---
title: "DoF EU Division - European Structural and Investment Funds Computer System"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02e547"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02e547"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02e547.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02e547.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE NORTHERN IRELAND"
published: "2021-09-28"
---

# DoF EU Division - European Structural and Investment Funds Computer System

Buyer: DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE NORTHERN IRELAND  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02e547

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## Summary

The Department of Finance Northern Ireland is conducting a public procurement process for the "DoF EU Division - European Structural and Investment Funds Computer System". This procurement falls under the IT services industry category, specifically focused on consulting, software development, and support. The procurement stage is currently in the Award phase, with an award date of 13th October 2016. The contract, valued at £1,163,423, is set to extend functionality for a bespoke Database critical to managing European Structural and Investment Funds until 2025. The procurement method employed was a limited negotiation, following unsuccessful public tender competitions that did not yield suitable candidates.

This tender presents an opportunity for businesses that specialise in IT services, particularly those experienced in database development and maintenance. Companies that can effectively navigate bespoke software solutions and support will find this tender particularly relevant. Given the long-term nature of the contract and the emphasis on continued system enhancements through the extension, businesses capable of delivering sustained service and quality assurance will be well-positioned to compete. Additionally, suppliers that align with public sector standards, including ISO27001 security accreditation, are encouraged to consider bidding.

## Notice

It is necessary to take up the extension option for a 4 year period from the end of 2021 since functionality of the Database will be required until closure of the ESIF Funding period at the end of 2025. The existing contractor has designed and developed this bespoke Database, it would not be practical or cost effective to engage a different supplier for further enhancements and system support up to the end of the contract period. To do so would result in the requirement to re-train all existing users, have the system re-designated by the Audit Authorities and have the system accredited again to ISO27001 security standard - an accreditation the current system has until 2023.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

This contract is for the development and maintenance of a European structural investment Funds Database for the EU Division. This contract has an initial end date of 31.12.2021 with the option to extend for 2 optional 2 year periods. It is necessary to take up the extension option for a 4 year period from the end of 2021 since functionality of the Database will be required until closure of the ESIF Funding period at the end of 2025. The existing contractor has designed and developed this bespoke Database, it would not be practical or cost effective to engage a different supplier for further enhancements and system support up to the end of the contract period. To do so would result in the requirement to re-train all existing users, have the system re-designated by the Audit Authorities and have the system accredited again to ISO27001 security standard - an accreditation the current system has until 2023.

Options: 2 optional 2 year extensions.

### Procurement Information

The value of this contract and proposed modification (at PS1,163,423) is above the EU threshold therefore the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) apply. The current contract (DAC 150/16) was put in place for an initial period of 5 years with two optional extension periods of 2 years each due to unforeseen events. Two public tender competitions had failed to deliver a multi-function database for use by Department for the Economy, Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Special European Union Programmes Body as required by European Commission Regulations to comply with e-cohesion principles and enable the drawdown of EUR1 bn+ EU funding to Northern Ireland during the 2014 - 2020 round of European Structural and Investment Funds. The contractor appointed following the most recent open competition was unable to deliver the requirements specified in the tender SOR resulting in the contract being terminated on 13th June 2016 due to default. This created an urgent requirement to have a functioning database in place by the end of 2016 to meet Commission requirements. As the scheme continues after the initial 5 year period CPD held a number of discussions with EUD on requirements going forward following exit from EU. The scheme will close in 4 years' time and EUD have negotiated with the contractor (RMA now under Fluent Technology) to aggregate the extension periods into one 4 year deal to provide best vfm. This included social value considerations which were incorporated into the original contract. In addition to support and maintenance costs, these costs include a software refresh which is necessary to continue to meet current security standards and archiving of the data at the end of the contract. 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. Having considered the information provided there would appear to be convincing reasons to modify this contract in accordance with Regulation 72(1)(b); that is 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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024023-2021 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Negotiated without publication of a contract notice |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 28 Sep 2021 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 12 Oct 2016 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £1,163,423 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE NORTHERN IRELAND |
| Additional buyers | EUROPEAN UNION |
| Locality | BELFAST |
| Post town | Northern Ireland |
| Postcode | BT1 3LP |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland |
| ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland |
| ITL 3 | TLN06 Belfast |
| Local authority | Belfast |
| Electoral ward | Central |
| Westminster constituency | Belfast South and Mid Down |
| Delivery location | TLN Northern Ireland |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | RMA SYSTEMS AND SERVICES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 48 - Software package and information systems
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

## Release History

- 28 Sep 2021 at 09:25 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024023-2021

## Notice URLs

- https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02e547. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02e547.json.