National framework for covert systems planned

The Police ICT Company has issued a tender to establish a national framework agreement for the purchase of covert management systems and associated support and maintenance.

The four-year framework will be made open for use by all UK police forces and certain agencies to allow them a quick legal route to market.

The Police ICT Company wants it to be in place by next month, giving forces adequate time to purchase a system within the 2016/17 Financial Year. It says the framework agreement will be extended only to UK police forces and certain agencies and not to the wider public sector or security market.

The Police ICT Company will be the lead for this procurement and establishment of the framework and individual forces/regions/ agencies will enter into contracts direct with their appointed supplier.

The framework will consist of two lots:

Lot 1 – standard call-off fixed price – for the software, licensing and support and maintenance costs. This will also include a fixed-rate card for installation, upgrade and any other development work required; and

Lot 2 – the initial basis of any software, licensing and support and maintenance shall be the detailed set of requirements forming part of ‘Lot 1’, but these may be modified, amended and added to by a force/region/agency as part of any particular ‘mini competition’. For example, the Police ICT Company says “the objective criteria for selecting to re-open competition would be on the basis of the particular location of the force/region/agency, the quantity of services required and the fact the contract has particularly complex requirements”.

The tender adds that the framework agreement “will include pricing reviews, product updates, innovation and development and supplier reviews to verify that it remains a preferred route to market and continues to provide value for money”.