Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Northern Ireland Assembly
Parliament Buildings,Stormont
BELFAST
BT43XX
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKN06 - Belfast
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other type
Legislature
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Legislature
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Microsoft Unified Support Contract
Reference number
BR-064-2023
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
Service support for our Microsoft software environment.
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: £231,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Main site or place of performance
Belfast
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Provide IS Office technical staff with expert advice and assistance in the support of both existing and new Microsoft software products and the ability to request immediate escalation of urgent issues on standard applications with no constraints on the time required. This includes all new applications in-flight, such as Microsoft Defender. The IS Office would have as-needed 24/7 support from Microsoft, supporting the team in a timely manner, improving the overall service.
Provide the IS Office time with Microsoft to facilitate additional projects, as required, to ensure the Assembly Commission meets the needs of end users at a pace more aligned to how technology develops. This time will support the creation of a new modern environment that accommodates increased security, modern remote working, future proofing services and an all-round better end user experience. A number of hours have been proposed to advise on projects over the next three years such as the implementation of Microsoft Defender (antivirus), Microsoft Intune (to support mobile device management), migration of on-premise email to M365 (Cloud email), the support of a remote access solution, support with potentially upgrading the Hyper V Firmware, or alternative, support migrating services to the cloud, where applicable and providing support to the Assembly Commission on modernising the workplace, through additional use of the Microsoft technology stack such as SharePoint online and additional use of Teams. This time will also ensure the team
receives the necessary training to support the products in use and
strategic approach to the technology available. Microsoft provides such support hours in blocks as it provides value for money across economies of scale.
Unified Enterprise Support with unlimited reactive hours and approximately 100 proactive hours (to support products already in use), with an additional 300 proactive support hours to support the implementation of new products.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: 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 Procurement and IS Offices have discussed this requirement in detail. After conducting enquiries, it is very clear that the services which the IS Office wish to purchase are exclusive to Microsoft. They are not offered for resale by any other supplier. There are no other known suppliers who can even offer a similar level of service.
Microsoft are the only company who can provide this service and as such, there remains only one option to procure this renewal and that is through a negotiated procedure without prior publication - a direct award.
This is provided for in the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015 - specifically under regulation 32(b)(ii). This allows for contracts to be awarded without competition in circumstances where competition is absent for technical reasons. In this case, the Microsoft unified support renewal is exclusive to Microsoft and cannot be purchased from another provider.
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
23 June 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
Microsoft
Dublin
Country
Ireland
NUTS code
- IE - Ireland
Microsoft Ireland
BR-064-2023
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: £231,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £231,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The Procurement and IS Offices have discussed this requirement in detail. After conducting enquiries, it is very clear that the services which the IS Office wish to purchase are exclusive to Microsoft. They are not offered for resale by any other supplier. There are no other known suppliers who can even offer a similar level of service.
Microsoft are the only company who can provide this service and as such, there remains only one option to procure this renewal and that is through a negotiated procedure without prior publication - a direct award.
This is provided for in the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015 - specifically under regulation 32(b)(ii). This allows for contracts to be awarded without competition in circumstances where competition is absent for technical reasons. In this case, the Microsoft unified support renewal is exclusive to Microsoft and cannot be purchased from another provider.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
N/A
N/A
Country
United Kingdom