Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
University of Ulster
Block X Room X031, Cromore Road
Coleraine
BT52 1SA
Telephone
+44 2870123609
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKN - Northern Ireland
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Security Operation Centre Services
Reference number
Project_26672
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72315000 - Data network management and support services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Security Operation Centre Services
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: £866,100
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Main site or place of performance
All Campuses of Ulster University
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Ulster University is developing it’s cyber response capabilities and as a part of that process a requirement has been identified for a security operations centre.
The key aims of a SOC are
• to detect and respond to threats, keeping the information held on systems
and networks secure
• to increase resilience by learning about the changing threat landscape
(both malicious and non-malicious, internal and external)
• to identify and address negligent or criminal behaviours
• to derive business intelligence about user behaviours in order to shape
and prioritise the development of technologies
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The contract will be for 1 year initially, with an option to extend for a further 2 years.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
This notice relates to a direct award of a contract through the NI Public Sector Network (NI PSSN) Framework.
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 Public Sector within Northern Ireland has many constituent parts that serve the needs of the NI Citizen. Each Policy and Delivery Organisation had a range of network services WANs, LANs and associated services which were under a number of different contractual arrangements. These included framework type contracts, Managed Service contracts and large fully outsourced business projects where the network is only one constituent part.
The Stormont House Agreement was published on 23 December 2014 (agreed by the NI Executive on 22 January 2015) and included a commitment to the extension of shared services across the NI public sector in driving forward a comprehensive programme of public sector reform and restructuring.
Under the stated objective of the NI Executive to drive towards shared services key stakeholders in the public sector came together to consider the options for future provision of network services. IT Assist, Education Authority, Business Services Organisation and PSNI resourced a joint procurement team with assistance from CPD and SIB.
The NI Public Sector Network (NI PSSN) contract was awarded to BT in Oct 2018.
In addition to other Public Sector organisations to make use of the contract, the scope of the contract includes:
• the provision of WAN and unified communications environment.
• other network services and unified communications to be purchased and managed and/or supplied under the NI PSSN.
This framework agreement that was availed of was procured via the Open route and a notice was published on 15 October 2018 in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) under reference 2018/S 200-455203. The Framework agreement used had already been tendered in accordance with the EU Directives. This award notice is voluntary. Reg: 50 (4); in the case of framework agreements, contracting authorities shall not be bound to send a notice of the results of the procurement procedure for each contract based on that agreement.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2018/S 200-455203
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
9 February 2022
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
British Telecommunications Plc
Riverside Tower, 5 Lanyon Place
Belfast
BT1 3BT
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKN - Northern Ireland
National registration number
1800000
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £866,100
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The anticipated start date of this contract is 31st March 2022 for 1 year, with the option to extend for a further two years.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland
Royal Courts of Justice, Chichester Street
Belfast
BT1 3JY
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
Public Contract Regulations 2015 provide for aggrieved Party's who have been harmed or at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (NI).