LGfL Applications and Support Services (LASS) Contract

Pursuant to the publication of a voluntary ex-ante notice on 05/08/2023, reference - 2023/S 000-022840 (VEAT Notice), the Authority has awarded a contract for the provision of a Universal Sign On (USO) Platform and Related Services for a period of 60 months to Atomwide Limited. The Contract period is 22/12/2023 to 21/12/2028 with the option of a 36-month extension for the period 22/12/28 to 21/12/31. The services provided by Atomwide are complex, deeply integrated and dependent on the use of proprietary software that was developed over an extended period. The software is not a commodity product due to its unique nature and its limited market; Atomwide is the only supplier capable of supporting and maintaining it. Consequently, economic operators could not submit competitive tenders for the provision of alternative services without a licence from Atomwide for its proprietary materials resulting in an absence of genuine competition. Following extensive consideration of alternative options, LGfL determined that use of the negotiated procedure without prior notice under Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 was essential for the continued successful operation of LGfL.