Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
OFCOM
Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road
London
SE1 9HA
UK
Contact person: Hayley Watson, Senior Procurement Manager
Telephone: +44 2079813000
E-mail: hayley.watson@ofcom.org.uk
NUTS: UKI
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://ofcom.bravosolution.co.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://ofcom.bravosolution.co.uk
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://ofcom.bravosolution.co.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://ofcom.bravosolution.co.uk
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:
https://ofcom.bravosolution.co.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Other: UK Independent Communications Regulator
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Development, Delivery and Support of Electronic Auction System (EAS)
Reference number: C20231650
II.1.2) Main CPV code
72212470
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
This ITT sets out our requirements for the development, delivery and support in the operation of an online auction software system, “Electronic Auction System” (EAS), for our upcoming award of the 26 GHz and 40 GHz bands. These requirements will also cover the possibility of an additional clock auction that will follow the 26 GHz/40 GHz auction, which would be triggered at Ofcom’s sole discretion.
As a minimum, the service must deliver the following:
• Develop, internally test, and provide operational support for the auction software system
• Develop and provide access to a training version of the auction software system for prospective bidders
• Assure compliance of the software against the Auction Regulations
By way of background, Ofcom plans to hold a spectrum auction by FY Q1 2024/2025 to award licences for spectrum, including 2.4 GHz in the 26 GHz frequency band, and 3 GHz in the 40 GHz band.
On 13 March, Ofcom published a consultation setting out proposals for the award, which proposed a clock auction design. The proposed rules for this design are set out in the illustrative auction procedures, published at annex 9 of the award consultation. Ofcom's reasoning for these design proposals are set out in section 9 of the consultation.
We require the successful tenderer to develop the EAS in accordance with the illustrative auction procedures. These illustrative auction procedures may be amended as we finalise our auction policy through the consultation process. The system should therefore be designed flexibly to allow for quick and efficient configuration changes. The software should also be designed with ease of use for both auctioneers and bidders in mind.
The illustrative auction procedures will ultimately be written into the Auction Regulations, and the successful tenderer will need to assure compliance of the software against the final Auction Regulations. This will involve amending the EAS as necessary to incorporate any differences between the illustrative auction procedures and the final Regulations.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
300 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79342400
79342410
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKI
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
As a minimum, the service must deliver the following:
• Develop, internally test, and provide operational support for the auction software system
• Develop and provide access to a training version of the auction software system for prospective bidders
• Assure compliance of the software against the Auction Regulations
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
300 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
At Ofcom's absolute discretion, the Contract may be extended for up to two further periods of up to twelve months each. The maximum length of the contract is therefore four years.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The contract will include options to extend the contract period for up to two additional periods of 12 months each, up to a maximum contract period of four years.
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 III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Agreement will contain service levels and key performance indicators, as stated in the procurement documents.
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
17/04/2023
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Tender must be valid until:
14/10/2023
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
17/04/2023
Local time: 12:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Court of Appeal of England and Wales
London
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
17/03/2023