Award

The provision of metrology related services for assurance, evaluation and testing against UK national measurement standards.

  • The Secretary of State for the Home Department ('Home Office')

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-004892

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0439f7

Published 14 February 2024, 11:17am



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

The Secretary of State for the Home Department ('Home Office')

2 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DF

Email

chris.penny1@homeoffice.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority

one.5) Main activity

Other activity

The Home Office is the lead government department for immigration and passports, drugs policy, crime, fire, counter-terrorism and police.


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

The provision of metrology related services for assurance, evaluation and testing against UK national measurement standards.

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 73110000 - Research services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Metrology is the scientific study of measurement and accurate measurement underpins much of the UK’s infrastructure. National security challenges continue to evolve into new areas that threaten and disrupt the fabric of society, economic well-being and way of life. Rapid commissioning of impartial research into this specialist area against the UK National Measurement standards is a capability sought by the Home Office.

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: £1,000,000

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 73110000 - Research services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Home Office is the lead government department for immigration and passports, drugs policy, crime, fire, counter-terrorism and police. The Homeland Security Group (HSG) and Science, Technology, Analysis, Research and Strategy (STARS) teams sit within the Home Department. Both play crucial roles in national security and law enforcement operations and pursuant to this mission they wish access to the specialist research capabilities available through the National Physical Laboratory (www.npl.co.uk).

The Home Office is entering into an agreement with NPL whereby it shall directly commission projects where the substantive component is metrology , across technical areas including, but not limited to, advanced materials, quantum technologies, bio-metrology, sensor technologies, data science, electronic and electromagnetic materials, emissions, gas and particle metrology, mechanical measurement, mass spectrometry, nuclear and radiation measurement and ultrasound, specifically:

i) Technology assurance and evaluation against the UK’s national measurement standards,

ii) Impartial and independent advice on testing and standards, especially where standards are emerging or no standards exist,

iii) Development of methods for technical assessment of devices and technologies, especially where standards are emerging or no standards exist, and

iv) Tests and evaluations to help the Home Office understand its own test facilities across the breadth of its portfolio.

Through this agreement and constrained to the scope identified in this Section II.2.4, the Home Office shall award this agreement in accordance with Regulation 32 (2)(b)(ii)('competition absent for technical reasons').

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a Public Corporation owned by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). NPL is the UK's National Metrology Institute (NMI), developing and maintaining the national primary measurement standards, the highest point of reference in the UK as well as collaborating with other NMIs to maintain the international system of measurement. It is a public sector research establishment delivering the measurement capability that underpins the UK's prosperity and quality of life. It develops the enduring measurement infrastructure to metrology required to ensure the timely and successful deployment of new technologies.

On this basis, the Home Office considers that competition is absent for technical reasons.

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

Negotiated procedure without publication of a contract notice

  • The products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development
  • The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
    • absence of competition for technical reasons

Explanation:

Please refer to Section II.2.4 "Description of the procurement" to this notice.

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No


Section five. Award of contract/concession

Contract No

859

Title

The provision of metrology related services for assurance, evaluation and testing.

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

14 February 2024

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

National Physical Laboratory

Hampton Road

Teddington

TW11 0LW

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
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: £1,000,000

Lowest offer: £1,000,000 / Highest offer: £1,000,000 taken into consideration

five.2.5) Information about subcontracting

The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Secretary of State for the Home Department

2 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DF

Country

United Kingdom