Award

Chemdata Licensing

  • Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-003845

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04dbee

Published 5 February 2025, 3:26pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service

Ardglass Road Downshire Civic Centre

DOWNPATRICK

BT306RA

Email

NIFRSProcurement@nifrs.org

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKN08 - Newry, Mourne and Down

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.nifrs.org/

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Public order and safety


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Chemdata Licensing

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 72222300 - Information technology services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Chemdata licencing is required for NIFRS to have access to safety critical chemical information whilst dealing with emergency incidents. Details include essential safety measures and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required when working with specific chemical substances. ​​​

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: £240,000

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKN - Northern Ireland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Articles 4-7 of the Fire and Rescue Service (NI) Order 2006 and the Fire and Rescue Services (Emergencies) Order (NI) 2011 confirm NIFRS have a statutory responsibility to make provision for the removal of chemicals, biological or radioactive contaminants in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear incident and ensure reasonable steps are taken to prevent harm to the environment.

Chemdata licencing is required for NIFRS to have access to safety critical chemical information whilst dealing with emergency incidents involving chemicals. Details include essential safety measures and PPE required when working with and around chemicals. Chemical knowledge and safety information is essential in keeping our emergency responders and the public safe.

Advice includes hazards, reactivity, firefighting, first aid and various other sources of specialist advice. Some of the objectives of the knowledge base are to assist with identification of chemical hazards at incidents, identification of response actions, protection of firefighters and minimisation of accident impacts.

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

option to extend for 4 12 month period(s)


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

  • The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations

Explanation:

​The National Chemical Emergency Centre (NCEC) is a former UK government agency, now privately owned as part of Ricardo PLC. Ricardo PLC are the sole supplier of Chemdata licencing within the UK and hold the technical rights to the licence.

Exclusive Rights 32(2)(b)(iii) Reasons apply.

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/concession

Title

Chemdata Licensing

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

5 February 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Ricardo PLC

Sussex

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
Companies House

08229264

The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £240,000

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £240,000


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

The Client cannot guarantee any particular level of business within the Contract. Any information on value of business are for guidance only and no guarantee is given as to the exact value under this Contract. Any levels, or aggregate values of services, referred to are indicative only and shall not be binding on the Client.

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

The UK does not have any such bodies with responsibility for appeal/mediation procedures. Instead; any challenges are dealt with by the High Court, Commercial Division, to which proceedings may be issued regarding alleged breaches of the PCR 2015 as amended.

Belfast

Country

United Kingdom