Published notice: International open invitation to tender no. 1536 (D - Munich)

The provision of market research services through the conduct of telephone surveys in four languages and the analysis of the results (User Satisfaction Surveys (USS) for patent search and examination services - 2012)  

  1. Awarding authority:

    European Patent Organisation (EPO), through the European Patent Office: headquarters, Erhardtstrasse 27, 80469 Munich, Germany.
    The European Patent Organisation is an intergovernmental organisation set up pursuant to the European Patent Convention which entered into force in 1977. It now has 38 member states (Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom). The executive body of the EPO is the European Patent Office, which is charged with the searching and examination of European patent applications and the granting of European patents. It employs approximately 6 700 staff at EPO headquarters in Munich, a branch at The Hague/Rijswijk (NL) and sub-offices in Berlin and Vienna. (The number of member states and staff members is subject to change.)

  2. Award procedure:

    International open invitation to tender with discretionary award of contract

  3. Description of the contract:

    1. Purpose of the contract:

      The provision of market research services through the conduct of telephone surveys in four languages and the analysis of the results (User Satisfaction Surveys (USS) for patent search and examination services - 2012)

    2. Division into lots:

      Not applicable.

    3. Deposits and guarantees required:

      Not applicable.

    4. Main terms concerning payment:

      Within 30 days of receipt of a correct invoice.

    5. Qualifications required by law:

      Not applicable.

  4. Place and period of performance:

    1. Place:

      The Contractor's premises

    2. Duration of contract or time limit for delivery or completion of services/work:

      36 months. The contract shall be for a maximum of 14 surveys plus additional work (upon commissioning) to be commissioned over thirty month period, starting in November 2012 (start of fieldwork).

  5. Variants:

    Not allowed

  6. Requests for the Procurement Documents and receipt of bids:

    1. Name and address of department from which the Procurement Documents and clarification may be requested:

      European Patent Office
      Central Procurement (Dept. 4.8.2)
      Tender No.: 1536
      Erhardtstr. 27
      80469 Munich
      Germany

      Fax: +49-(0)89-2399-4145
      mntenderclarifications@epo.org

      The Procurement Documents may be requested by letter, fax or e mail.

    2. Final date for receipt by the EPO of requests for the Procurement Documents:

      23.05.2012, 12.00 hrs noon (CET)

    3. Final date for receipt by the EPO of requests for clarification:

      06.06.2012, 12.00 hrs noon (CET)
      queries must be submitted by letter, fax or e-mail.

    4. Final date for receipt of bids/number of copies to be sent:

      22.06.2012, 12.00 hrs noon (CET)
      bid must be filed in original form
      bid must be filed in writing by post or courier service; bids submitted by fax or e-mail will be eliminated.

    5. Address to which requests for clarification and bids must be sent:

      As in point 6(a), but please note the requirements in point 6(d).

    6. Language or languages in which requests for clarification and bids must be drawn up:

      English, French or German.
      The Procurement Documents are available only in English.

  7. Legal form of consortium in the event of a joint bid:

    Each bidder (natural or legal person) may present one bid only, either independently or in association with others. If several bidders submit a joint bid, one must be designated as prime contractor responsible for performance of all obligations under the contract.

  8. Information and evidence concerning the bidder’s financial and economic standing and technical and professional competence:

    Client and bank information as per the questionnaire attached as Annex 1 (Questionaire) Appendix 1 to the General Conditions of Tender.

  9. Period during which the bidder is bound by his bid:

    Six months as from the final date for submitting bids as per point 6(d) above.

  10. Criteria for the award of contract:

    Only bids containing the evidence referred to in point 8 will be allowed.

    The contract shall be awarded to the Bidder whose bid is to be preferred having regard to the Bidder's ability to meet EPO's needs and requirements, to be measured amongst other things by answers given to the specific questions asked to the Bidders, the Bidder's organisational ability, experience with projects of a similar nature and economic advantage. Due account will be taken on compliance with the provisions of the Procurement documents.

  11. 11. Other information:

    Contract award is expected to take place begin of October 2012. The field work (interviews) for the first survey is expected to start begin of November 2012.
    Short-listed bidders may be asked to present their bids at the EPO's premises in Munich. Please understand that the EPO will not reimburse any travel or other costs related to such presentation.
    NUTS code: DE 212
    CPV codes: 79342311-6

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