Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
Kings Lynn
PE33 9NP
Contact
Elaine Shelford
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH16 - North and West Norfolk
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
Procurement of Common Access Cards
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72611000 - Technical computer support services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Procurement contract to provide Common Access Cards.
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: £192,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- US - United States
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Supplies contract for the procurement of Common Access Cards
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
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- No tenders or no suitable tenders/requests to participate in response to restricted procedure
- 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:
The Lightning II Delivery Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), intends to place a 4 year contract with IdenTrust for the procurement of common access cards (CACs) enabling access to F-35 software applications hosted by the US Government. The contract has an estimated total value of £192,000 VAT inclusive. In accordance with the provisions of The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 SI No. 2020/1319, this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015 as amended (in particular by SI 2020/1319). Prior publication of a Contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate. It is considered that the award of the contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by in accordance with the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with Regulation 32(b)(ii) of the PCR 2015 because competition is absent for technical reasons.
The F-35 Program utilises a number of aircraft maintenance tools, provided as software applications, for which the UK Lightning Delivery Team (LDT) needs access via the Partner Nation Supplier, Lockheed Martin. Two-factor authentication (2FA) is required to access these applications and the 2FA is provided by the ECA Medium Token Assurance Certificate on a CAC supplied by Identrust, as one of only two U.S. DoD approved suppliers. Purchase of the CACs from IdenTrust provides a digital profile and user certificate which is associated with a user profile for the associated Program application. Previously with fewer applications and associated users CACs were purchased in low value batches. Work was also undertaken separately by UK MOD to update the MOD Official Network to test and install IdenTrust’s ActivClient software to provide approved users direct access via the IdenTrust CACs to the F-35 maintenance applications. A change away from IdenTrust would block access to the maintenance applications and leave UK MOD unable to fulfil its obligations under the F-35 Program and create a significant capability gap in performing key functions required to support F-35 operations.
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
Contract No
708561451
Title
Procurement of Common Access Cards
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
28 July 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
IdenTrust
5225 Wiley Post Way
Salt Lake City
UT 84116
Country
United States
NUTS code
- US - United States
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: £192,000
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
Lightning Delivery Team
Kings Lynn
PE33 9NP
Country
United Kingdom