ESC GPN and GPS Boiler Replacement Project - EOI / Participation Stage

Participation responses will be assessed in accordance with the EOI / Participation Stage Shortlisting Document.

Suppliers must demonstrate that they are suitable to be invited to the formal tender stage. The participation stage is not a pricing exercise and suppliers are not required to submit full pricing, detailed design drawings or site-specific RAMS at this stage.

The College will assess participation responses against the following requirements:

1. Legal standing and exclusion declarations

Supplier to confirm that it is legally able to contract with the College and is not aware of any relevant exclusion, insolvency, fraud, tax, misconduct or other serious issue that would make it unsuitable for the works.

2. Insurance confirmation

Supplier to confirm that it holds, or can evidence before appointment, suitable Public Liability, Employers' Liability, Contractors All Risks and Professional Indemnity insurance where design responsibility applies.

3. Financial capacity

Supplier to confirm that it has financial capacity proportionate to the estimated contract value and can support the delivery of the works.

4. Relevant boiler / heating plant experience

Supplier to provide 2 to 3 relevant examples of commercial boiler replacement, heating plant upgrades, live-site works, education, public sector or similar occupied environment projects.

5. Technical capability to deliver the scope

Supplier to demonstrate capability to survey, design / coordinate, install, commission and certify boiler replacement or upgrade works, including mechanical works, commercial gas, flues, controls interfaces, water treatment and handover.

6. Survey and condition-led approach

Supplier to explain how it would assess the existing boiler plant, pipework, valves, flues, gauges, controls interfaces and associated ancillaries to identify what should be replaced, upgraded, retained or clarified at tender stage.

7. Sustainability, efficiency and lifecycle value

Supplier to explain how it would consider the most sustainable, efficient and value-for-money solution, including replacement, partial replacement, upgrade, maintainability, spares, controls compatibility and warranty.

8. Resource and programme capacity

Supplier to confirm that it has the management, supervision, engineer resource, specialist support and supply-chain capacity to participate in the formal tender and deliver the required programme if appointed.

9. Live college environment, access and phasing constraints

Supplier to provide evidence of experience working in occupied education, public sector or similar live environments, including access control, logistics, shutdown planning, safeguarding awareness, permits and disruption management.

10. Health and safety / CDM competence

Supplier to confirm suitable health and safety arrangements, CDM competence, RAMS capability, site supervision, commercial gas safety competence and contractor management procedures.

11. Tender commitment confirmation

Supplier to confirm that it can actively participate in the formal tender stage, attend the site visit, submit a compliant tender through the College's standalone procurement process and meet the tender deadlines.

12. References

Supplier to provide two recent client referees for relevant boiler replacement, heating plant, occupied building, education or public sector works.

The College intends to shortlist approximately 4 to 6 suppliers to the formal tender stage, subject to the number and quality of compliant participation responses received. If fewer than 4 suitable responses are received, the College may proceed with fewer suppliers, extend the participation stage, amend the procurement timetable or take another appropriate procurement decision in accordance with its governance and audit requirements.

Suppliers may be rejected at participation stage if their response is late, incomplete, non-compliant, fails a pass/fail requirement, or does not demonstrate sufficient capability for the nature, value, complexity and programme of the works.

Suppliers invited to the formal tender stage will be assessed separately using the published formal tender evaluation criteria.