Provision of Data Services (Digital Spine)

The Contracting Authority intends to award a contract directly for the continued provision of data services associated with the ProjectWise and ALIM platforms.

This notice supports the current transparency notice requirement for the provision of ProjectWise and ALIM licences, with the supplier being the only supplier able to deliver the services and ensure continuity of provision.

ProjectWise and ALIM are established systems that support the management, storage, governance and exchange of project and asset information across the programme. These platforms are integrated with existing information management processes, data structures, workflows and stakeholder systems, including those used by key delivery partners.

The Contracting Authority considers that the conditions in Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 are met. A change of supplier would result in services that are different from, and potentially incompatible with, the existing technical and operational environment. Transition to an alternative supplier would give rise to disproportionate technical difficulties relating to the management and migration of project and asset data, maintenance of system integrations, preservation of data integrity, continuity of information management processes, and ongoing operation and maintenance of the platforms.

The continued provision of these data services by the incumbent supplier is therefore necessary to maintain interoperability, ensure continuity of service, avoid disproportionate technical and operational disruption, and support the effective delivery of the programme.

The term proposed will be for a duration of 12 months, this award will allow EWR time to explore, a longer-term solution such as a further direct award for a longer term once requirements are fully understood, a further extension to this contract, or a competitive process.