2.2  Structure to Appoint Advisors

2.2.1  It is up to advisors to determine the structure of their bids.  The submissions must however include:

■  A description as to how the services required will be provided and the approach to be taken in working with the in-house legal team, project team and other advisors.

■  Fixed Fee proposals (including expenses and disbursements) for the work identified in the brief (see 2.2.2 for more detail).

■  Details of the personnel specific to the project(s) and advisors experience, including training on PFI/PPP projects.  Details of how the adviser will resource the project with appropriate and experienced manpower and where the resources are located.  This element of the bid will be strictly monitored with appointed advisors.

■  Demonstration of sufficient capacity to service the project(s) given other commitments and deal with the impact of any change in timescales or reduction of in-house capacity.

■  Tenderers should include proposals to deal with any potential conflict of interest in supplying services to organisations bidding for this contract or other similar contracts the Council initiates.

■  Detailed proposals for project management, communication and the use of Information Technology. Tenderers should also identify training issues which can assist the development of the project teams.

■  Proposals for development of best practice and incorporation of Best Value in each project.

2.2.2  Fee Proposals

The Project envisages the following broad stages to its development and procurement:

•  Review and submission of outline business case and discussions with

•  CLG/HCAPRG leading to endorsement

•  OJEU notice, pre qualification and shortlisting of bidders

•  Drafting, preparation and release of ISDS including clarification, up to receipt of bids

•  Bid evaluation, negotiation and clarification leading to appointment of preferred bidder

•  CFT leading to appointment of preferred bidder

•  Preferred bidder 'fine tuning'  to commercial and financial close including final business case

Advisers should indicate in their fixed fee proposal the individuals from the firm to be deployed on the project together with their daily rates.

Against each stage of development and procurement outlined above, advisers should indicate the time input (in days) required of each named individual and, by applying the appropriate fixed fee, daily rate, an indication of cost.

Advisers should make an allowance for travel time involved in attending meetings at the Council's offices in [ ].

Note. Advisers should indicate the stages of development/procurement against which they should be prepared to commit to a fixed price lump sum (and confirm that the value of the lump sum is equal to the indication of cost above). Where advisers are unable to commit to a fixed price lump sum for any stage they should indicate whether they are prepared to agree a cap on all fees chargeable and the value of that cap.

Advisers should indicate any costs which are in addition to those requested above - expenses, disbursements - and their proposals for charging these."

2.2.3  All tenders are to be returned by [Date].  4 copies of the tender documentation must be returned to: [Chief Executive], [Name] Council, [Address].  The tender must be returned using the attached address label and envelope, together with supporting packages.  No other external marking, such as tenderers details are acceptable and will invalidate the tender submission.

The tender must include:

■  evidence of the legal identity of the Bidder together with confirmation as to their financial stability, including disclosure on any involvement of any member of the company in bankruptcy winding up or any similar proceedings;

■  details and general background of the bidder to the extent that they are relevant for this submission, including disclosure of any involvement of any member of the company in criminal proceedings or actions for grave professional misconduct;

■  3 (three) examples including details of similar work carried out within the last 2 years accompanied by contact names and written permission for the Council to approach the organisations concerned for references;

■  the tender submission and fee proposals (see paragraph 2.2.1 and 2.2.2)

■  arrangements for the transfer of intellectual property rights of the outputs in the context of skills transfer and succession projects;

■  the attached certificate as to non-collusion (Appendix A);

■  the general declaration completed and signed by a responsible person in connection with the bid (Appendix A);

■  evidence of appropriate liability insurances;

■  details of potential or actual conflicts of interest and a statement on the management of such issues;

■  bidders draft contract of engagement.

2.2.4  The written proposals will be evaluated for each tender received and a shortlist confirmed of tenderer who will be invited to make a verbal presentation. The presentation will also form part of the assessment.  The evaluation will be on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender, an evaluation criteria framework is enclosed (Annex B).

2.2.5  The timescale for appointment of financial advisors is:

■  [Date] - Closing date for Requests to Participate/Pre-Qualification

■  [Date] - Complete Shortlisting

■  [Date]  - Issue Tender Documents

■  [Date] - `Tender Return by 10.00hrs

■  [Date] - Evaluation of Tender bids.

■  [Date] - Interviews and Presentations (15 August if required)

■  [Date]  - Confirm Tender Award