Awarded contract

The Provision of LTE Vehicle Devices and Accessories for the Emergency Services Network (ESN)

  • The Secretary of State for the Home Department

F20: Modification notice

Notice reference: 2022/S 000-028502

Published 11 October 2022, 10:24am



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

The Secretary of State for the Home Department

3rd Floor, Clive House, 70 Petty France

London

SW1H 9EX

Contact

ESMCP Commercial Team

Email

ESMCPsupplier@homeoffice.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

The Provision of LTE Vehicle Devices and Accessories for the Emergency Services Network (ESN)

Reference number

C9289

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 32500000 - Telecommunications equipment and supplies

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

The Provision of LTE Vehicle Devices and Accessories for the ESN

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 32522000 - Telecommunications equipment
  • 32581000 - Data-communications equipment
  • 45232332 - Ancillary works for telecommunications
  • 50330000 - Maintenance services of telecommunications equipment
  • 64212000 - Mobile-telephone services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement at the time of conclusion of the contract:

ESMCP is delivering the Emergency Services Network (ESN), a secure, 4G critical voice and data communications service using an enhanced commercial LTE network configured to give priority access for the three emergency services (3ES).

The Fixed Vehicle Devices Framework Agreement’s scope includes the supply of fixed vehicle devices, extended warranty and support services, and accessories required by user organisations to access the ESN.

Relevant previous OJEU Notice numbers are:

- 2019/S 073-173137;

-2019/S 078-187957; and

- 2021/S 030-075950

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession

End date

27 November 2023

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.2) Administrative information

four.2.1) Contract award notice concerning this contract

Notice number: 2019/S 073-173137


Section five. Award of contract/concession

Contract No

C9289

Title

The Provision of LTE Vehicle Devices and Accessories for the ESN

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession award decision:

28 November 2019

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract/concession has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Handsfree Group Limited

Handsfree Group Limited, 6 Lumsdale Road

Manchester

M32 0UT

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
National registration number

05519584

Internet address

www.Handsfree.com

The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (at the time of conclusion of the contract;excluding VAT)

Total value of the procurement: £130,000,000


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

The Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) has modified the FVD Framework Agreement to include the above optional services to ensure the fixed vehicle devices continue to be supported during the ESN Network development, test and trial phases.

The need for the modifications has been brought about by successive and incremental delays to ESMCP which have had unforeseeable consequences. This has meant that the Supplier has been unable to achieve any device sales to User Organisations directly, as was expected (the original scope of the OJEU Notice was for a far higher value than has been or will be achieved by the Supplier). As a consequence, the Supplier requires the revenue contemplated herein to continue to support the 2,625 devices already procured by the Authority.

If the Authority does not execute this change, the Supplier is unable to support the above devices. It is important to note that the Handsfree device is the only ESN accredited fixed vehicle device available to the Authority and it is already in production.

Through procuring the security & accreditation test and core unit replacement services the Authority will continue to have access to an ESN compliant fixed vehicle device which will be used for ESN test and trial purposes by User Organisations which will help in building confidence in the ESN service – including coverage, functionality and devices. This could help to accelerate adoption of ESN (and in turn the switch-off of the legacy Airwave system).

Alternative sourcing would involve a re-procurement and repeat accreditation process for what is a modest volume of device units which would cause delay and duplication of costs for the Authority. The changes do not alter the overall nature of the contract.

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Royal Courts of Justice

Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Country

United Kingdom


Section seven: Modifications to the contract/concession

seven.1) Description of the procurement after the modifications

seven.1.1) Main CPV code

  • 32500000 - Telecommunications equipment and supplies

seven.1.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 32522000 - Telecommunications equipment
  • 32581000 - Data-communications equipment
  • 45232332 - Ancillary works for telecommunications
  • 50330000 - Maintenance services of telecommunications equipment
  • 64212000 - Mobile-telephone services

seven.1.3) Place of performance

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom

seven.1.4) Description of the procurement:

ESMCP is delivering the Emergency Services Network (ESN), a secure, 4G critical voice and data communications service using an enhanced commercial LTE network configured to give priority access for the three emergency services (3ES).

The Fixed Vehicle Devices Framework Agreement’s scope includes the supply of fixed vehicle devices, extended warranty and support services, and accessories required by user Organisations to access the ESN.

Relevant previous OJEU Notice numbers are:

- 2019/S 073-173137;

-2019/S 078-187957; and

- 2021/S 030-075950

seven.1.5) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession

End date

27 November 2023

seven.1.6) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot/concession:

£3,999,000

seven.1.7) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Handsfree Group Limited

Handsfree Group Limited, 6 Lumsdale Road

Manchester

M32 0UT

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
National registration number

05519584

Internet address

www.handsfree.com

The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

Yes

seven.2) Information about modifications

seven.2.1) Description of the modifications

Nature and extent of the modifications (with indication of possible earlier changes to the contract):

The Authority has made a change to the original Framework Agreement to include additional services which are available to call off, which total GBP 3,999,000.00.

These additional services are:

- the provision of security accreditation services which the Authority may call off from the Supplier to enable the devices purchased under a call off contract to remain accredited to the Emergency Services Network

- the provision of device storage services from the Supplier

- the provision of core unit replacement services from the Supplier (to enable the device to stay supported beyond the end of 2024).

seven.2.2) Reasons for modification

Need for modification brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority/entity could not foresee.

Description of the circumstances which rendered the modification necessary and explanation of the unforeseen nature of these circumstances:

SEE SECTION VI.3 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - FOR FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH RENDERED THE MODIFICATION NECESSARY AND EXPLANATION OF THE UNFORESEEN NATURE OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

seven.2.3) Increase in price

Updated total contract value before the modifications (taking into account possible earlier contract modifications, price adaptions and average inflation)

Value excluding VAT: £3,999,000

Total contract value after the modifications

Value excluding VAT: £133,999,000