Strategic and Local Plan Viability Assessment

This tender presents a clear service description and utilizes an e-procurement portal, but is severely undermined by a highly restrictive geographical eligibility requirement and the complete absence of evaluation criteria. These critical flaws significantly impact fairness, legal compliance, and transparency.

The tender defines the procedure type and CPV code appropriately, and no disputes are reported. However, the mandatory eligibility requirement for suppliers to be located in Gloucestershire is a significant legal concern, as it unduly restricts competition and may violate national procurement principles of non-discrimination and proportionality, even for below-threshold contracts. The absence of a reveal date and detailed evaluation criteria also impacts compliance with transparency obligations.

The description of the required viability assessment and the technical capabilities are generally clear and well-articulated, referencing relevant national planning guidance. Performance conditions regarding report delivery and contract duration are also specified. However, the complete absence of specified evaluation criteria significantly hinders clarity for potential bidders, making it difficult to understand how proposals will be judged.

The tender provides essential basic information such as title, reference, organization, estimated value, and key timelines. Requirements for technical capability and submission are outlined. However, the tender is incomplete due to the explicit absence of evaluation criteria. While documents are available, their summaries suggest they are primarily administrative, implying a lack of a comprehensive tender specification document detailing all aspects. There is also a minor inconsistency between the stated contract duration (35 vs 36 months).

The tender discloses the estimated value and supports electronic submission via a dedicated portal, which generally promotes equal access. However, the requirement that 'Supplier must be located in Gloucestershire' is a severe restriction that significantly limits competition and is inherently unfair to qualified suppliers outside this specific geographical area. This suggests potential tailoring or an unjustified barrier to entry. Furthermore, the absence of transparent evaluation criteria undermines fairness, as bidders cannot understand the basis for award decisions.

The tender supports electronic submission through a dedicated e-procurement portal, which enhances practicality for bidders. Key dates such as the contract start date and submission deadline are provided, and the duration of the contract and report delivery timeframe are specified. A document URL to the portal is also available.

Most key fields are populated, and there are no reported disputes or suspensions. Dates are logically ordered. However, there is an inconsistency regarding the contract duration (36 months in basic info vs. 35 months in the description). Some basic fields like 'Liable Person' and specific procedure codes are also missing.

The tender does not include any explicit requirements or considerations related to green procurement, social aspects, or innovation. There is no indication of EU funding, which often correlates with higher sustainability standards.