Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Heriot-Watt University
Moyen House, Research Park North, Heriot-Watt University
Riccarton, Edinburgh
EH14 4AP
Contact
Fred Davidson
Telephone
+44 1314513700
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00307
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
Research Data Hosting and Storage Software Solution
Reference number
HWU 2016
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 48782000 - Storage management software package
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Heriot-Watt University currently stores 135TB of research data in a cloud hosted and storage solution provided by Dropbox Business.
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: £165,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Heriot-Watt University currently stores over 135TB of key dynamic research data within a cloud hosted and storage software solution provided by Dropbox Business.
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
- Additional deliveries by the original supplier
Explanation:
Heriot-Watt University proposes to enter a contract with Dropbox Inc. in accordance with Paragraph 33 Part 4(b) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Specifically, the contract pertains to purchasing additional supplies of an existing research data storage solution with relevant support and maintenance element which is cloud hosted. Any change to such a supply arrangement would oblige Heriot-Watt University to encounter a solution with different technical characteristics resulting in a high level of disproportionate technical difficulty being encountered in implementing and the subsequent operation of the system due to the challenges of transferring a large volume of critically important research data. Any file transfer process would require to be specifically designed and would require to incorporate several iterative actions and subsequent planned downtime with disruption to key research programmes. Additionally, the capacity to migrate large volumes of data would require the involvement of a third party adding to the disproportionate complexity of the process whilst increasing the risk data corruption to critical research projects.
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
HWU2016
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
30 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
Dropbox
Henry Wood House, 2 Riding Street
London
W1W7FA
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: £165,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
(SC Ref:652905)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court
Edinburgh
Country
United Kingdom