Tender for Fixed Term, Fixed Price Natural Gas Supplies (LOT 1) and Fixed Term, Fixed Price Electricity for Non Half Hourly, Half Hourly Metered and Certified Unmetered Supplies (LOT 2) - Y16021

Commercial Services is one of the largest trading organisations of its kind in the UK with a turnover currently in excess of £600m per annum and employing over 800 people from its base in Kent.

With its Schools Supplies Division set up nearly 70 years ago by Kent County Council, it has grown organically since then to supply an ever-increasing range of best value goods and services to other publicly funded organisations.

These include local government, education establishments, the care sector and emergency services.

LASER Energy Buying Group was established as part of Commercial Services in 1989, in response to the increasing competitiveness of the deregulated energy markets and now provides complete energy solutions to 160 Local Authorities and other Public Sector bodies throughout the UK.

Kent County Council (the Contracting Authority) is the largest local authority in England covering an area of 3,500 square kilometres.

It has an annual expenditure of over £1bn on goods and services and a population of 1.3m.

The Council provides a wide range of personal and strategic services on behalf of its residents, operating in partnership with 12 district councils and 289 parish/town councils.

In accordance with best procurement practice, EU and UK Procurement Directives and Regulations, the Contracting Authority wishes to create a Framework Agreement (the Agreement) divided in to Lots - Lot 1- for the fixed term fixed price procurement of gas supplies and Lot 2 - procurement of electricity for Non Half Hourly and Half Hourly metered and Certified Unmetered supplies.

The procurement process adopted by the Contracting Authority is based upon the 'Open' Procedure, as detailed in the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and the EU Combined Procurement Directive 2014/24/EU.

In brief the process will be as follows: Only those organisations that express their interest in this opportunity via the Kent Business Portal will receive this Invitation to Tender (ITT) All submitted compliant bids will be evaluated in accordance with the instructions contained within this document Any public body will have access to this Agreement but may only do so with the agreement of the Contracting Authority through the LASER Energy Buying Group.

Those organisations who may wish to access this Agreement include local authorities the Police Service, the Fire Service, the NHS & NHS Trusts, third sector organisations, academic centres (including Academies), publicly funded organisations and publicly owned private companies, operating within the geographic boundaries of the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and Northern Ireland.

Full details of the classification of potential public bodies who may become Participating Authorities and/or End Users under this Agreement via the Contracting Authority can be found at the following web addresses: Regions in England: Main Regions:- East Midlands; West Midlands; East of England; South East; South West; North West; North ...(cont)