FM21116 - Arbitration Referral and Management Services

The final date and time for the submission of bids is Tuesday 27th July 2021 at 11:00.

DO NOT apply directly to the buyer.

All tender information MUST be submitted through the Delta eSourcing Portal.

Brief Description of Requirement

UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UK SBS) on behalf of Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA), wish to appoint a provider for Arbitration Referral and Management Services.

The Pubs Code Adjudicator (PCA) is the independent regulator responsible for enforcing the statutory Pubs Code (the Code). The Code regulates the relationship between all pub companies (referred to as pub-owning businesses in the Code) owning 500 or more tied pubs in England and Wales and their tied tenants. Tied tenants are those that are obliged to purchase beer from their landlord. They may be tied for other products and services too.

Dispute resolution under the Pubs Code is by way of a referral for arbitration. This contract is for the management of those referrals, including the process for any appointment of an alternative arbitrator.

The PCA is looking to appoint a sole supplier that will take on the end to end case management and administration of the arbitration service. The sole supplier will not be required to conduct the arbitration themselves but will be responsible for sourcing a suitable arbitrator for appointment by the PCA if appropriate, and in accordance with the exercise of her statutory powers once a referral has been made. The remit of the sole supplier will not end on appointment of an arbitrator and the service provision following this is outlined in the specification.

There are also Arbitrator training and knowledge management requirements covered within this appointment, further details can be found in the specification.

Please ensure you review all attached information to ensure a full understanding of this requirement. All attachments can be found with the Document Uploads tab within the Delta eSourcing Portal.

This contract will be awarded based on the evaluation criteria as set out in the RFP document.

How to Apply

UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UK SBS) will be using the Delta eSourcing Portal for this procurement.

To register on the Delta eSourcing portal please use the link https://www.delta-esourcing.com/ and follow the instructions to register.

If you are already registered on the Delta eSourcing Portal and wish to participate in this procurement, please use the link: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/ and the follow the instructions to 'Log in'

Once you are logged into the system you will be able to link yourself into this procurement using the Access Code: 54D62EEWY3

Additional information: DO NOT APPLY DIRECTLY TO BUYER

All submissions will be assessed in accordance with the Public Procurement Regulations that apply to this opportunity.

Responses must be received by the date and time in the tender documentation; responses received outside of the deadline or not sent via the Delta eSourcing portal will not be accepted or considered by the Contracting Authority further for this opportunity. Interested organisations should ensure that they allow a sufficiency of time, prior to the deadline to allow all sections to be completed in full and any attachments to be uploaded.

As a user of the Delta eSourcing Portal you will have access to the Delta messaging service which facilitates all messages sent to you and from you, as well as other messages and updates in relation to any specific tender event. Please note that any and all information secured outside of the messaging service, shall have no merit or worth and should not be relied upon by any organisation submitting a tender response.

Please note it is your organisations responsibility to access these messages on a regular basis to ensure you have sight of all relevant information applicable to this opportunity.

The Contracting Authority expressly reserves the right:

• i.not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice; and

• ii.to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the procurement; and under no circumstances as part of your organisations participation in this opportunity, will the Contracting Authority be liable for any costs incurred by any organisation as a result. If the Contracting Authority decides to enter into a contract with any successful organisation(s), this does not mean that there is any guarantee of subsequent contracts being awarded. Any expenditure, work or effort undertaken prior to contract award is accordingly a matter solely for the commercial judgement of your organisation in doing so.

About UK Shared Business Services

UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UK SBS) brings a commercial attitude to the public sector; helping our contracting authorities to improve efficiency, generate savings and modernise.

Where UK SBS is not named as the Contracting Authority within the documentation, UK SBS will be acting as an agent on behalf of the Contracting Authority.

Our broad range of expert services is shared by our customers. This allows our customers the freedom to focus resources on core activities; innovating and transforming their own organisations.

For full details of our partner base please review the following link: http://www.uksbs.co.uk/services/procure/contracts/Pages/default.aspx