Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Defra Network eTendering Portal
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Contact
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
network.procurement@defra.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 3459335577
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs
Buyer's address
https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Development of the INHFL Online Platform (Phases 2 & 3)
Reference number
C22063
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72222300 - Information technology services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Development of the INHFL Online Platform (Phases 2 & 3)
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £31,303.86
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 72222300 - Information technology services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This project will form the first step in a larger programme to inform all government departments about the predicted natural hazard threats which affect UK interests overseas.
Following successful development of a prototype in Phase 1 of the project under MoA (Discovery Phase), Phases 2 and 3 of this project plan to develop the full online platform to beta release level.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- No tenders or no suitable tenders/requests to participate in response to restricted procedure
Explanation:
The STA (Single Tender Action) purchasing strategy is best suited for this project commission for the following reasons:
• It was paramount that the platform should be designed by one of the partners because only the partners understand the sensitivity of the data being used.
• Only partners can access further required data layers (for example, population data, trade data, geological data, oceanic currents and vegetative indices) and that the developer should have a soundtrack record in developing these types of platforms (for example Geology of Britain viewer | British Geological Survey (BGS)).
• During initial conversations amongst the INHFL operational group (UK Met Office, BGS, APHA, Defra, UKHSA, Go-Science) it was identified that those science agencies with ready access to digital support should lead on the development of the new platform.
• This was passed to BGS and Met Office, and laterally BGS (due to capacity reasons, particularly the need to begin work FY21-22), as being able to provide that digital support and have an established understanding of the INHFL product
• Therefore, STA is the preferred route than going through a third party (outside of the INHFL partnership).
• There is also no in-house capacity within Defra and its network to get access to manage the platform being developed. Since completion of Phase 1 the incumbent supplier (BGS) has been working with Defra to prepare for Phases 2 and 3 work to ensure they follow Defra and Cabinet rules regarding IT and online platform.
Direct award is therefore recommended in line with regulation 32 (2b) of the Public Contract Regulations as detailed below, with particular reference to (ii) and (iii):
Use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication
32.— (2) The negotiated procedure without prior publication may be used for public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts in any of the following cases:—
(b)where the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by a particular economic operator for any of the following reasons:—
(i)the aim of the procurement is the creation or acquisition of a unique work of art or artistic performance,
(ii)competition is absent for technical reasons,
(iii)the protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights,
As such, BGS is the only choice for their inclusivity as a selected member to INHFL network to handle data and their expertise as well as for continuation of use of its prototype developed in Phase 1. Thus, direct award should be given to the BGS to continue development of the INHFL Online Platform, and this selection qualifies as an STA.
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
31 May 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
UKRI as represented by British Geological Survey
British Geological Survey, Nicker Hill, Keyworth
Nottingham
NG12 5GG
Telephone
+44 1159363100
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
National registration number
n/a
Internet address
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £206,927.80
Total value of the contract/lot: £31,303.86
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Defra Network eTendering Portal
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs