Award

Apollo Mobility Solution

  • NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2021/S 000-012303

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-02b781

Published 2 June 2021, 1:45pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

NORTHERN GAS NETWORKS LIMITED

1100 Century Way Thorpe Park

LEEDS

LS158TU

Contact

Maija Narimanidze

Email

MNarimanidze@northerngas.co.uk

Telephone

+44 7814042782

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKE42 - Leeds

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk/

one.6) Main activity

Production, transport and distribution of gas and heat


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Apollo Mobility Solution

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

Apollo is used on all NGN laptops, tablets and system control PCs, to enable secure remote access to NGN's IT systems. This enables widescale home-working during the COVID-19 pandemic and supports secure day to day operations for NGN's field force and system control. Brand is also an essential service to secure data flows from our Gas Offtake sites back to System Control. 3iG are currently running a comprehensive programme to replace old Arqiva technology with Brand software which has given NGN more security and reliability.

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: £313,497

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKE42 - Leeds

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Brand Communications Apollo is used on all NGN laptops, tablets and system control PCs, to enable secure remote access to NGN's IT systems. This enables widescale home-working during the COVID-19 pandemic and supports secure day to day operations for NGN's field force and system control. Brand is also an essential service to secure data flows from our Gas Offtake sites back to System Control. 3iG are currently running a comprehensive programme to replace old Arqiva technology with Brand software which has given NGN more security and reliability.

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No


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

Explanation:

NGN have a contract with Brand Communications, which expires on the 31st of August 2021.

Brand Communications Apollo is used on all NGN laptops, tablets and system control PCs, to enable secure remote access to NGN's IT systems. This enables widescale home-working during the COVID-19 pandemic and supports secure day to day operations for NGN's field force and system control. Brand is also an essential service to secure data flows from our Gas Offtake sites back to System Control. 3iG are currently running a comprehensive programme to replace old Arqiva technology with Brand software which has given NGN more security and reliability.

This software is a critical part of our IT infrastructure and would be a multi-million pound investment to replace, procure and swap out all devices if Brand was replaced. The current COVID-19 lockdown restrictions would also create a longer-term programme of works of face-to-face interactions between the IT support team and 1000+ end user devices.

There is a need to renew the contract to save NGN time and money that has been spent on building our current infrastructure to replace this with a new solution.

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

Title

Apollo Mobility Solutions

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

28 May 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

Brand Communications Limited

Huntingdon

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKH12 - Cambridgeshire CC
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: £313,497


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Northern Gas Networks

Leeds

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures

This notice will be issued to the market for 10 days.