Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
the Education Authority
40 Academy Street
Belfast
BT1 2NQ
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
Buyer's address
https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
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
ETS-21-004 Programme Assistance Services to support the delivery of the EdIS Programme
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Programme Assistance Services to enable support for the delivery of the EdIS Programme of work. EA procured an external programme delivery partner to support and assist the current EdIS Programme delivery team. The supplier provides services as and when required on a call-off basis for all workstreams.
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: £2,700,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKN - Northern Ireland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Programme Assistance Services to enable support for the delivery of the EdIS Programme of work. EA procured an external programme delivery partner to support and assist the current EdIS Programme delivery team. The supplier provides services as and when required on a call-off basis for all workstreams.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 80
Price - Weighting: 20
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:
This opportunity was originally awarded as a call-off contract following a further competition under Crown Commercial Services Management Consultancy Framework RM3745 Lot 6 Education.
In November 2022 modification notice 2022/S 000-033436 was published to increase the value by 50% of the original awarded contract value i.e. an additional £1,350,000. A further modification notice 2024/S 000-012747 was published in April 2024 to extend the duration of the contract by an additional period from 03 September 2024 until 31 March 2025.
The purpose of this VEAT notice is to inform the market that EA now intends to further modify the contract to extend for a further 2 years until 31 March 2027 and increase the value by £1,350,000 i.e. 50% of the original awarded contract value. The new total contract value will be £6,750,000.
No aspect of the modification will alter the overall nature of the current contract as the scope of services will remain unaltered and any expenditure will not be permitted to exceed 50% of the original awarded contract value.
For technical reasons a change in supplier is not possible at this stage. The provider has been contracted to provide support and advice on specific projects over the last number of years and has built up critical knowledge and understanding which will be required to proceed with strategic projects over the next 2 years, including the new procurement exercise now required for Strategic Partner Services. To contract with a different supplier at this stage would significantly impact timelines for delivery of projects and duplication of costs for the contracting authority.
Regulation 72(1)(b) permits an amendment to an existing contract: for additional works, services or supplies by the original contractor that have become necessary and were not included in the initial procurement, where a change of contractor
(i) cannot be made for economic or technical reasons such as requirements of interchangeability or interoperability with existing equipment, services or installations procured under the initial procurement, or
(ii) would cause significant inconvenience or substantial duplication of costs for the contracting authority, provided that any increase in price does not exceed 50% of the value of the original contract.
The EA shall observe a period of no less than 30 days, beginning with the day after the date of publication, before modifying the contract as set out in this notice.
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: 2024/S 000-012747
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
3 September 2021
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
Ernst and Young LLP
Belfast
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Internet address
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £2,700,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The UK does not currently have any such bodies with responsibilities for appeal/mediation procedures
Belfast
Country
United Kingdom