Scope
Reference
DAC-0189
Description
The Department directly operates the Strangford Lough Ferry Service. The service involves the operation of two large passenger vessels. Both vessels must undergo an annual inspection by Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) prior to the issue of a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate (PSSC) granting permission for the operation to continue. Part of this inspection focuses on the vessel machinery and compliance with manufacturer maintenance schedule. The two roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) ferries in use are as follows:
• MV Portaferry II (2002) which has five Cummins engines, three QSK 19 (two in service and one spare) and two Cummins 4BT generators.
• MV Strangford II (2017) which has five Cummins engines, three QSK 19M (two in service and one spare) and two Cummins 6BT generators.
Parts are required to undertake one large refit on each ferry per year and approximately six to eight smaller and more urgent maintenance jobs per year.
Contract 1
Supplier
Contract value
- £420,000 excluding VAT
- £504,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Date signed
11 July 2025
Contract dates
- 11 July 2025 to 10 July 2028
- 3 years
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 34000000 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Justification for not setting key performance indicators
The contract value is below £5 million including VAT. There are robust Conditions of Contract in place to address any performance issues.
Other information
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
- Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights
- Single supplier - technical reasons
Section 41 and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 provides justification of a Direct Award when the following conditions are met in relation to the public contract -
(a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and
(b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.
The manufacturer of the ferry engines has confirmed they are the only authorised dealer and supplier of all genuine Cummins engine parts for Northern Ireland.
Supplier
CUMMINS LTD.
- Companies House: 00573951
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVCH-3679-XMTN
3rd Floor 10 Eastbourne Terrace
London
W2 6LG
United Kingdom
Email: partssupport@cummins.com
Website: http://www.cummins.com
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Contract 1
Contracting authority
DfI Transport and Road Asset Management (TRAM)
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYQH-8789-DZPG
James House, 2-4 Cromac Avenue, The Gasworks Business Park
Belfast
BT7 2JA
United Kingdom
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland