Voluntary ex ante transparency notice - National Army Museum Manned Security Contract

Location

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire: Chelsea - London

Description

The National Army Museum (NAM) requires security presence 24/7 at its sites in Chelsea and Stevenage. The security contractor is required to provide an effective and efficient, overt uniformed manned security service, which includes, but is not confined to: Control Room manning, alarm and CCTV monitoring; Provision of staff for static and mobile posts; Access control including public entrance duties and car parking; Control of security items e.g. access equipment including secure key issue. Ensuring that any faulty items noticed observed while on patrols are brought to the attention of the relevant departments Receipt of goods; Emergency and evacuation duties; Production of reports and documentation; Other duties that may be mutually agreed from time-to-time.

Total Quantity or Scope

NAM had a contract with an existing supplier for these services however, this has been terminated due to the supplier failing to provide a level of services which NAM regards as acceptable or in conformity with its contractual obligations. NAM is publishing a voluntary ex ante transparency notice for this procurement as it intends to make a direct appointment on a short-term emergency basis for the provision of the services. The direct appointment will be for a maximum period of one year, to operate on a month by month rolling basis. In parallel, the NAM will be conducting a competitive procurement for the permanent provider. Additional information: To maintain continuity of service and offer protection to the Contracting Authority and notwithstanding the date set out at V.2.1, the contracting authority intends to enter into the contract on 16 August 2022. The date set out at V.2.1 is the date on which the contracting authority began the process to terminate the current service provider.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 79710000 - Security services
• 79713000 - Guard services

Legal Justification

This is a voluntary ex ante transparency notice pursuant to regulation 99(2) of the Public Contracts Regulations (PCRs). A contract for the provision of manned security was entered into on 01 December 2021 (Contract). NAM considered it objectively necessary to terminate this contract. This was due to a level of performance which NAM regarded as unacceptable as well as a failure to adhere to stated requirements of the contract. NAM feels compelled to take these steps in order to protect the health and safety of its visitors and staff and to secure its National Collections of valuable historic exhibits telling the story of Our Army and British history. Many of these items have been donated by members of the armed forces or their family members and placed in the care of the Museum. All donors have a legitimate expectation that exhibits entrusted to the Museum will be kept in a secure environment. The appointment advertised in this notice is of a "stop-gap" nature to ensure continuity and to allow the Museum to remain open while a competitive procurement for a more permanent supplier is concluded. It is therefore the intention of NAM in the coming months to launch a competitive procurement process for the permanent appointment of a supplier of manned security services for the Museum under a contract with a duration likely to be in the region of 3-5 years. The contract opportunity will be advertised in the Find a Tender service in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. NAM considers that there is a legal basis to make a direct procurement under regulation 32(2)(c) of the PCRs as: (i) NAM is required to act with regard to the security of its sites, its collection and the wellbeing of visitors and staff; (ii) there is a genuine urgency to ensure security services at the Museum are restored to acceptable levels while avoiding disruption to security coverage; (iii) after due consideration, NAM has concluded the degree of urgency and the need to ensure continuity of security coverage preclude an appointment under an accelerated procurement procedure or a mini-tender appointment under a framework agreement, (iv) NAM could not have foreseen that it would ultimately be necessary to replace a supplier chosen through a stringent competitive tender process so soon after the contract being awarded, and (v) the factors resulting in the termination are not attributable to NAM, which despite its efforts was unable to resolve its concerns through amicable dialogue with the supplier. To maintain continuity of service and offer protection to the Contracting Authority and notwithstanding the date set out at V.2.1, the contracting authority intends to enter into the contract on 16 August 2022. The date set out at V.2.1 is the date on which the contracting authority began the process to terminate the current service provider.

Other Information

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. ** To maintain continuity of service and offer protection to the Contracting Authority and notwithstanding the date set out at V2.1, the contracting authority intends to enter into the contract on 19 August 2022. The date set out at V2.1 is the date on which the authority terminated the previous contract.