Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Defra Network eTendering Portal
17 Nobel House
London
SW1P 3JR
Telephone
+44 2072385921
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Environment
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Modelling of Ambient Air Quality
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 90731100 - Air quality management
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
A contract to develop and apply air quality models and other methods of assessment to:
* Map ambient air pollutant concentrations across the UK for 13 pollutants;
* Carry out an annual assessment of compliance with air quality limit values and target values for reporting;
* Support the investigation and development of policy initiatives.
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: £3,800,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Defra intends to award a contract for the Modelling of Ambient Air Quality.
The services required under this contract include:
* Mapping ambient air pollutant concentrations across the UK for 13 pollutants;
* Carrying out an annual assessment of compliance with air quality limit values and target values for reporting;
* Supporting the investigation and development of policy initiatives.
The contract is planned to start on 01/05/2021 and to run for two (2) years. There is a possibility that the contract will be extended for a period of up to twelve (12) months. (The value covers the full three-year period).
This notice advises that Defra has decided to award the contract with the named provider on a direct award basis and is published for reasons of transparency.
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
two.2.14) Additional information
If you have any concerns regarding this decision, please ensure that you contact Penny Hebden, Defra Group Commercial, at penny.hebden@defra.gov.uk, clearly detailing the basis of your concerns, within 10 calendar days of the publication of this notice.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
- New works/services, constituting a repetition of existing works/services
Explanation:
This contract uses the PCM model, developed under previous contracts with Ricardo Energy & Environment, and they own the intellectual property rights (IPR) for elements that feed into the model, such as the Stack Characterisation Database and associated tools. Any new supplier would need to buy a licence to use the Stack Characterisation or develop a replacement option that would not infringe on their IPR.
There is no other model in the market at this time that can take the place of the PCM model and meet the requirements of the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 in time for the 2020 compliance assessment. The PCM model is specifically designed to provide outputs which form the majority of the scientific base that enables Defra to fulfil its legal obligations.
The current situation with Covid-19 has had a significant impact on air quality, so the modelling required for the 2020 compliance assessment (carried out between March and August 2021) will be much more complex than usual. A new contractor would not be able to complete this work and meet the reporting deadline, thus creating a further risk of failure to meet statutory obligations.
The justification for the direct award of this contract is that there is currently only one supplier who can fulfil the requirements of the contract, which is justified under Regulation 32 of the Public Contracts regulations (PCR) 2015:
(b) Where the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by a particular economic operator for any of the following reasons:
(ii) Competition is absent for technical reasons, and
(iii) The protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights.
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
12 April 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
Ricardo Energy & Environment
London
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: £3,800,000
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
Defra Group Commercial
17 Nobel House
London
SW1P 3JR
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
http://defra.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Royal Courts of Justice
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom