Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
AWE plc
Aldermaston
RG7 4PR
Contact
AWE Professional Services Procurement
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ - South East (England)
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Defence
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Science Direct - Academic Journal Subscription
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 48190000 - Educational software package
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
AWE staff require access to the Science Direct platform. ScienceDirect is a digital library that provides access to a vast collection of academic and scientific research articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings. It is a product of the publishing company Elsevier and offers a platform for researchers, scientists, and scholars to access information from multiple scientific fields. By accessing the latest scientific literature, AWE employees can stay informed about the latest trends and research findings, which can help them make informed business decisions and stay ahead of the competition.
This VEAT notice has been published to declare that a 3 year contract is being awarded to Elsevier for a subscription to Science Direct as a sole source tender which is justified under a PCR Reg 32 exemption.
This new contract will come into effect from the 1st of May 2023. The total value of the contract is £1.7m.
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: £1,700,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ - South East (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Contract is awarded from 1st May 2023 - 30th April 2025 as a single source tender which is justified under a PCR Reg 32 exemption. The total value of the contract is £1.7m.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The Contract is awarded from 1st May 2023 - 30th April 2025 as a single source tender which is justified under a PCR Reg 32 exemption as there are no other options to be able to source this software.
The aim of this procurement is for AWE to gain access to the Science Direct platform which is a journal database that allows users to browse and freely access academic literature. Although it may be possible to access this literature through other means such as directly going to the individual publisher or using resellers, the Science Direct platform is the unique intellectual property of Elsevier and can only be purchased from them. The particular advantage of using Science Direct rather than not having a central database to access literature from, is that we would pay a single fee and have unlimited and uninhibited access to literature.
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
- No tenders or no suitable tenders/requests to participate in response to open procedure
- The products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development
- The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights
Explanation:
PCR Reg 32.2.b.iii states:
“(2) The negotiated procedure without prior publication may be used for public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts in any of the following cases:—
…
(b)where the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by a particular economic operator for any of the following reasons:—
…
(iii) the protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights, but only, in the case of paragraphs (ii) and (iii), where no reasonable alternative or substitute exists and the absence of competition is not the result of an artificial narrowing down of the parameters of the procurement; …”
The aim of this procurement is for AWE to gain access to the Science Direct platform which is a journal database that allows users to browse and freely access academic literature. Although it may be possible to access this literature through other means such as directly going to the individual publisher or using resellers, the Science Direct platform is the unique intellectual property of Elsevier and can only be purchased from them. The particular advantage of using Science Direct rather than not having a central database to access literature from, is that we would pay a single fee and have unlimited and uninhibited access to literature. Please refer to the attached Sole Provider letter from Elsevier for evidence of this.
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
28 March 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
Elsevier Limited
125 London Wall
London
EC2Y 5AS
Telephone
+44 2074244200
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ - South East (England)
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £1,700,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £1,700,000
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
The High Court Royal Court of Justice
The Strand London WC2A 2LL
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom