Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran)
Area 3D (Bridge), Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
Contact
Andrew Ferguson
Andrew.ferguson@sestran.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 1315245150
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=AA13442
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Transport
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
SEStran-23/24-Integrated Mobility Platform
Reference number
SEStran-23/24-01P
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The main aims of IMPS are:
· Make it easier for every resident & visitor to the SEStran and Tactran regions to make the most of the
Transport ecosystem.
· To secure a model for long term financial sustainability by 30 September 2024.
· Support Scotland Objectives (MIF objectives but also wider national objectives)
· Make it easier for new transport modes to connect in to the transport ecosystem.
The next phase of the MaaS platform will be made available to potential other public sector partners to allow them to commission further integrations/improvements to the existing apps powered by the platform or develop new ‘grey label’ apps from the same platform – the Integrated Mobility Platform Scotland concept.
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: £200,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 72232000 - Development of transaction processing and custom software
- 72250000 - System and support services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The existing SEStran and Tactran pilots provided journey planning tools that enabled the planning, booking and paying for a variety of transport services. These tools were ‘powered’ by a shared MaaS platform initially provided by Fuse Mobility, which novated its contract to Ember Technology on 19 February 2024,
SEStran and Tactran have secured additional funding to extend the present contract for a short 6 month extension to 30 September 2024 at which point Transport Scotland should be in a position to make any decisions on the direction of a national MaaS platform, and whether this could be publicly funded.
Ending the pilot projects before a way forward has been determined for the long term could:
§ Seriously limit the opportunities to take forward the MaaS aspirations. If current MaaS projects stop, there will be a loss of confidence by the public, operators, and partner public sector services.
Conversely, there could also be a lost opportunity to digitally promote new transport initiatives (such as DRT, Mobility Hubs, bike hire schemes and Community Transport etc) via MaaS platforms;
§ Represent a significant loss of investment by all partners in getting this new and exciting technology established; and
§ Whilst MaaS is a growth sector, there are limited MaaS suppliers in Scotland. The lack of a continuous plan for establishing and expanding MaaS will seriously affect the confidence of suppliers to invest in the programme in Scotland. It will also present a reputational risk to those public sector partners involved.
IMPS aims to share the learnings from the Transport Scotland MIF projects, help public sector organisations understand how MaaS could help them to achieve their sustainable objectives, and to help MaaS services grow, learn and develop. We will do this by having open access to an IMPS website, offer advice on design and implementation of a MaaS app, offer the use of the existing apps, and also offer a new ‘grey label’ app via a financial contribution from the third party.
Tactran and Sestran propose to maintain the platform and existing interfaces and continue to make this available to the public until a time when Transport Scotland are able to consider and confirm funding for a new MaaS platform project with the intention that the contract for that project will be fully advertised in a public procurement procedure.
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:
The purpose of the contract award is to keep the contract running for a further 6 months while discussions are held on the future of the MaaS Project. That short extension with a value of GBP 23,250 is not a “substantial” change in terms of Reglation 72(1)(e) and (8) of The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, because none of the following apply to this particular extension/modification:
“(a) the modification renders the contract or the framework agreement materially different in character from the one initially concluded;
(b) the modification introduces conditions which, had they been part of the initial procurement procedure, would have—
(i) allowed for the admission of candidates other than those initially selected;
(ii) allowed for the acceptance of a tender other than that originally accepted; or
(iii) attracted additional participants in the procurement procedure;
(c) the modification changes the economic balance of the contract or the framework agreement in favour of the contractor in a manner which was not provided for in the initial contract or framework agreement;
(d) the modification extends the scope of the contract or framework agreement considerably; or
(e) a new contractor replaces one to which the contracting authority had initially awarded the contract or framework in cases other than those provided for in paragraph (1)(d).”
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
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
28 March 2024
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
Ember Technology Ltd
8 Pentland House
Glenrothes
KY6 2AH
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKM - Scotland
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £23,250
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
None
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=762487.
(SC Ref:762487)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LA
Country
United Kingdom