Connectivity

The contract relates to the provision of 4G wireless routers (including 4G data) in order to meet Department for Education's requirement for vulnerable and disadvantaged children in England to have access to the internet as part of an initiative to make remote education and social care services accessible for children and young people during the coronavirus outbreak. 4G wireless routers will be ordered for children who are preparing for exams (Year 10), who are care leavers, and secondary school children who receive support from a social worker. Additional information: The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to an urgent need for the supply of Internet connectivity services described above (these services are in addition to laptops and tablets procured and supplied under a separate contract to support this initiative).

The urgency arises out of the specific and unique prevailing circumstances in relation to, and caused by, the pandemic, including the need to secure the delivery of access to remote education and communication with social workers and carers as soon as possible given the impact of the extended lockdown period and closure of schools on certain groups of vulnerable and disadvantaged young people. This did not give the Department for Education sufficient time to comply with the time limits for the open or restricted procedures or competitive procedures with negotiation for this procurement. Accordingly, the Department for Education used the negotiated procedure without prior publication permitted under The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Regulation 32(2)(c)) in respect of this procurement.