---
title: "01816A Emergency Provision of In-Cell Telephony (COVID-19)"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000626340"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000626340"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000626340.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000626340.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "SCOTTISH PRISON SERVICE"
published: "2020-12-07"
---

# 01816A Emergency Provision of In-Cell Telephony (COVID-19)

Buyer: SCOTTISH PRISON SERVICE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000626340

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000626340)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000626340.json)

## Summary

The procurement process involved the Scottish Prison Service, which sought an emergency provision of in-cell telephony solutions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This tender, titled "01816A Emergency Provision of In-Cell Telephony (COVID-19)", is classified under the public order and safety industry category and is located in Scotland. The procurement method was limited, with an award decision made without prior publication of a call for competition due to the urgent need to facilitate communication for those in custody. The contract was signed on 8th May 2020, with a total contract value of £1,629,459.

This procurement presents a significant opportunity for businesses that provide telecommunication solutions, especially those capable of rapidly deploying mobile devices and management systems. Companies specialising in telephony products, particularly those with experience in secure communication for institutional environments, would be well-suited to compete in similar future contracts. The swift decision-making process by the Scottish Prison Service suggests further opportunities may arise in response to ongoing operational needs in correctional facilities, particularly as they adapt to new health and safety protocols.

## Notice

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, SPS was required to implement a telephony solution (including the provision of mobile phone handsets and a mobile device management system) to improve current communication arrangements for those in our care to maintain family contact.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The COVID-19 outbreak, has had a profound impact on all aspects of the SPS's daily operations. In particular, a key issue that resulted from the restrictions was the overriding need to continue to retain operational stability in what are unprecedented circumstances. Therefore, a number of decisions were necessarily made to curtail aspects of the prison regime to reflect social distancing measures. This included the temporary cessation of visits, which limited the ability of those in our care to make contact with family and friends. This decision gave rise to an urgent requirement for SPS to increase access for those in our care to make telephone contact with family and friends at a time where they were required to remain in their cells for prolonged periods and, additionally, to introduce a virtual prison visit facility (which was carried out under a separate procurement exercise). The ability to make calls from cells was unavailable to those in our care, as the current phone system is deployed in communal areas, which also enhances the risk of contamination through the use of shared devices. The desired timescales available for implementing this solution were extremely restricted, especially when operational stability was a primary concern. The indicative cost of the solution was expected to be higher than the current EU Threshold but if SPS were to utilise any of the procedures which required competitive tendering, it would be unable to comply with the mandatory time limits due to the extreme events that have taken place which are out with the control of the SPS. Therefore, SPS made the strategic decision to expedite the sourcing and purchase of mobile phone handsets and a mobile device management system for use. A system was identified that could provide the same technical and security related functionality currently utilised for the existing phone system. SPS has engaged with an identified supplier to negotiate acceptable terms and has subsequently contracted for the immediate provision of in-cell communications to all of its operational Establishments. This procurement has been carried out in accordance with the guidance contained under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 regulation 33(1)(c) and 33(3).

Options: If additional handsets or subscriptions are required, then these can be called off from the contract.

### Procurement Information

The COVID-19 outbreak has had a profound impact on all aspects of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) daily operations. The SPS COVID-19 response plan required a number of prompt decisions to be made to curtail aspects of the prison regime. This allowed SPS maintain effective prison operations on a basic regime whilst implementing necessary social distancing measures to keep prisoners, staff and members of the public safe. This included the temporary cessation of prison visits. This measure severely limited the ability of those in our care to make contact with family and friends. It triggered an urgent requirement for SPS to provide a method for those in our care to make contact with family and friends directly from their cell as an alternative to using existing communal phones on prison landings due to access constraints with these and the need for effective infection control.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=DEC401724 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 7 Dec 2020 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 8 May 2020 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £1,629,459 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | SCOTTISH PRISON SERVICE |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH12 9HW |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh |
| Local authority | City of Edinburgh |
| Electoral ward | Drum Brae/Gyle |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh West |
| Delivery location | TLM Scotland |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 64 - Postal and telecommunications services

### Codes

- 64212000 - Mobile-telephone services

## Release History

- 7 Dec 2020 at 00:00 - Award - OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=DEC401724

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=DEC401724
  01816A Emergency Provision of In-Cell Telephony (COVID-19) - In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, SPS was required to implement a telephony solution (including the provision of mobile phone handsets and a mobile device management system) to improve current communication arrangements for those in our care to maintain family contact.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.sps.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000626340

## 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-r6ebe6-0000626340. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000626340.json.