfer date of 1.12.2019 for a period of 5 years and 4 months with a potential extension period or periods, at the Council's absolute discretion, of up to 64 months. The estimated contract value, over the initial term of 5 years and 4 months and the potential extension period of a further 64 months is 127 500 000 GBP. Support services: The Council currently provides various corporate support services to the library service. The successful service provider will be required to enter into a support services agreement with the Council. Heritage services: It is anticipated that, during the term of the Contract, the Council will wish to include the provision of heritage services within the scope of the Contract. The inclusion of these services will be dealt with as an anticipated under the Contract. Interested organisations are referred to the procurement documents for further information on the description of the procurement, the Contract and the Council's needs and requirements. Please note: the TUPE staffing information for this procurement will be provided to those organisations invited to tender. TUPE related information must be treated as protected data in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018 and must be kept confidential. The Council has prepared Heads of Terms, in draft form, for the Libraries. These documents contain commercially sensitive information by reference to the Council’s terms with superior landlords and related rental price information. By clicking on the View Details button and accessing the documentation for this procurement, tenderers agree: (a) to undertake to treat the information as confidential and commercially sensitive at all times and take all reasonable steps to prevent any inadvertent disclosure to any third party, (b) that under no circumstances will any of the information be disclosed by your organisation or your personnel to any third party without the Council’s prior consent in writing, (c) that the information supplied will be stored securely and destroyed or returned to the Council, after your organisation’s bid has been submitted or you decide not to proceed with a tender submission, (d) that you will indemnify the Council for any losses, arising from your breach or breach by any of your personnel of these confidentiality requirements specified above and data protection requirements in relation to TUPE Staffing Information, (e) the requirements above apply whether the supplier uploads a tender response to this procurement or not. Tenderers should be aware that due to the nature of the services provided, any Contract formed as a result of this procurement process shall be executed as a deed. Tenderers should seek independent legal advice on the implications of this prior to submitting their tender, where appropriate. Please note that the contract requirements will be subject to available financial resources, supplier performance and flexibility to meet changing demands.