Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
University of Ulster
NIC100166
Block X Room X031, Cromore Road
Coleraine
BT52 1SA
UK
Telephone: +44 2870123609
E-mail: l.simpson@ulster.ac.uk
NUTS: UKN
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.ulster.ac.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Education
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Oracle Software and Support
Reference number: Project_25845
II.1.2) Main CPV code
72000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Oracle software and support.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
900 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKN
Main site or place of performance:
All University Campuses.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Ulster University uses Oracle database and application server software which is comprised of the following licensed components:
— Oracle database enterprise edition,
— Oracle diagnostics pack,
— Oracle internet application server,
— Oracle tuning pack,
— Oracle beehive enterprise collaboration suite.
Oracle are the owner of this software.
This software underpins several key University systems including the student record information and finance systems. As such it is a key component of many of our fundamental business processes including those that manage students through the full lifecycle of the University: student recruitment, Universities Central Admissions Services (UCAS) admissions, direct admissions, student fees processing, debt management, enrolment, progression, programme and model registration and data recording, examination processes and graduation.
The University requires ongoing maintenance of Oracle database and application server software to ensure the availability of new software releases and updates. These requirements are included in this contract.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
It is anticipated the contract will be for 3 years initially, with an option to extend for any periods up to and including 84 months.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
The estimated total value stated above in section II.1.7) includes the initial 3 year contract period and the option to extend the contract for any periods up to and including 84 months.
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 works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation
Justification for the choice of the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice in the OJEU in accordance with Directive 2004/18/EC. The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 under Regulation 32 2(b) allows for the use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication:
‘where the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by a particular economic operator for any of the following reasons:
(ii) competition is absent for technical reasons;
(iii) the protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights.
The University’s main student and finance systems require Oracle database software. Oracle software is supplied via our Oracle Campus Agreement. This Campus Agreement contract includes educational discounts. The Oracle Campus Agreement can only be supplied by Oracle and not by any other resellers.
It is clear that any break in these contracts with Oracle will seriously undermine the support of our central university systems that changing such a highly customised system with requirements not yet defined would incur disproportionate costs in both operation and maintenance.
Ulster University uses Oracle Database and Application Server Software which is comprised of the following licensed components:
— Oracle database enterprise edition,
— Oracle diagnostics pack,
— Oracle internet application server,
— Oracle tuning pack,
— Oracle beehive enterprise collaboration suite.
Oracle are the owner of this software.
This software underpins several key university systems including the student record information and finance systems. As such it is a key component of many of our fundamental business processes including those that manage students through the full lifecycle of the University: student recruitment, Universities Central Admissions Services (UCAS) admissions, direct admissions, student fees processing, debt management, enrolement, progression, programme and model registration and data recording, examination processes and graduation.
The University requires ongoing maintenance of Oracle database and application server software to ensure the availability of new software releases and updates. These requirements are included in this contract.
The University does not envisage replacement of either the student record information or finance systems in the next 3 years and as both systems rely on Oracle database software the anticipated duration of the contract will be for 3 years initially, with an option to extend for any periods up to and including 84 months.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2020/S 149-366631
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
17/08/2020
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Oracle Corporation UK Ltd
Oracle Park, Thames Valley Park
Reading
RG6 1RA
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 900 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
A VEAT notice was published 28 July 2020.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland
Royal Courts of Justice, Chichester Street
Belfast
BT1 3JY
UK
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
The University incorporated a minimum 10 calendar days standstill period at the point information on award of the contract was communicated to all tenderers. The standstill period provided time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract was entered into. The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (Northern Ireland).
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
07/10/2020