Award

Traffic Manager Radio Service (Airwave)

  • National Highways

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-039040

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04c21d

Published 4 December 2024, 11:54am



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

National Highways

Guildford

Email

Angela.Johnson@nationalhighways.co.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://nationalhighways.co.uk/

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

National or federal Agency/Office

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Traffic Manager Radio Service (Airwave)

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 92210000 - Radio services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Airwave is the fundamental technology that provisions National Highways (NH) with their Mission-Critical Communications (MCC) capability, providing internal critical voice communications between Traffic Officers and the emergency services.

The Airwave service aims to ensure NH has continuity of service capability that facilitates a safe working environment on the Strategic Road Network (SRN) and ensures NH can communicate securely with the 3 Emergency Services whilst also meeting its obligations as a Category 2 Responder.

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: £12,197,736

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

National Highways utilises numerous communication technologies in order to ensure the Strategic Road Network (SRN) is managed in both a safe and efficient manner. One of the key technologies leveraged is Airwave, which underpins National Highways Mission-Critical Communications (MCC) capability.

Airwave is a mission-critical radio network based on the TETRA standard with call pre-emption and prioritisation capabilities and end-to-end encryption to provide highly reliable and secure voice communications to users with nationwide coverage. The MCC radio services provided by Airwave enables Traffic Officers (TOs) and Service Providers (SPs) to broadcast clear and concise communications across secure and reliable channels with one another and to Regional Operating Centres (ROCs); in addition to facilitating interoperability with the Emergency Services across the entire strategic road network (SRN).

Airwave provisions the effective management of incidents on the SRN, reduces delays in traffic and supports NH in performing key strategic maintenance and upgrade projects on the SRN.

Airwave is currently the only mission-critical communications network available on a national scale that provides the above services and is the only method of radio communication supported by the UK Emergency Services for interoperation, which is required by National Highways role as a Category 2 Responder.

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

Three one-year extensions (12+12+12)

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:

There is only one operator capable of providing this service. This supplier, Airwave Solutions Ltd, is dictated by The Home Office.

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

4 December 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

Airwave Solutions Limited

Nova South, 160 Victoria Street

London

SW1E 5LB

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £12,197,736

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £12,197,736

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

High Court of Justice

London

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures

National Highways will incorporate a 10 calendar day standstill period from the date of publication of this notice before awarding this contract. Review procedures and timelines are as set out in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.