Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2019-02-13
Buyer: Bank of England
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Competitive dialogue
CPV classification: 48000000 | 72000000
Estimated value: 150000000 GBP
Submission deadline: 2019-03-15
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Υπηρεσίες τεχνολογίας των πληροφοριών: παροχή συμβουλών, ανάπτυξη λογισμικού, Διαδίκτυο και υποστήριξη
The Bank of England (“the Bank”) wishes to renew its current Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) service. RTGS lies at the heart of UK payments, settling more than 600 000 000 000 GBP of payments each working day. The RTGS infrastructure is over 20 years old and, despite its strong operational record, it needs to be modernised and developed to meet the needs of the future, safeguarding stability whilst enabling innovation.
The Bank is seeking a Technology Delivery Partner (TDP) for the build, integration and support of the renewed RTGS system; including the design, build, integration and support of the replacement Core Settlement Engine (CSE) and designing and delivering the integration of the end to end replacement RTGS services.
Through this procurement process the Bank is seeking to select a single TDP who can provide the following services:
— application development, including the design, build, test, integration and support of the Core Settlement Engine (CSE),
This list of services is not finalised or exclusive and is subject to refinement through the course of the procurement process.
It is anticipated that a maximum of five (5) Bidders will receive the invitation to participate in dialogue (ITP) following the Selection Questionnaire (SQ). Following initial dialogue and tender submission it is anticipated that (a maximum of) the three (3) highest scoring tenderers will be invited to continue to participate in dialogue (ITCP) which will be followed by Best and Final Offers (BAFO) submissions, the highest scoring of which will be the preferred bidder.
RTGS is a key part of national infrastructure. It is the platform through which monetary policy decisions are implemented and provides liquidity to the financial system. The nature of the system means that strict security controls are deployed to protect RTGS and the renewed service. As such, the Bank will, where required, apply such measures throughout the procurement process as necessary (in accordance with Regulation 15(2) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015), to protect the essential security interests of the UK.
Initially, in order to protect essential security interests in respect of RTGS (and in accordance with the ability for the Bank to impose requirements aimed at protecting the confidential nature of the information in the procurement documents) access to procurement documents (other than the SQ) is restricted to those Bidders who are invited to the next stage of the procurement process following evaluation of all responses to the SQ.
All Bidders invited to the next stage of the procurement process following evaluation of SQs will be required to enter into a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with the Bank prior to such procurement documents being provided. Further it is a requirement of the procurement process that members of the Bidder’s bid team, who have access to the procurement documents from the ITP stage onward, are Security Cleared (SC), or cleared by the Bank. Further detail on these requirements is included at Paragraph 11 of the SQ.
In order that the vetting process does not impact the intended procurement timescales, Bidders, will be required to submit completed vetting application forms for their Bid team by the SQ Response Deadline. As such, all Bidders expressing an interest in this opportunity should ensure that they have confirmed the bid team and collated the relevant vetting information prior to submitting its response. Bidders should also ensure they have a designated individual who will act as key contact for the Bank in completing any such vetting procedures. Further details are provided at Paragraph 11 of the SQ and in the documentation referred to therein. These documents are available at www.bankofenglandtenders.co.uk.
Any variant bids will only be acceptable if the Bank agrees to any variation in advance of a bid being submitted.
Subject to the below, bidders will remain responsible for all costs and expenses incurred by them or by any third party acting under instructions from bidders in connection with taking part in this procurement, regardless of whether such costs arise as a consequence direct or indirect of any amendments made to the procurement documents by the Bank at any time. The Bank reserves the right at any time to:
iii) change the basis, the procedures and the timescales set out or referred to within the procurement documents;
iv) require a bidder to clarify any submissions in writing and/or provide additional information (failure to respond adequately may result in disqualification);

Eligibility requirements: Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents.

Award value: 150000000