Enterprise Infrastructure - Virtualisation Management Software

Location

Edinburgh

Description

Procurement of virtualisation management software (VMware) following a negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice for a period of 5 years.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 48000000 - Software package and information systems

Indicators

Legal Justification

The University of Edinburgh is intending to award a contract without prior publication pursuant to Regulation 33(1)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 on the basis that competition is absent for technical reasons. The University of Edinburgh requires continuity of its existing private cloud platform which is architected around VMware technologies. The current environment supports critical teaching, research and administrative systems and is tightly integrated across compute, storage, networking and container platforms. A market assessment was undertaken, including consideration of alternative platforms. Alternative platforms would require fundamental re-architecture of the University’s infrastructure, including redesign of network and security configurations and replacement of automation and operational tooling. Such re-platforming would introduce significant technical risk to service continuity, including potential disruption to critical systems, risk of extended downtime, and increased cyber and operational risk. This level of risk is not acceptable within the required time frame. Accordingly, for technical reasons relating to interoperability, system integration and risk to continuity of essential services, no reasonable alternative or substitute exists. The intention is to award a contract directly to Broadcom Inc (owner of VMware) for the provision of virtualisation management software for a period of 5 years.

Other Information

Please contact Suzanne Toole (suzie.toole@ed.ac.uk) for further information or questions regarding this notice. (SC Ref:829064)