Framework Agreement for the Provision of Arboricultural and Horticultural Services in the London Borough of Redbridge

The Council of the London Borough of Redbridge ("the Authority") is seeking Tenders from suitably experienced and qualified organisations for appointment to the Framework Agreement for the Provision of Arboricultural and Horticultural Services in the London Borough of Redbridge ("the Framework"). The Framework shall commence on 1st December 2017 and, subject to satisfactory performance, shall continue up to and including 30th November 2021 ("the Framework Period").

Organisations are permitted to tender for any one (1) or more Lots for which they consider they are suitably qualified and experienced. Organisations shall be aware however that appointment to each Lot will be evaluated separately.

Therefore appointment to one Lot of the Framework will not automatically mean the organisation is appointed to any other Lot for which it submitted a Tender. Organisations shall see above for the number of organisations the Authority anticipates appointing to each Lot.

This information will be assessed to establish that the organisation is financially viable and technically capable of undertaking a contract of this nature. Also, as a pre-condition to their Tenders being evaluated, Tenderers will have to satisfy the mandatory and discretionary grounds for exclusion contained in the Selection Questionnaire.

The Authority carries out financial appraisals of all organisations that Tender for the Authority's contracts to ensure that such organisations satisfy the Authority's minimum standards of economic and financial standing. The Authority retains discretion to exclude any organisation that fails to meet this standard.

Appointment to each Lot of the Framework shall be based on the most economically advantageous Tenders received from those organisations that submit a Tender for that Lot. Such Tenders shall be evaluated in accordance with the following Evaluation Criteria: Price 70% Quality 30% A full breakdown of the Evaluation Criteria is contained in the Tender Documents (Volume C).

Organisations are advised that whilst it is the intention of the Authority to utilise the Framework as the primary source of the services covered by each Lot, the Authority reserves the right to obtain the service from alternative sources should this represent best value. Further, appointment of an organisation to any Lot on the Framework does not guarantee any minimum level of income for the organisation or that the organisation will be awarded any Call-Off Contract during the Framework Period.

All Call-Off Contracts shall be awarded in accordance with the procedures detailed in the Tender Documents (Volume C) and the Specification (Volume B). Organisations shall be aware that any Call-Off Contract awarded prior to the expiration of the Framework may continue beyond the expiration of the Framework Period.

In such circumstances the organisation will be bound by the terms of the Framework and the Call-Off Contract, including but not limited to with regard to the price for the Call-Off Contract, until such time as the Call-Off Contract expires or is terminated by the Authority. Organisations will be required to comply with their obligations under TUPE without additional cost to the Authority.