Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
National Physical Laboratory
Hampton Road
Teddington
TW11 0LW
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Research
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Broadcast of the Time From NPL
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 64000000 - Postal and telecommunications services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Broadcast of the Time From NPL (formerly MSF 60kHz Standard Frequency & Time Service)
We are purchasing the service to provide, operate and maintain the MSF signal at a carrier frequency of 60 kHz. The effective radiated power of the signal shall be sufficient to provide a minimum field strength of 100 uVolts / m at a distance of 1000km from the transmitter, and shall cover the whole of mainland UK. The contractor shall provide at least 2 frequency standards able to maintain the carrier frequency at 60 kHz to within 2E-12 (2 parts in 10 to the power of 12) over a period of 30 days without dependence on off-air reception of any signal and shall provide the equipment required to generate and to monitor the correct time and date code at the Transmission Station.
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: £1,999,268
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
NPL Management Ltd
Hampton Road
Teddington
TW11 0LW
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
We are purchasing the service to provide, operate and maintain the MSF signal at a carrier frequency of 60 kHz. The effective radiated power of the signal shall be sufficient to provide a minimum field strength of 100 uVolts / m at a distance of 1000km from the transmitter, and shall cover the whole of mainland UK. The contractor shall provide at least 2 frequency standards able to maintain the carrier frequency at 60 kHz to within 2E-12 (2 parts in 10 to the power of 12) over a period of 30 days without dependence on off-air reception of any signal and shall provide the equipment required to generate and to monitor the correct time and date code at the Transmission Station.
Contract length: 5 Years.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Cost criterion - Name: - / Weighting: -
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:
We are awarding this contract directly as no other provider has come forward to offer the service, and we believe that there is no other infrastructure other than that currently installed at Anthorne, operated by Babcock International, that is able to offer this service.
Related PIN reference number: 2022-040278
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
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
15 March 2022
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
Babcock Communications Limited
Floor 2 Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street
London
SE1 0TA
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)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £1,999,268
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
NPL Management Ltd
Hampton Road
Teddington
TW11 0LW
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
NPL Management Ltd
Hampton Road
Teddington
TW11 0LW
Country
United Kingdom