Wide Area Network Services CPA/SPU/2762

This notice is presented on the basis of an exemption permitting direct award without competition under the Procurement Act 2023. The ground relied on is as follows:- “strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency to preserve assets or enable services to be maintained”.

This award is justified because the provision of ongoing Wide Area Network Services is critical to continued operations. There is a current contract in place for the provision of such services which comes to an end on 02nd February 2026.

Steps have been taken in a timely fashion to secure a new long-term contract for the provision of wide area network services with effect from 03rd February 2026 https://sell2.in-tend.co.uk/blpd/view-contract?secureid=9... However, given the criticality of such services to the ability to continue to provide blue light services in Cheshire and given the timing along with unexpected/ emerging risks, it is strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency to facilitate appropriate contingency arrangements to mitigate any risk of a gap in provision.

Such a short term contingency arrangement cannot be awarded on the basis of a competitive tendering procedure because the services are strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency and, there is both insufficient time to complete a further competitive exercise and insufficient time for any other provider (given the works involved) to set up and establish a replacement supply. These services could only be provided by the existing supplier whose infrastructure is already in place.

As indicated, this award is only for the purpose of securing services for so long as is necessary to mitigate the risk. A short-term contract for the shortest possible term has been provisioned for and a further contract is already in place for the longer term.

Other options including informal competition, quotes or use of a framework were considered but the timescale means no other supplier could provision in the timeframe required even if commenced immediately. Factoring in any exercise would extend an already impossible timeframe.