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
EDIS-23-002 Unified Customer Experience for EA Admissions, Transport, SEN and Free School Meals
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
The Education Authority carried out a procurement to further develop the Unified Customer Experience for EA Admissions, Transport, SEN and Free School Meals for the period 4 September 2023 - 3 September 2025 with the option of a further 12 months extension).
This was a mini competition via CCS Framework Digital Outcomes 6 Lot 1.
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: £1,250,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKN - Northern Ireland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Education Authority carried out a procurement to further develop the Unified Customer Experience for EA Admissions, Transport, SEN and Free School Meals for the period 4 September 2023 - 3 September 2025 (with the option of a further 12 months extension).
This was a mini competition via CCS Framework Digital Outcomes 6 Lot 1.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical Competence / Weighting: 50
Quality criterion - Name: Cultural Fit / Weighting: 10
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 10
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Option of a further 12 month extension.
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 is not an award without without prior notice, the purpose of this VEAT notice is to make the market aware that EA intent to modify this contract as detailed below.
This opportunity was originally awarded as a call-off contract following a further competition under Crown Commercial Services Digital Outcomes 6 Framework Lot 1.
In October 2024 the contract value was increased by 50% of the original awarded contract value under published VEAT 2024/S 000-030912 and subsequent modification notice 2025/S 000-004627.
EA now intend to further modify the contract value to increase by £625,000 i.e. 50% of the original awarded contract value. The new total contract value will be £2,500,000.
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 services must continue to be technically compatible with what has already been developed by the Contractor under this contract and to contract with a different supplier at this stage would result in significant risk to current development timeframes as well as the substantial duplication of costs which would be incurred to procure replacement services.
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 10 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
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
8 August 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
Version 1 Solutions Ltd
Birmingham
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
Internet address
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Lowest offer: £1,250,000 / Highest offer: £2,500,000 taken into consideration
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