FPAL Qualification System — Services

Contracts awarded by subscribing utility entities will be mainly for performance in the UK, NETHERLANDS and IRELAND although contracts may be awarded for other locations.

This qualification system has been established to create opportunities for improving efficiency and reducing costs throughout the oil and gas industry’s supply chain and provides a source of suppliers and contractors to the subscribing oil and gas industry purchasing entities for selection to participate in procurement procedures regulated by the Directive.

The utility entities which subscribe to the qualification system can be found at https://www.achilles.com//app/uploads/2019/01/Buyer-Member-List.pdf

Certain subscribing entities give an indication of planned procurement activity, which is available at https://www.achilles.com/communities/fpal-forward-workplan/

The system may also be used by subscribing entities to select suppliers for procurement procedures that are not within the scope of the Directive or otherwise excluded.

The system is based on a coding system for works, supplies and services against which suppliers register on the system. The full list of codes is available at https://www.achilles.com//app/uploads/2019/01/Product-Codes-Guide-2018.pdf

Contracts let by one or more of the subscribing utility entities may be financed by EU funds.

A subscribing utility entity may impose further qualification stages or may proceed directly to select candidates from the qualification system for invitation to tender or negotiate.

Applications for inclusion on this qualification system must be made to FPAL at the address in Section I. An annual registration fee is levied as a contribution towards the annual administration costs of the system. The annual fee for registration on the FPAL database is identified on the registration form sent to suppliers prior to joining the scheme and can also be viewed at https://www.achilles.com//app/uploads/2018/07/FPAL-Supplier-Leaflet.pdf

Suppliers and contractors who are already included on the qualification system may update their details to cover additional product/service codes.

These will be described in the details of the scheme available from the FPAL Customer Support team.

The subscribing utility entities reserve the right to conduct procurement procedures using electronic auctions.

The subscribing utility entities may make separate calls for competition in OJEU for certain requirements.

Contact details for each individual procurement will be provided by the subscribing utility entity in the specific procurement documents.

Information referenced in Section III.2) of this notice will, where relevant, be provided in the specific procurement documents by the subscribing utility entity.

The award criteria as referenced in Section II.2.5) may for certain procurements covered by this notice be on a price-only basis.

Electronic workflows, as referenced in Section VI.2) may be employed by some or all of the subscribing utility entities.

Subscribing utility entities may reserve contracts as referenced in Section III.1.5).

Details of the contact for review procedures covered by Section VI.4.1) will be provided by the subscribing utility entity.

The qualification system may be used by subscribing utility entities to establish dynamic purchasing systems.

This notice cancels and supersedes all previous qualification system notices for services for the FPAL qualification system.

For contracts subject to the EU Procurement legislation, utilities are required to incorporate a standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. That notification is required to provide full information on the award decision. The standstill period, which is required to be for a minimum of 10 calendar days, provides time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract is entered into.

Within the UK, where the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 (SI 2016 No. 274) apply, provision is made for an economic operator that suffers, or risks suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the regulations to bring proceedings in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Where the Utilities Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (SSI 2016 No. 49) apply, provision is made for an economic operator that suffers, or risks suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the regulations to bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session.