Public procurement notice: Prior Information Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2016-04-26
Buyer: Defra Network eTendering Portal
Country: UK
Region: UNITED KINGDOM
Contract type: Services
CPV classification: 30000000
Estimated value: 20000000 GBP

Technical requirements: The Defra UnITy programme is a Defra-wide initiative to ‘join up Defra ICT’ and replace the current services provided by 2 main separate contracts, operated by Capgemini and IBM, which are both approaching the end of their terms in 2017 and 2018 respectively. The Defra UnITy Programme is made up of 5 different work-streams each looking at delivering distinct IT services; Service Management (including Service Integration), Connectivity, Hosting and Applications Management, End User Environment (EUE) and Systems Integration and Platforms. Engagement with ICT suppliers is planned in each of the work-streams over the coming months.
This opportunity is for delivery of a National Hosting and Applications Management service under the UnITy Hosting work stream. Defra wishes to engage with potential suppliers of hosting and applications management services to enable us to understand both probable options and supplier interest ahead of the impending replacement of all of the existing hosting and applications management services.
Please note this is not a call for competition, and this notice does not act as formal notification of an upcoming opportunity.
The existing Hosting and Applications Management services are provided to Defra and its associated agencies (Natural England, The Environment Agency, The Rural Payments Agency, Marine Management Organisation and The Animal and Plant Health Agency) by IBM and Capgemini. Both contracts are prime end to end contracts delivering all end user ICT services.
The existing Environment Agency contract with Capgemini services approximately 200 lines of business applications and these applications are provisioned against 3 service categories based on availability, Gold Silver and Bronze.
The existing Defra contract with IBM services approximately 600 lines of business applications and these applications are provisioned against 3 service categories based on availability, Gold Silver and Bronze.
Defra will contract via a service catalogue which will allow it the flexibility to ramp up or down its demand for the consumption of services.
The Contracting Authority intends to use an eTendering system in this procurement exercise and reserves the right to use a reverse auction.
The opportunity will be advertised via https://defra.bravosolution.co.uk and also through https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder If and when it is available, suppliers are encouraged to check these sources for further information.
Suppliers registering an interest will be issued with additional information regarding the future Defra Hosting and Applications Management service. Please register interest in this opportunity via email to: UnITyProgramme@Defra.gsi.gov.uk using the email title ‘Hosting and Applications Management Interested Supplier.’
— A brief summary of the market you operate in, and how you position yourselves within this in relation to requirement.
Defra will invite selected suppliers for a Hosting and Applications Management Supplier Event, which is expected to be hosted in mid May 2016. We will try to ensure suppliers who have registered their interest will be included in further correspondence regarding the opportunity.