Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
NHS Blood and Transplant
203 Longmead Rd, Avon
Bristol
BS16 7FG
Contact
Paul Lewis
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.6) Main activity
Other activity
Blood, Tissue, and Eye Donation Process Management Software
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
VEAT - Pulse Development, Support & Maintenance
Reference number
C306352
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
PULSE is the Critical National Infrastructure at the heart of NHSBT. This bespoke software supports the blood, tissue, and eye donation process across the organisation.
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: £36,938,535
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 72260000 - Software-related services
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Reg32: Negotiated Procedure Without the Need for Prior Publication
Procurement of services for the support, maintenance, and development of Critical National Infrastructure: PULSE
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Support, Maintenance & Development of PULSE / Weighting: 70
Cost criterion - Name: Commercial / Weighting: 30
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
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:
NHS Blood & Transplant (“NHSBT”) intends to award a contract to Savant Ltd.,Dalton Hall Business Centre., Dalton Lane, Burton-in-Kendal, Cumbria, LA6 1BL (“Savant”) for the support and maintenance of PULSE (“Software”) for 84 months with a value of £36,938,535.00. This follows the purchase of the Software from Savant.
It is considered that the award of this contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 because competition is absent for technical reasons.
NHSBT are completely dependent on Savant’s technical knowledge of the system, architecture and business processes. NHSBT do not control or own the end-to-end delivery platform and are dependent on tooling which is under the control of Savant. To assure safe delivery to donors and patients, NHSBT must address all of these technical requirements. This constitutes a near technical impossibility for another economic operator to achieve the required performance, or the necessity to use specific know-how, tools or means which only Savant has at its disposal.
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
11 September 2024
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £36,938,535
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £36,938,535
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Initial Term: 60 months
Additional Extension Option: 24 months
Expected Contract Commencement Date: 30/04/2025
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The High Court
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.judiciary.uk/courts-and-tribunals/high-court/
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
The High Court
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.judiciary.uk/courts-and-tribunals/high-court/
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
10 day standstill, 30 days to raise a challenge
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
The High Court
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom