Public procurement notice: Modification Of A Contract/Concession During Its Term
Published: 2019-03-06
Buyer: Education Authority
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Competitive dialogue
CPV classification: 72500000

Technical requirements: The Contracting Authority requires ICT services to replace its existing contracts for managed Local Area Network services for post primary and special schools in Northern Ireland (known as “Lot 3”) and managed Wide Area Network Services for all Northern Ireland schools (known as “Lot 5”), together with the re-procurement of the Management Information System for all schools in Northern Ireland.
The services required pursuant to this procurement process are to take forward the service vision, by ensuring the continuity of existing services, covered in broad terms by the existing contracts, while transforming these services over the lifetime of the new contract term. The overall scope of the services can be summarised as follows:
— a fully integrated end to end service to meet the management/administration and learning/teaching needs of educational establishments,
— ICT infrastructure and associated services for post primary and special educational establishments,
— connectivity to, and provision of a range of online services for all educational establishments. Prospective service providers should note that the intention is not simply to replace the outgoing services on a like for like basis and that the concepts of local area (or school-based) and wide area services, as previously understood and applied should not constrain the bidders thinking and proposals regarding the overall architecture in light of technology developments. The Contracting Authority will request proposals during the detailed dialogue stage for the transformation of the learning platform and management administration elements of the services but reserves the right to make a decision at that stage on the inclusion or otherwise of the transformation of these elements within the scope of the awarded contract.
The offer for the replacement services will also need to take account of publicly available ICT contracts (available to public sector bodies in Northern Ireland), such as Network NI. Whilst the Contracting Authority will not mandate the use of any such contract, it may seek to take advantage of them where they offer value for money.
The Contracting Authority requires ICT services to replace its existing contracts for managed Local Area Network services for post primary and special schools in Northern Ireland (known as “Lot 3”) and managed wide area network services for all Northern Ireland schools (known as “Lot 5”), together with the re-procurement of the Management Information System for all schools in Northern Ireland.
The services required pursuant to this procurement process are to take forward the service vision, by ensuring the continuity of existing services, covered in broad terms by the existing contracts, while transforming these services over the lifetime of the new contract term. The overall scope of the services can be summarised as follows:
— a fully integrated end to end service to meet the management/administration and learning/teaching needs of educational establishments,
— ICT infrastructure and associated services for post primary and special educational establishments,
— connectivity to, and provision of a range of online services for all educational establishments. Prospective service providers should note that the intention is not simply to replace the outgoing services on a like for like basis and that the concepts of local area (or school-based) and wide area services, as previously understood and applied should not constrain the bidders thinking and proposals regarding the overall architecture in light of technology developments. The Contracting Authority will request proposals during the detailed dialogue stage for the transformation of the learning platform and management administration elements of the services but reserves the right to make a decision at that stage on the inclusion or otherwise of the transformation of these elements within the scope of the awarded contract.
The offer for the replacement services will also need to take account of publicly available ICT contracts (available to public sector bodies in Northern Ireland), such as Network NI. Whilst the contracting authority will not mandate the use of any such contract, it may seek to take advantage of them where they offer value for money.
The contract was extended by 2 years until 31.3.2019 in accordance with the contract (6.3.2012) and CCN (31.3.2017). It was expected that a replacement system would be procured by 31.3.2019. As below, this has not proved possible. A further 2 years is required with a possible further 1 year to allow a transition/handover period.
The modification value is circa 59 700 000 GBP based upon a 2 year extension. Should a further 1 year be required, a 3 year extension would be approximately 80-90 000 000 GBP. The term is the only amendment.
Due to the Public Sector Shared Services Programme, Education Authority (“EA”) is duty-bound to consider shared services. Northern Ireland Public Shared Services Network (“NIPSSN”) therefore had to be considered.


Winner: Capita Managed IT Solutions