Find a TenderAwarded
Published 4 Oct 2023, 09:52 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Winter Festivals · UK public procurement notice

Official notice

Authority: The City of Edinburgh Council (Local council)

ServicesProcedure involving negotiationsSME suitable
Awarded value£3,249,824published contract · exc. VAT
Submissions closed 31 Oct 2023awarded 30 Jan 2025
Awarded to Unique Assembly Ltd

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Award of Contract for the Provision of Event Services for Edinburgh’s Winter Festivals (Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festival and Edinburgh’s Christmas) These Festivals offer a rich and varied programme of activities, events, attractions and celebrations designed to provide magical experiences for visitors and residents alike.

This requirement is being published under the Light Touch Regime

  • How the procedure runs: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement

CPV: Event services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1Historically, Edinburgh’s Christmas has taken place over a six-week period from around…

Historically, Edinburgh’s Christmas has taken place over a six-week period from around the third weekend in November to around the 6th of January, at locations in and around the city centre. Previous activities have included a market offer, fairground, family attractions and an ice rink.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festival is an internationally renowned New Year event. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festival has been a 3-day event centred around celebrations on 31st December. The Festival provides unrivalled promotion for the city and images of the midnight fireworks display have previously been broadcast around the world, attracting significant international audiences and awareness. Previous activities have included a street party, concerts in Princes Street Gardens, a torchlight procession and an open-air ceilidh.

In 2021, an extensive public consultation on the future of the winter festivals (Christmas and Hogmanay) was undertaken which is reflected within the specification for the service. It is the intention that any Contract resulting from this procurement process will commence in March/April 2024 to service the 2024/25 requirement for Edinburgh’s Christmas and 2025/26 onwards requirement for a combined Edinburgh’s Christmas and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. The Contract term will be for an initial period of three years with two optional one year extensions undertaken at the sole discretion of the City of Edinburgh Council (the Council). Additional information: This requirement shall involve negotiations. Please download the SPD and accompanying information on PCS-T for full details

Delivery: Scotland · Edinburgh

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored

SPD Process and shortlisting

First Tender

Negotiations and Second Tender (if required)

Final Tender

Award

Staff
Names and qualifications of delivery staff must be submitted
Shortlisting
Bidders must hold or for insurance commit to obtaining the following - A minimum general annual turnover of 1.5M GBP and a current ratio of 1.20 for the last two financial years - Employer's (Compulsory) Liability: 5M GBP - Public Liability: 10M GBP - All Risks Insurance (inc Events) 5M GBP - Health and Safety Policy - Climate Change Plan - In addition, providers must satisfy the Prompt Payment and Living wage requirements laid out in the SPD Further information is included within the SPD and the additional Information section of this notice

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached
Procedure method
Procedure involving negotiations
Legal basis
CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
4 Oct 2023, 09:52 BST
Last source update
3 Feb 2025, 10:18 GMT
Authority reference
CT2978
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-003423
Classification (CPV)
Event services
Delivery area
Scotland (UKM75)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0407b6 Find a Tender
How it runs
Contract terms
Electronic trading
e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
Performance terms

The Contract shall include bond(s) payable for remediation of Parks and Greenspaces involved in Events

Review and risk notes
Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:

A tenderer that suffers loss as a result of a breach of duty under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session. The City of Edinburgh Council (the Council) will have a minimum standstill period of 10 days before awarding the contract. The communication of the award decision notice will be sent by fax or e-mail to all tenderers with the standstill period commencing on the next day. If proceedings are started in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session against the Council in respect of the decision to award the contract within the standstill period then the Council is prevented from awarding the contract. Post contract award the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session may (1) award damages provided proceedings are brought within 3 months from the date when the grounds for the bringing of the proceedings first arose (2) be entitled to issue an ineffectiveness order or impose a financial penalty on the Council. A claim for an ineffectiveness order must be made within 30 days of the Contract Award Notice being published in the FTS or within 30 days of the date those who expressed an interest in or otherwise bid for the contract were informed of the conclusion of the contract or in any other case within 6 months from the date on which the contract was entered into.

Publisher note: A sum of 3,249,825.00 GBP has been entered into contract value on section V.2.4 for Edinburgh's Hogmanay. Please note this is not a full reflection of the contract value as the scope for Edinburgh's Christmas results in a rental income not a cost to the City of Edinburgh Council. (SC Ref:779456)

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: Public Contracts Scotland · Who buys & how to bid on PCS
Supplier login requiredLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free single registration for Scotland; PCS-Tender (Jaggaer) for full bidding
Submission deadline
31 Oct 2023, 12:00 GMT
Submission channel
{"electronicSubmission"}
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

9 Oct 2023 → 3 Feb 2025 · 3 dates
  1. Next notice expected
    9 Oct 2023, 00:00 BST
  2. Submission deadline
    31 Oct 2023, 12:00 GMT
  3. Notice published
    3 Feb 2025, 10:18 GMT

Notice history

4 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 16 Oct 2023
  1. Status changed to active
    16 Oct 2023, 15:33 BST
  2. Procurement method changed
    16 Oct 2023, 15:33 BST
  3. Deadline published: 31 Oct 2023, 12:00 GMT
    16 Oct 2023, 15:33 BST
  4. Status changed to complete
    3 Feb 2025, 10:18 GMT
Routine re-releases (4)
  • 2023-10: 1 release · 4 Oct 2023

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £3,249,8241 contract exc. VAT
Bids received 22 from SMEs
Contracts signed 1latest 30 Jan 2025
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Unique Assembly LtdSMESubcontracting: declared£3,249,824 †—Awarded

Contracts

Bid statistics published by the authority

BidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
2bids · 2 electronic · 2 from abroad2——

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

The City of Edinburgh Council

Contracting authorityLocal CouncilRegional or local authorityGeneral public services Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH8 8BGContact name, email, phone Published organisation website ↗

Dispute resolution & review bodies

  • Sheriff CourtReview body Edinburgh

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Unique Assembly LtdAwarded supplier 2 Roxburgh Place, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH8 9SUContact phone

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.