Historic Environment Records Contract

Concepts

• archive services
• historic environments records
• historic environment records contract
• a historic environment record
• the historic environment (wales
• environment
• historic
• environments
• wales
• welsh archaeological trusts

Location

All Wales

Description

Compilation and retention of up to date historic environment records for Wales.

Total Quantity or Scope

The Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2016 requires the Welsh Ministers to compile and keep up to date a historic environment record (HER) for each local authority in Wales. The only comprehensive coverage of historic environments records in Wales are those maintained by Heneb: The Trust for Welsh Archaeology (formerly the four regional Welsh Archaeological Trusts). The most cost-effective means of discharging this duty on Welsh Ministers is to utilise the existing online facility maintained by Heneb to provide public access to the core information held in the regional HERs. This online access (known as Archwilio) has been adapted to meet the requirements of the legislation. The Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2016 will be superseded by the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023, which received Royal Assent in May 2023. The provisions of the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 will come into force in autumn 2024, after this contract has been implemented. The Act is consolidation legislation and does not change any existing or impose any new duties or powers for the purpose of this contract. As such, the legal provisions discharged by this contract will be transferred to the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 and will continue beyond the contract implementation date.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 92512000 - Archive services

Indicators

Legal Justification

This voluntary ex ante transparency notice is intended to provide notice of the Authority's decision to award a contract to Heneb, The Trust for Welsh Archaeology for the retention and maintenance of historic environment records in Wales. The contract requires Heneb to compile and keep up to date a historic environment record for each local authority area in Wales in accordance with s35 of the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2016. In addition, Heneb will make this record publicly available through their Archwilio web service in accordance with s36 of the above-named Act. This will be achieved through compliance with the guidance stated in s37 of the above-named Act. This contract will discharge The Welsh Ministers’ legal responsibilities regarding this matter. It is the opinion of Welsh Government that the contract in question satisfies the requirement of Regulation 32 Use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication as the only comprehensive coverage of historic environment records in Wales are those maintained by Heneb: The Trust for Welsh Archaeology. Therefore the requirements of regulation 32 (2)(b)(ii)(iii) apply to the contract.

Other Information

This is a contract award notice. The opportunity is not open to bids. (WA Ref:141744)