Award

TfGM AS400 Hosting and Support Services

  • Transport For Greater Manchester

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-018905

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-047120

Published 19 June 2024, 1:49pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Transport For Greater Manchester

2 Piccadilly Place

MANCHESTER

M13BG

Email

procurement@tfgm.com

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKD - North West (England)

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.tfgm.com

Buyer's address

www.tfgm.com

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Other type

Transport Authority

one.5) Main activity

Other activity

Transport


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

TfGM AS400 Hosting and Support Services

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 48000000 - Software package and information systems

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

Following a procurement exercise in July 2021, Frontline Consultancy and Business Services Limited (Frontline) were awarded a 3-year contract to provide TfGM with hosting and support services for the AS400 system that it currently employs. Information on this contract can be found on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c01ca9b7-a336-4e97-b0ba-6582c331ecf1

TfGM are now seeking an additional 12-month provision of this hosting and support service under a new contract, and this notice provides transparency around the reasons for this single source requirement, and of TfGM's intention to tender for a new hosting and support system in early 2025.

The decision to contract with Frontline is based on the need to maintain TfGM's AS400 until a full review can be undertaken from January 2025, following the launch of the final tranche of Bus Franchising by TfGM across Greater Manchester. A longer-term procurement is likely to be advertised in early 2025, once the full scope of the services required to provide support has been considered and then determined.

Though the additional services were not included in the original procurement, a change in contractor at this stage would cause significant disruption and cannot be made for economic and technical reasons, as there is a significant risk of disruption to the operation of bus services in Greater Manchester, including payments to and from bus operators for using bus stations, timetabling, and route planning services.

A review of the long-term requirement for the AS400 product will be undertaken in January 2025, once all buses in Greater Manchester fall under franchised services. There would be significant duplication of costs associated with a change of service in June 2024, and then again following the review in January 2025. The proposed contract allows for maintenance of service provision in the short term, and time to implement any changes following the review in 2025.

The additional requirements at a value of £63,899.99 procured under this new contract do not exceed 50% of the value of the original contract.

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: £63,899.99

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKD - North West (England)

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The services provided under the proposed contract include:

24x7 AS400 Hosting on Frontlines infrastructure;

Support of the AS400 Service, including understanding of TfGM's coding and functionality;

Software Licensing of various products supporting TfGM developed applications;

Support of TfGM in house developed applications including breakfix and code changes;

As above, a short term provision of services is required until January 2025, following which a full review and tender will be undertaken.

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 value of this contract is lower than the WTO threshold, however TfGM is providing this VEAT Notice given the aggregate value with the previous contract, as per the contract notice above.

Though the additional services were not included in the original procurement, a change in contractor at this stage would cause significant disruption and cannot be made for economic and technical reasons, as there is a significant risk of disruption to the operation of bus services in Greater Manchester, including payments to and from bus operators for using bus stations, timetabling, and route planning services.

The proposed contract allows for maintenance of service provision in the short term, and time to implement any changes following the planned review in 2025. TfGM is taking this approach to avoid unnecessary duplication of costs that could otherwise be associated with a further change of service provision in June 2024, as well as any other additional costs that could result following a more comprehensive review in January 2025. A review of the long-term requirement for the AS400 product will be undertaken in January 2025, once all buses in Greater Manchester fall under franchised services.

The additional requirements at a value of £63,899.99 procured under this new contract do not exceed 50% of the value of the original contract.

TfGM has a review of the AS400 planned in January 2025 and will issue a tender shortly after this should long term support be required following this contract.

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

Title

TfGM AS400 Hosting and Support Services

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

17 June 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

Frontline Consultancy and Business Services Limited

Frontline House, Epsom Avenue

Handforth, Wilmslow

SK9 3PW

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKD - North West (England)
Companies House

02643915

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: £63,899.99


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

High court of England and Wales

London

Country

United Kingdom