Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Defra Network eTendering Portal
17 Nobel House
London
SW1P 3JR
Contact
Defra
DgC.E-Commercial.systems@defra.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 2072385921
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.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at
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
Environment
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Marine Environmental Monitoring and Assessment National Database (MERMAN)’ - Data Manager
Reference number
C15624
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Please note that in addition to the below, we have a separate RFI document available to
suppliers. This can be requested by contacting the following email address: DgC.E-Commercial.systems@defra.gov.uk. Please also note that the deadline for responses to the RFI is 28 February 2023, 12:00 GMT, and we therefore advise interested suppliers to make contact as soon as possible in order to access this. The Contracting Authority is seeking a supplier to provide expertise in marine data management and support services for the MERMAN database. The service will ensure delivery of quality-assured marine environmental data to relevant parties to provide an evidence-base underpinning policy decisions within the UK and Europe.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £180,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 72322000 - Data management services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This shall include undertaking minor enhancements to the MERMAN database (for example, adjusting data validation rules, updating reference data and spreadsheet templates, and updating the station dictionary), as necessary, (estimate 10 instances, per annum), coordination of data submissions and transfer of quality-controlled data in a timely manner to International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) and supporting data requests by other third parties. These requirements, defined by Defra and members of the Clean Safe Seas Evidence Group (CSSEG), have been successfully delivered between 2006-2022 and there must be a seamless transition from the old system to the new.
The above is neither an exhaustive nor a final set of requirements. It is subject to development prior to any potential subsequent contract opportunity notice utilising the outputs from the RFI responses. Please note that in addition, we have a separate RFI document available to suppliers. This can be requested by contacting the following email address: DgC.E-Commercial.systems@defra.gov.uk.
two.2.14) Additional information
The MERMAN database is currently being redesigned to allow the system to incorporate new data types, respond effectively to changes in ICES submission requirements, act interoperable with other marine data systems, and streamline data validation processes.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
3 April 2023
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This notice is for information only. The Contracting Authority may or may not subsequently publish a formal
contract opportunity notice in the future. The value above is an estimate only based on a potential initial contract term of 2 years with a further 2 years as an extension. We would like to remind suppliers that we are still devising our procurement strategy, and at present many
aspects are still to be confirmed. This includes our route to market. Therefore, a response to this RFI does
not guarantee you a place in any future competition, for example, if a framework route to market is selected
and your organisation is not available via this framework. Potential providers are advised that should the Contracting Authority subsequently publish a formal contract notice, the procurement will be managed (including the submission of tender responses) via the Contracting
Authority's e-procurement portal.
To register an account, please visit: https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome. Should the Contracting Authority subsequently move to a formal procurement exercise it will be advertised on Find a Tender and/or other required publishing platforms.