Voluntary ex ante transparency notice
Directive 2014/24/EU
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
NHS Wales Informatics Service (hosted by Velindre University NHS Trust)
Ty Glan Yr Afon, 21 Cowbridge Road East
Cardiff
CF11 9AD
UK
E-mail: laura.panes@wales.nhs.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://nwssp.nhs.wales/ourservices/procurement-services/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0221
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Check Point Equipment and Support
Reference number: P700
II.1.2) Main CPV code
44316400
II.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
II.1.4) Short description
NWIS is seeking to procure an end-to-end solution covering the following:
- Adding extra firewalls into the firewall ‘cluster’ at each data centre along with load balancing systems to spread the load onto these.
- Support Agreement - Check Point Collaborative Premium Pro maintenance to ensure all Check Point equipment is covered under a consistent level of support with SEP2 and it is the intention to co-term the support for both agreements up to 30th November 2022.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
720 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
44316400
51611100
72253200
72315100
72315000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
Main site or place of performance:
NHS Wales Informatics Service - Data Centre Sites in Wales
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
NWIS currently has two pairs of CheckPoint Firewalls for internet traffic. One pair at Blaenavon (“BDC”) and one pair at Newport (“NDC”). These are rapidly running out of capacity due to the increased use of Office 365 Teams and other Video Consultation solutions as a result of Covid-19. In the event that they run out of capacity, video services will start to degrade and other internet services will slow down. This will have a major impact upon the delivery of national solutions and the ability of staff across Wales to work from home.
As a consequence of the additional requirement for capacity, NWIS is seeking to procure an end-to-end solution covering the following:
- Adding extra firewalls into the firewall ‘cluster’ at each data centre along with load balancing systems to spread the load onto these.
- Support Agreement - Check Point Collaborative Premium Pro maintenance to ensure there is a consistent level of support for all Check Point equipment with SEP2 and it is the intention to co-term the support for both agreements up to 30th November 2022.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Conformance to the Specification
/ Weighting: Pass/Fail
Price
/ Weighting:
100
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The additional options will be utilised in the event that further funding is secured to purchase more Check Point associated sundries and support.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation:
The two pairs of Check Point firewalls are rapidly running out of capacity due to the increased use of Office 365 Teams and other Video Consultation solutions as a result of Covid-19. When they run out of capacity, video services will start to degrade and all internet services will slow down or fail completely. The 'live’ risk with this is in the event of a circuit or data centre failure where all internet traffic would go via one pair of firewalls. In addition, the CheckPoint 23800 firewalls that NWIS need to purchase go end-of-sale at the end of December. Failure to procure by the end of December 2020, will result in NWIS having to purchase complete new sets of firewalls, which result in significant cost increases. Therefore, the time limits for the open or restricted procedures or competitive procedures with negotiation cannot be complied with (even using the shortened time limits available).
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section V: Award of contract/concession
Contract No: P700
V.2 Award of contract/concession
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession
03/12/2020
V.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
sep2 limited
51A St. Pauls Street
Leeds
LS12TE
UK
Telephone: +44 7475036492
NUTS: UKE42
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the concession and main financing terms (excluding VAT)
Total value of the concession/lot:
720 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
NWIS currently has CheckPoint 23800 firewalls in its data centres. The option to load-balance across devices requires them to be identical – i.e. the new appliances have to be 23800 models (to match the 4 x 23800 that are already in situ). Therefore, NWIS is restricted to the purchase of additional CheckPoint 23800 firewalls.
Given the criticality of the solution and the need to deliver national services, it is essential that there is a seamless approach to checkpoint support with a sole supplier only and at the same level of accreditation to ensure that there is no degradation of support – a Check Point Certified Security Masters. Sep 2 has also configured the existing firewall estate in a bespoke manner to maximise performance. This knowledge and expertise will enable the deployment to quickly commence upon delivery of the equipment ensuring NWIS meets the timescales of transitioning to the new data centre.
Moreover given the current environment in which the organisation is operating with the COVID pandemic and the potential of a “no deal” Brexit, Sep2 are uniquely placed to deliver the support firstly:
- They have significant experience of the operating practices of NHS Wales Informatics Services and have well developed and dedicated relationships with NWIS engineers, therefore there will be no time wasted in relationship management. The utilisation of a new support provider would increase the risk of service interruption and add delay.
- The engineers are located within UK, which also further mitigates risk around delivery of key services.
NWIS intends to co-term the support for both agreements up to 30th November 2022.
(WA Ref:106246)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
Telephone: +44 2079477501
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
03/12/2020