Lincolnshire LINk: Procurement Process for Appointment of LINk Host Steve Burton Group Buyer (Competition and Services) Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation

About ESPO Local authority-owned purchasing consortium Seven member authorities across three regions: East Midlands, West Midlands, and East Total annual expenditure on ESPO products and services approximately £400m Working closely with other ESPO member authorities on LINk host appointment

Procurement Process Government requires the LINk host to be appointed by means of a competitive tender process Process to be fair, open and transparent Two-stage tender process: –Stage One: Organisations wishing to be the LINk host submit a completed application form (via ESPO) –All applications evaluated and a select tender list (i.e. a shortlist) drawn up –Stage Two: Tenders invited from shortlisted organisations –Tenders evaluated, and appointment made.

Stage One Application form requests information about applicant organisations – e.g.: –Relevant experience –Financial stability –Quality assurance –Organisation objectives –Key policies and procedures up The best applicants will be shortlisted and included in the select tender list. Select tender list unlikely to include more than six organisations.

Stage Two Organisations included in select tender list will receive an Invitation to Tender. This will invite bidders to describe and explain: –How they will set up the LINk, ensuring that it meets the needs of stakeholders –How they will operate the LINk, showing how it will conform to the requirements –What they will charge the Council, and how they will manage the funding allocated by the Council.

Stage Two (continued) Tenders must be submitted by the closing date. Bidders may be invited to make a presentation to Council officers in support of their bid. Tenders and presentations will be evaluated by the Council. The organisation submitting the bid which scores best overall will be appointed as LINk host

Points to note... Evaluation of tenders will be based on a combination of price and quality – the cheapest will not necessarily win. The organisation appointed as host cannot be a LINk participant (neither can they have participated in any transitional LINk arrangements) The host contract will be awarded for an initial period of three years, starting not later than 1 October 2008.

Contacts and Further Guidance At ESPO: Steve Burton, Group Buyer (Competition and Services) Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation Barnsdale Way, Grove Park, Enderby, Leicester LE19 1ES Tel: At Lincolnshire County Council: Julie Cant, Procurement Officer Corporate Procurement Unit Lincolnshire County Council County Offices, Newland, Lincoln, LN1 1YL