Early Market Engagement Notice - NSIGN HMNB(C) - Soft FM

This Early Market Engagement notice effectively communicates its purpose to gather innovative ideas for Soft FM services, demonstrating good clarity and fairness. However, it is significantly hampered by a critical CPV code mismatch and the absence of a direct link to the participation portal, hindering practical market engagement.

The most significant legal compliance issue is the incorrect CPV code (80000000 - Education and training services) assigned to a notice for Soft Facilities Management services. This misclassification can mislead potential market participants. While the 'Type: None' and 'Procedure: None' are appropriate for an Early Market Engagement, the CPV error is fundamental.

The description of the Early Market Engagement (EME) is very clear, outlining its purpose to gather innovative ideas for Soft FM services at HMNB Clyde and the context of replacing an expiring contract. The AI-extracted requirements for participation are also well-defined and understandable for an EME. The absence of formal evaluation criteria is expected for this type of pre-procurement activity.

Most essential information, such as title, reference, organization, deadlines, estimated value, contract duration, and location, is provided. Documents are attached and summarized. Requirements for EME participation are defined. A minor inconsistency exists between the estimated value stated in EUR in the basic information and in GBP in the document summaries.

The EME demonstrates good fairness. Full document access is provided, and the estimated value is disclosed. The submission period of over a month is reasonable for market participants to prepare innovative ideas. Requirements are generic and not tailored to a specific company, promoting broad participation. The use of a 'Defence Sourcing Portal' implies equal electronic access.

A critical practicality issue is the absence of a direct URL for the 'Defence Sourcing Portal' where requests for participation are to be managed. While electronic submission is implied, the lack of a direct link makes it difficult for interested parties to easily find and access the portal, significantly hindering engagement. Contract start date and duration are clearly specified.

The most significant data inconsistency is the mismatch between the CPV code (Education and training services) and the actual subject matter (Soft Facilities Management services). There is also a minor inconsistency in the estimated value's currency. The 'Liable Person' field is empty, and the reveal date is missing, but other dates are logical and consistent.

The notice explicitly welcomes 'innovative ideas' for developing Soft FM services, indicating a strong focus on innovation. However, there is no mention of green procurement criteria or social aspects, which are common elements of comprehensive sustainability considerations in public procurement.