Award

1951500

  • Ministry of Defence

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-004894

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03a67c

Published 17 February 2023, 1:36pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Ministry of Defence

Corsham

SN13 9NR

Email

ISSComrcl-SyInfra-Group@mod.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

National registration number

N/A

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/defence-digital

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority

one.5) Main activity

Defence


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

1951500

Reference number

706940450

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Authority intends to establish a new contract with Verrimus Limited to upgrade existing International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) System and procure new IMEI System capability. The new contract will ensure that the existing IMEI capability is sustained. The IMEI equipment will be executed as a Single Source Contrac

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: £195,150,000

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Authority intends to establish a new contract with Verrimus Limited to upgrade existing International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) System and procure new IMEI System capability. The new contract will ensure that the existing IMEI capability is sustained. The IMEI equipment will be executed as a Single Source Contrac

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 without a prior call for competition

  • No tenders or no suitable tenders/requests to participate in response to restricted procedure
  • 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:

Legal Justification

The Secretary of State for Defence, acting through the Defence Digital project team (the Authority), intends to enter into a contract with Verrimus Limited for the supply of additional International Mobile Equipment Identity Identification Systems (the Systems) and associated ancillaries (wired connections and charging devices) together with upgrade and maintenance services. In accordance with regulation 4 of The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). Prior publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate. It is considered that the award of the contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulations 16(1)(b)(i) and 16(1)(a)(ii) of the DSPCR 2011 for the following reasons.

The systems and associated ancillaries are in addition to existing goods manufactured by the original equipment manufacturer GOS Systems Ltd and to obtain goods from a different supplier would oblige the Authority to acquire goods with different technical characteristics which would result in

incompatibility with the existing goods and disproportionate technical difficulties in the operation and maintenance of the existing goods. Furthermore, Verrimus are the exclusive distributors for the goods and after sales upgrades and services in the UK.

GOS Systems Ltd is the only supplier with a product that will meet the Authority’s objective requirements in the timeframe required and which has been accredited to be used in the UK and Verrimus is the only supplier authorised to sell and procure the modification and maintenance of the Systems in the UK.

four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement

The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement

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

Contract No

706940450

Title

IMEI Technical Security Countermeasures (TSCM) Hardware

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

17 February 2023

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

Verrimus Limited

Bristol

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: £195,150,000

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £195,150,000

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

Ministry of Defence, Strategic Command, Defence Digital

Corsham

Country

United Kingdom