Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road
BELFAST
BT4 3SB
strategicdelivery.cpd@finance-ni.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS 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
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
APHIS Supplemental Agreement
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72500000 - Computer-related services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is placing this transparency notice to alert economic operators of its plan to modify
the APHIS contract in accordance with Regulation 72 (1) (b) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. This modification will extend the current contract for a period of 4 years. This transparency notice does not place any
obligation on the Authority to enter into this modification.
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: £6,845,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKN - NORTHERN IRELAND
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
APHIS Supplemental Agreement
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: As per tender documents / Weighting: 0
Cost criterion - Name: As per tender documents / Weighting: 0
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:
In 2014 the Contract known as APHIS Supplemental agreement was awarded to AMT Sybex. The total value of the Contract was £6.84M over a period of 6 years. The Contract is due to expire in June 2021.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) requires a further extension of its original contract for an additional 4 years. This extension is seen as a modification under the
provisions outlined in regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
Regulation 72 provides that contracts may be modified without a new procurement procedure in any of a number of cases, including:
“(1) (b) for additional works, services or supplies by the original contractor that have become necessary and were not included in the
original procurement, where a change of contractor —
(i) cannot be made for economic or technical reasons such as such as requirements of interchangeability or interoperability with existing
equipment, services or installations procured under the initial procurement, and
(ii) would cause significant inconvenience or substantial duplication of costs for the contracting authority,
(iii) provided that any increase in price does not exceed 50% of the value of the original contract;
In this case, DAERA will seek to rely on the modification provisions of 72(1)(b) as a transfer to a new contractor would be impossible due to IPR reasons. APHIS requires sufficient cover for maintenance and support to allow it to continue to provide essential services to the Agri Food sector in Northern Ireland. The APHIS system is extremely complex and its data is considered business critical to the agri-food sector and mission critical to the delivery of the business of Veterinary Service Animal Health Group within DAERA. The introduction of a new supplier would undoubtedly cause technical difficulties and issues with a potential liability in terms of maintenance and data integrity.
This modification does not require an increase in contract value
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
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
11 March 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
AMT Sybex
Letchworth Garden City
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - UNITED KINGDOM
National registration number
The Spirella Building , Bridge Road
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: £6,845,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The date shown in this Voluntary Transparency Notice section v.2.1 is defaulted at the date the Authority issued the notice to the journal.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The UK does not have any such bodies with responsibility for appeal/mediation procedures.
Belfast
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The Public Contract Regulations 2015 provide for aggrieved parties who have.. been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). The.. authority has incorporated a standstill period before this contract is awarded.