Scope
Reference
5066
Description
Bill of Lading data is used by DBT to monitor container trade to and from the UK. DBT have been receiving Bill of Lading data for exports from the UK (where a container leaves from a UK port) and imports to the UK (where the container lands at a UK port or the container lands at a foreign port but with a final destination of the UK) since 2021.
The Data DBT requires includes:
a. Container events including port departure time and port arrival time.
b. Information on which ship the good was transported on. This must include International Maritime Organization ('IMO' number') and vessel name, and it is also desirable that Maritime Mobile Service Identity 'MMSI'). Information on both IMO and, ideally, MMSI designations are required to allow government to match data with UN Global Platform automated identification system (AIS) data.
c. Carrier, shipper, forwarder, and container details. These details are required to identify the movements of the specific cargo containers that goods are shipped in. We also require the address data for the carrier, shipper and forwarder.
d. Port of load, port of destination, place of receipt, and place of destination details. The data must allow us to identify where goods are shipped via intermediate ports.
e. The types and details of goods being shipped. This should be the name/type of product using HS classification codes and the volume/weight of the product.
f. Allocated container count (i.e. unit of measurement used to determine the cargo capacity relative to the total container capacity).
Contract 1. Provision of Bill of Lading Shipping Data
Supplier
Contract value
- £520,000 excluding VAT
- £624,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
28 November 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2026
- Possible extension to 29 November 2027
- 1 year, 11 months, 29 days
Description of possible extension:
DBT will input an optional 12 month extesnion clause into the contract that can be triggered at DBT's digression.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 72300000 - Data services
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
Single supplier - technical reasons
DBT carried out pre market engagement excersises before switching to the Direct Award route.
A Direct Award is considered justified using the following reasoning from the Procurement Act 2023:
• Where, due to an absence of competition for technical reasons and provided there are no reasonable alternatives, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required.
Supplier
THINKDATA WORKS LIMITED
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PCLR-3928-GXBG
5 New Street Square
London
EC4A 3TW
United Kingdom
Email: info@thinkdataworks.com
Region: UKI31 - Camden and City of London
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. Provision of Bill of Lading Shipping Data
Contracting authority
Department for Business & Trade
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PZZJ-6312-QTTD
Old Admiralty Building
London
SW1A 2DY
United Kingdom
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government