Purchase of International Specialist Courier Services for APHA

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    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-054f3f-2026-03-30T10:23:50+01:00",
    "date": "2026-03-30T10:23:50+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-054f3f",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PBHC-6261-BLLQ",
            "name": "ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PBHC-6261-BLLQ"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SW1P 4DF",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI32"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "network.procurement@defra.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
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            "details": {
                "url": "https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome",
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                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
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        },
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PNBD-3289-CDGX",
            "name": "DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PNBD-3289-CDGX"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SW1P 4DF",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI32"
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            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "network.procurement@defra.gov.uk"
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            "roles": [
                "procuringEntity"
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            "roleDetails": "Defra is working on the procurement on behalf of the APHA.",
            "details": {
                "url": "https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome"
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PBHC-6261-BLLQ",
        "name": "ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "Defra Group Commercial on behalf of Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) intends to publish a tender opportunity for the provision of International Specialist Courier service, tentatively scheduled for August 2025. The successful supplier(s) will be required to collect and deliver Category A (UN2814 & UN2900) and/or Category B (UN3373) consignments to and from UK addresses and deliver them internationally, including to Northern Ireland, Europe, Non-EU countries, and worldwide destinations. Given the specialist nature of these consignments, suppliers must hold the appropriate licenses for transporting biological substances under chilled conditions using dry ice. Additionally, suppliers will need to provide import services and manage complex customs clearance process. The tender opportunity is expected to be divided into 2 lots: Lot 1 - Transportation of Category A samples Lot 2 - Transportation of Category B samples Suppliers will have the option to bid for one or both lots. Please note that this approach may be subject to change based on the outcome of our supplier engagement. An initial market engagement exercise took place in November 2024. This notice now serves to resume the procurement process ahead of the forthcoming tender. We are considering holding a virtual supplier engagement event, provisionally scheduled for 16th July 2025 via Microsoft Teams. This session will provide an overview of our requirements and invite supplier feedback. A Q&A session will follow, giving participants the opportunity to raise questions which will be addressed by our team. If your organisation is interested in this upcoming opportunity, please register your interest by emailing angelica.ho@defra.gov.uk. In your response, kindly confirm the following: 1) Whether your organisation intends to submit a tender. 2) Whether you would like to attend the supplier engagement event, if so, please provide the names and email addresses of the proposed attendees. We would appreciate receiving all expressions of interest by 12pm on 14th July 2025. Thank you for your time and interest. We look forward to hearing from you.",
                "dueDate": "2025-07-16T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "033409-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033409-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-06-18T15:35:36+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "P-35795",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Purchase of International Specialist Courier Services for APHA",
        "description": "Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) require a specialist courier supplier to manage the secure, time-critical collection and international delivery of approximately 2,000 consignments per year. While these volumes are indicative and cannot be guaranteed, the consignments include high-risk materials classified as Category A (UN2814 & UN2900) and Category B (UN3373), which must be transported both within the UK (including Northern Ireland) and globally, covering Europe, Non-EU countries, and other international destinations. Due to the specialist nature of the consignments, the suppliers must hold appropriate licenses for the transportation of infectious substances, manage chilled and dry ice shipments, provide import services, and navigate complex customs clearance procedures.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "64120000",
                        "description": "Courier services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "64121000",
                        "description": "Multi-modal courier services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "64100000",
                        "description": "Post and courier services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "60411000",
                        "description": "Scheduled airmail transport services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "60400000",
                        "description": "Air transport services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "64113000",
                        "description": "Postal services related to parcels"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "60000000",
                        "description": "Transport services (excl. Waste transport)"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "60161000",
                        "description": "Parcel transport services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "64121200",
                        "description": "Parcel delivery services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "64110000",
                        "description": "Postal services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "64121100",
                        "description": "Mail delivery services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "60421000",
                        "description": "Non-scheduled airmail transport services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 1146000,
            "amount": 955000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
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            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
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                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-02-01T00:00:00Z",
                    "endDate": "2028-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2030-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "complete",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 1146000,
                    "amount": 955000,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Technical Evaluation",
                            "numbers": [
                                {
                                    "number": 50,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
                                }
                            ]
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "cost",
                            "name": "Commercial Evaluation",
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                                    "number": 50,
                                    "weight": "percentageExact"
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                            ]
                        }
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                },
                "renewal": {
                    "description": "Extensions will be subject to service demand and satisfactory contract performance."
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        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2025-08-18T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
        "procedure": {
            "features": "Following the evaluation of both Stage 1 of Technical and Commercial, the authority reserves the right to reissue the technical evaluation questions, pricing schedule, or any part thereof to the two highest scoring bidders, or any other bidder that has scored within 3% (total score) of the highest scoring bidder, for a Best and Final Offer (BAFO). This is an optional stage for the Authority to ensure that the Most Advantageous Tender is selected, that the requirement has been fully understood, and that bidders are provided a fair chance to compete where the Authority does not feel ready to award after Stage 1 evaluation. Bidders should submit their best possible tender and price in the first instance, as it is not guaranteed that this stage will be used."
        },
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ],
        "submissionMethodDetails": "The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome Any questions, requests to participate or tender submissions must be submitted electronically via this portal.",
        "submissionTerms": {
            "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
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        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2025-11-14T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "enquiryPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2025-11-05T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "awardPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-01-30T23:59:59Z"
        },
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
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            {
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                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
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                "datePublished": "2025-10-13T16:21:58+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "028911-2026",
                "documentType": "tenderCancellationNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK12",
                "description": "Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028911-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-03-30T10:23:50+01:00",
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        "hasRecurrence": true,
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            "dates": [
                {
                    "startDate": "2029-09-01T23:59:59+01:00"
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    "language": "en",
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "status": "cancelled",
            "statusDetails": "This notice is to inform all interested parties that Defra Group has taken the decision to terminate the current procurement process for the above-referenced opportunity. Following an internal financial review of the tender submissions received, the organisation has determined that the tender prices are unaffordable within the current budget. Consequently, we are unable to proceed to contract award under this procurement exercise. The organisation intends to undertake a re-tender of this requirement in due course. Details of any future procurement activity will be published through the appropriate procurement channels in line with all relevant regulations. We recognise and appreciate the time and effort invested by all bidders and apologise for any inconvenience caused by this decision.",
            "finalStatusDate": "2026-03-27T00:00:00Z",
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ]
        }
    ]
}