External Wall Insulation to Council Housing Stock

Ashford Borough Council is seeking expressions of interest from suitable contractors* to provide external wall insulation to its housing stock. (*suitable contractors must be/have: a current member of INCA (Insulated Cladding Association), an Approved Installation Contractor (AIC) of the Supplier of the EWI system and preferably hold ISO14001 certification). The Contractor should also be a member of an appropriate competent installer self-certification scheme, for compliance of Part L of the Building Regulations.

A budget of £200,000 has been allocated for 2016/17, intended to be expended on a single site. However there is no fixed programme, nor is there any guarantee as to the level of work that will be awarded.

On satisfactory completion of this contract the contractor maybe offered continuation contracts in the subsequent financial years using the rates tendered for this contract (details below)

2016/17 Programme of Work
WALL/16/1 - 9 units - estimated cost £200,000

Proposed 2017/18 Programme of Work: £200,000
Proposed 2018/19 Programme of Work: £200,000

The work is most likely to take place on hard to heat dwellings, generally of non-traditional construction (including Airey style) and possibly located in non-gas areas.

The work will be contracted on a schedule of rates, based on a number of standard dwelling types.

The EWI system shall be a rigid board insulation system (chemically or mechanically fixed) with high-build rendered finish.

The system must meet the following basic performance specification:-

1. SWIGA (Solid Wall Insulation Guarantee Agency) backed guarantee, covering all defects including colour-fastness of the decorative finish.
2. Hold an appropriate Agrement certification.
3. Overall U-value of the completed composition 0.25 W/m2 K.
4. Surface spread of flame should have a restricted index (I) of not more than 20 (national class) or class Cs3, d2 or better (European class).
5. Resistance to hard body impact and perforation shall be: Category II - 10 Joules using a single layer of Reinforcing Mesh - and the render shall not be perforated using a 12mm indentor. Category I - 50 Joules using 1 layer of Armour Mesh + 1 layer of Reinforcing Mesh - and the render shall not be perforated using a 6mm indentor.
6. Minimum Compressive strength should be min 70 kN/m² @ 10% compression.

The 2016/17 programme is to be undertaken between June 2016 and October 2016. The start and end dates stated in this notice are proposed only.

Tender Evaluation
You are therefore invited to tender using the specification attached. The contract will be awarded to the supplier who submits the most favourable tender, which will be evaluated on the following:
90% Price - Form of Tender attached
10% Quality (SAQ - Questions PS-Q1-Q6 attached) including;
• Guarantees and affiliated companies 30%
• Tenant liaison 30%
• Control of defects 20%
• Environmental impact 10%
• Resources 10%
You will need to achieve a score of 60% or more for the project specific questions PS-Q1-Q5 to be considered for further evaluation, and for the pricing element of your bid to be considered.

Please read the documents attached to this advert carefully before submitting your tender.
Documents attached:
- SAQ – External Wall Insulation
- SAQ Guidance
- Tender Document
- Return tender label

Constructionline registered
If you are already a member of Constructionline (the Government's register of pre-qualified contractors and consultants) or become Constructionline registered prior to the SAQ/Tender deadline, you can provide us with your registration number (on the SAQ attached) then skip the core questions and go straight to the project specific supplementary questions at the end. Please ensure that your supplier profile contains the relevant work category of External Wall Insulation Systems 45321000-3.

Not Constructionline registered
Contractors who are not Constructionline registered, and do not wish to do so, will be required to complete the attached SAQ in full and supply all requested supporting information. The reference form within the SAQ document (Appendix 1) will need to be completed by 3 organisations where you have carried out works of a similar nature and submitted by 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday 3rd May 2016 with your tender.

ALL CONTRACTORS WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE Section 1.1 - Constructionline Registration Status and Section PS.01 to 05 Project Specific Questions in the attached SAQ and return as part of your tender bid by the date detailed below.

Tender Return
In order to be considered please ensure your completed tender and SAQ along with any supporting documentation is returned to Ashford Borough Council, Customer Services Manager, Customer Contact Centre, Civic Centre, Tannery Lane, Ashford, Kent TN23 1PL in a plain envelope which does not bear a mark identifying your company, using the label attached. Tenders must be returned no later than 2:30pm on Tuesday 3rd May 2016 2016

Contract Award
The contract will be awarded to the contractor who submits the most favourable bid, evaluated 90% price and 10% quality. The form of contract will be the JCT Minor Building Works.

Timetable
Advert Placed: 1st April March 2016
Final Date for Clarification: Noon 25th April 2016
Tender Return Date: 2:30pm 3rd May 2016
Evaluation of Bids: w/c 3rd May 2016
Contract Award: w/c 23rd May 2016
Start Date: Monday 6th June 2016
End Date: 23rd September 2016

Notes:
1) Please register your interest through the South East Business Portal - we will use these registration details to inform you of any amendments, or items of clarification during the tender period. However, no further clarification, etc. will be issued later than the 25th April 2016.
2) Please be aware that you need to download the documents attached to this advert and submit your bid by the due date. Your registration of interest will NOT be used to issue you with tender documentation.
3) When submitting your bid, please keep additional marketing material to a minimum.
4) The "Last date for Expressing Interest" detailed at the beginning of this notice, is the last date for submitting your bid.
5) We will aim to respond to any queries within 5 working days of receipt.

Further Information
If you have any queries please contact Simon Lees on (01233) 330684 or by e:mail simon.lees@ashford.go.uk