Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
ROYAL HOLLOWAY AND BEDFORD NEW COLLEGE
Egham Hill
Egham
TW20 0EX
Telephone
+44 1784917645
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI - London
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Private 5G network (P5GN) solution for the CoSTAR National Lab
Reference number
RHUL-24080
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 32400000 - Networks
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Provision of Private 5G network (P5GN) solution for the CoSTAR National Lab
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: £1,098,201
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKI - London
Main site or place of performance
London
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The University is engaging BT to provide private 5G network to 4 sites for the CoSTAR Network: at Pinewood Studios, Abertay University, Ulster University and University of York sites, plus silver package service support.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Please see Annex D / Weighting: 100
Cost criterion - Name: Please see Annex D / Weighting: 100
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 services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
The contract with BT Telecommunications for the provision of private 5G network to the CoSTAR National Lab and 3 x Network Labs is at the centre of the CoSTAR Network's ability to perform collaborative R&D, connecting CoSTAR network sites in Pinewood Studios, Abertay University, Ulster University and University of York.
The private 5G network is a core deliverable for the first 12 months of AHRC/UKRI funding, and the supplier was required to be able to provide the services nationally by Q2 of 2024. Without the ability to supply the 5G network within scope, the funding of the CoSTAR National Lab could have been affected.
The CoSTAR National Lab competition required bidders to provide commercial partners who would coinvest in the development of the lab, with a specific requirement to provide 5G network as part of the competition. During an open call available to all universities and commercial creative industries, the University negotiated partnership with BT for the 5G network as part of the bid. It is our view that if the University had not followed this approach the CoSTAR grant would have delayed and deliverables put at risk, given that the BT contract is a foundational requirement and forms an integral part of the CoSTAR National Lab delivery to the CoSTAR Network. This partnership will allow CoSTAR R&D programme to collaborate and share data.
The Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Publication has been utilised for the above reasons.
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
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
25 June 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
British Telecommunications plc.
1 Braham Street
London,
E1 8EE
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
Companies House
01800000
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £1,098,201
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,098,201
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom