Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
British Business Bank Plc
Steel City House, West Street
Sheffield
S1 2GQ
Contact
Procurement
procurement@british-buisness-bank.co.uk
Telephone
+44 02039051462
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKE32 - Sheffield
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://british-business-bank.co.uk/
Buyer's address
http://british-business-bank.co.uk/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Support Contract for EFG Portal
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72222300 - Information technology services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Provision of the development resources to build and support Guarantees Portal software which is used to register loans that BBB have provided guarantees for including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans. The current scope for these requirements covers CBILS 2.0 and the Claims and Arrears process
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: £960,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKE32 - Sheffield
Main site or place of performance
Sheffield
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
At short notice in March 2020, BBB was designated by HM Treasury as the body responsible for administering the Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme, the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Scheme, and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme ("Coronavirus Loan Schemes").
BBB required certain software support and development services at extremely short notice to handle the requirements of the Coronavirus Loan Schemes. There was not enough time to carry out a competitive procurement in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 ("PCR 2015"), but BBB concluded that regulation 32(2)(c) permitted it to contract directly with Thoughtbot.
Thoughtbot was already providing similar services to BBB in connection with the Enterprise Finance Guarantee ("EFG") Scheme. BBB therefore contracted with Thoughtbot so that the software solution being used for the EFG Scheme could be adapted to support the Coronavirus Loan Schemes.
The Coronavirus Loan Schemes were each intended to be open for applications for a period of six months. The Coronavirus Loan Schemes have since been extended due to further unforeseen developments in the context of the pandemic forcing further suppression of social and commercial freedoms. In particular, on 17 December 2020 the Chancellor announced that the Coronavirus Loan Schemes had been extended to 31 March 2021. Accordingly, BBB will require technical support (i) for applications for financial support up to at least 31 March 2021 and (ii) in connection with the management of the portfolio of loans for at least five years. As a result, BBB has concluded that it needs to continue contracting with Thoughtbot to avoid any interruption to the Coronavirus Loan Schemes.
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
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
Regulation 32(2)(c) of the PCR 2015 applies for the following reasons:
BBB needs to ensure that it can provide uninterrupted financial support to businesses whose operations have been impacted by restrictions resulting from the introduction of lockdown measures in response to further waves of COVID-19 infections. It cannot provide that financial support without the necessary software, which is supported by services provided by Thoughtbot. BBB is therefore reacting to a current situation that is a genuine emergency.
The need for extreme urgency has been caused by unforeseeable events. The COVID-19 situation is so novel that the impact of further waves of infections could not have been predicted.
Thoughtbot's current contract expired on 31 January 2021. Having regard to the time it would take to prepare for and carry out a procurement in compliance with the PCR 2015, and to transition to a new supplier, it was impossible to comply with the usual timescales in the PCR 2015 and to transition to a new supplier before 31 January 2021.
BBB has acted promptly in responding to the current situation of extreme urgency and has proceeded to make this direct award without delay.
The duration of the contract has been limited to the minimum necessary period required to implement and to transition to a longer term solution in compliance with the PCR 2015. In particular, the contract has been set up to enable that transition from 31 January 2022 and to require it to take place before 31 January 2023.
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 January 2021
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
Thoughtbot Ltd
3Rd Floor Griffin Court 15 Long Lane - Barbican -
London -
EC1A 9PN
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - LONDON
National registration number
05943167
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £960,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
To view this notice, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=574920461
GO Reference: GO-202131-PRO-17861558
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
London
WC24 2LL
Country
United Kingdom