Crown Office Supplies Framework Agreement

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) as the Authority is putting in place a pan government Framework Agreement for the provision of Office Supplies for use by UK public sector bodies identified at VI.3 (and any future successors to these organisations), which include Central Government Departments and their Arm’s Length Bodies and Agencies (ALBs), Non Departmental Public Bodies, NHS bodies and Local Authorities.

The above Public Sector Bodies have a need for Office Supplies Goods and delivery of purchased goods.

The initial duration of this Framework Agreement is for a two (2) year period. The Authority may extend the duration of this Framework Agreement for any period or periods up to a maximum of two (2) years in total from the expiry of the Initial Framework Period for a maximum of two (2) consecutive further terms, each of these terms being up to a maximum of twelve (12) months duration. Any extension will be exercised at the sole discretion of the Authority.

The Framework Agreement will be divided into 2 Lots:

This Procurement will establish a multiple Supplier Framework Agreement. A Framework Agreement for each Lot will be awarded to a single unique Supplier

Potential Providers can only bid for Lot 1 OR Lot 2.

The Authority considers that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (“TUPE”) may not apply for Lot 1 or Lot 2. It is the responsibility of Potential Providers to take their own advice and consider whether TUPE is likely to apply in particular circumstances of the contract and to act accordingly. The Potential Provider is encouraged to carry out its own due diligence exercise.

A detailed description of the Services that the Potential Provider will be required to supply under this Framework Agreement are set out in full in Framework Schedule 2: Goods and delivery of purchased goods and Key Performance Indicators Part A: Goods and delivery of purchased goods of the Framework Agreement.

The Authority may increase the CCS Management Charge percentage (which shall be 0.5% as at the Framework Commencement Date) at any point during the Framework Period up to a maximum of 1%

Additional information: Cyber Essentials is mandatory for Central Government Contracts which involve handling personal information and providing certain ICT products and services.

The government is taking steps to further reduce the levels of cyber security risk in its supply chain through the Cyber Essentials scheme. The scheme defines a set of controls which, when properly implemented, will provide organisations with basic protection from the most prevalent forms of threat coming from the internet. There are 2 levels of certification: Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus.

To participate in this Procurement, Potential Providers must be able to demonstrate that you comply with the technical requirements prescribed by Cyber Essentials for Services under and in connection with this Procurement.

The Potential Provider may be awarded a place on the Framework Agreement but shall not enter into any Call Off Procedure and / or any Call Off Contracts with Contracting Authorities until they are able to demonstrate to the Authority that they meet the technical requirements prescribed by Cyber Essentials for Services under and in connection with this Procurement.

Further details of Cyber Essentials may be found here https://www.cyberstreetwise.com/cyberessentials/

Further detail of the mandatory requirements may be found in PPN 09/14.

The Authority will also assess whether this selection criterion is met on request from the Framework Agreement user prior to the proposed conclusion of a Call-Off Contract with a value of £20 million or greater (excluding VAT). Failure to meet the selection criterion set will render the supplier ineligible for that Call-Off Contract.