Find a TenderAwarded
Published 10 Mar 2022, 09:54 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

Accounting Services Programme (ASP)

Official notice

Authority: Department of Finance (Central government)

ServicesNegotiated without publication of a contract notice
Awarded value£127,374,000published contract · exc. VAT
Awarded 9 Mar 2006
Awarded to British Telecommunication plc

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The Accounting Services Programme ("ASP") is complex large scale contract which migrated all Northern Ireland Government Departments, the Northern Ireland Office, the Public Prosecution Service, a non-ministerial Department and a number of their Agencies and other bodies ; to a common accounting system. The contract covers, inter alia, the supply of a broad range of computer and related services (including, without limitation, on-going management, operation and maintenance services), information technology consultancy services and the supply of computer hardware, software and associated products.

This modification will extend the existing contract for an initial period of 36 months with potential to extend for a further period of up to 24 months.

CPV: IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1This is a contract modification , extending the contract term of the current…

This is a contract modification , extending the contract term of the current Accounting Services Programme contract. The estimated value is 26 million GBP and this will be the maximum expenditure under the modification. This contract extension is required to ensure continuity of services whilst this complex, transformational project is competitively tendered. The Accounting Services Programme ("ASP") migrated all of the Northern Ireland Government Departments , the Northern Ireland Office , the Public Prosecution Service and a number of their Agencies and other Bodies to the common accounting system. The contract covers, inter alia, the supply of a broad range of computer and related services (including, without limitation, on-going management, operation and maintenance services), information technology consultancy services and the supply of computer hardware, software and associated products. Additional information: This is a modification of the current contract to ensure continuity of essential services whilst the new competitive process is undertaken.The estimated value is 26 million GBP and this will the maximum expenditure under the modification, 50% of the original contract value.

Delivery: Northern Ireland · Northern Ireland
Extensions: The period of the modification / extension is three years with the potential to extend for a further period of up to 24 months. Given the complexity of this contract , these options are for contingency only ; for example if there is a delay in the implementation or transition to the new solution.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached
Procedure method
Negotiated without publication of a contract notice
Legal basis
CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
10 Mar 2022, 09:54 GMT
Last source update
10 Mar 2022, 09:54 GMT
Authority reference
S/9946/03
FTS notice number
2022/S 000-006546
Classification (CPV)
IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
Delivery area
Northern Ireland (UKN)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-03202c Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Additional deliveries by the original supplier ordered under the strict conditions stated in the directive
Published justification

The Interg8 Programme (formerly the Central Government Transformation Programme) is working towards procuring follow on arrangements for the Department's current Finance and HR/Payroll Shared Services, provided to all

Account NI and HR Connect's current customers. This modification to extend the contract is to 'plug the gap' until delivery of the Interg8 solution. There is no option to do nothing nor have a break in service given the criticality, scale and complexity of the services delivered.

The Regulations permit the modification of a contract where the changes proposed meet one or more of the prescribed tests as set out in Regulation 72.

This contract is being modified in accordance with Regulation 72(1) (b); whereby additional services "have become necessary" and were not included in the initial procurement and a change of supplier would not be practicable for economic or technical and would involve substantial inconvenience/duplication of costs - provided the change does not exceed 50% of the value of the original contract.

The limitations imposed by Regulation 72(1) (b) include that the 50% of the value of the original contract shall apply to the value of each modification. The expenditure of the contract will be closely monitored to ensure strict adherence to the regulatory financial cap and will not exceed 50%.

Review and risk notes
Review procedure

There is no review body for mediation procedures in Northern Ireland.

This modification is governed by the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (as amended) and provides for Economic Operators who have suffered or who risk suffering loss or damage as a consequence of an alleged breach of duty owned in accordance with Regulation 91 to start proceedings in the High Court.

A standstill period of a minimum 10 calendar days will commence upon publication of this notice. This provides transparency and time to challenge the required decision before the modification is progressed and the extended contract is entered into.

Any proceedings relating to any perceived non-compliance with the relevant law must be started within 30 days, beginning with the date when the Economic Operator first knew or ought to have known that grounds for starting the proceedings had arisen.( A court may extend the time to 3 months where the court considers that there is a good reason for doing so).

Publisher note: The Integr8 programme (formerly the Central Government Transformation Programme) is working towards procuring follow-on arrangements for the Department's current Finance and HR/Payroll shared services, provided to all of Account NI and HR Connect's current customers. This modification to extend the contract is to 'plug the gap' until delivery of the replacement contract, the Interg8 solution. There is no option to do nothing nor have a break in service given the criticality, scale and complexity of the services delivered. The Regulations permit the modification of a contract where the changes proposed meet one or more of the prescribed tests as set out in Regulation 72. This contract is being modified in accordance with Regulation 72(1) (b); whereby additional services "have become necessary" and were not included in the initial procurement and a change of supplier would not be practicable for economic or technical and would involve substantial inconvenience/duplication of costs - provided the change does not exceed 50% of the value of the original contract. The limitations imposed by Regulation 72(1) (b) include that the 50% of the value of the original contract shall apply to the value of each modification. The value of this modification will not exceed the 50% cap.

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £127,374,0001 contract exc. VAT
Contracts signed 1latest 9 Mar 2006
Awarded toValueDateStatus
British Telecommunication plc£127,374,000 †—Awarded

Contracts

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Contracting authorityCentral GovernmentBody governed by public lawGeneral public services Department Of Finance, BANGOR, Northern Ireland, BT197NAContact name, email, phone

Dispute resolution & review bodies

  • Construction and Procurement DeliveryReview body Belfast

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.