Number: 10486996
Country: Norway
Source: TED
Procurement of a Framework Agreement for Consultant Communicator Services within ICT
The department for performance management and procurements (VA) is making this procurement on behalf of the department for digital services (DT). DT operates central ICT systems for 11 ministries and DSS, which are on a joint ICT platform, in addition to local systems internally in DSS. The ICT systems include, amongst other things, network, telephony, databases and applications.
DT shall enter into a Framework Agreement with one tenderer for consultant communicator services within the following ICT disciplines:
— service development, further development and administration,
— technical, functional and strategic consulting services:
—— ICT operation and infrastructure.
— project, change, testing and implementation management,
— ICT security.
The aim of the procurement is to establish a Framework Agreement that covers DSS and the joint ministries"need for consulting services within the stated ICT disciplines.
Oslo
DSS, c/o the department for digital services, shall enter into a Framework Agreement with one tenderer for consulting services within the following ICT disciplines:
The Framework Agreement will be based on the Government"s standard contract for Framework Agreements (SSA-R).
The service that the consultant communicator shall provide for DSS under the Framework Agreement is split into 2. The tenderer shall provide a communication service and consultancy services within the stated ICT disciplines.
The consultant communicator"s assignment will be to communicate offers of consultants to DSS within the stated ICT disciplines. Based on the requirement specifications that DSS has prepared for each call-off, the consultant communicator shall find the best qualified consultants who are available in the market for the call-off in question and offer them to DSS. The consultant communicator shall, thus, assist DSS with the procurement of consultants in the market.
The consultant services will be both assistance and assignments. The assistance contract, based on SSA-B will be used for assistance. The assignment contract, based on SSA-O will be used for assignments.
The consultant services that shall be procured under the Framework Agreement can involve:
— consultancy,
— project management,
— design,
— development,
— testing,
— deployment,
— error recovery,
— problem solving and the operation of various ICT systems.
The consultancy services that shall be communicated under the Framework Agreement shall, thus, be provided for all phases of the life cycle of an ICT system. The consultants who are procured for DSS must be able to act in different roles, including:
— architect,
— technical architect,
— system architect,
— security architect,
— developer,
— implementation manager,
— project manager,
— technical operator,
— tester and security specialist.
The consultant communicator will be the responsible contract party for the DSS for all call-offs made under the Framework Agreement. The consultant communicator shall administer all conditions for each call-off on behalf of DSS and shall be the responsible contract party for the offered consultant(s) for the call-off. This means that the consultant communicator will be fully responsible for the execution of the assistance/assignment, as if the consultant communicator undertook the work himself. Consultants who are procured under the Framework Agreement for the execution of assistance/assignments will, therefore, act as sub-suppliers for the consultant communicator.
The scope of the Framework Agreement is difficult to estimate. The need for consultancy services within the stated ICT disciplines will vary greatly from year to year. This depends on the extent of reorganisations, the ministries" structure, DSS" role within ICT, sourcing strategies in DSS, grants and which ministry joins the contract.
As mentioned in point II.1.4, DSS operates central ICT systems and the ICT platform for 11 ministries. These ministries will, therefore, probably not have a great need to join the Framework Agreement beside DSS. It has been decided that all the ministries shall use the Ministry of Defence"s ICT platform. The Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation has, therefore, started a project that, amongst other things, shall get all the ministries on a joint ICT platform. This Framework Agreement can be used for this project.
The total annual amount is estimated to be between NOK 45-60 million excluding VAT. The estimate is based on consumption in existing contracts and is, thus, not binding for DSS.
The Framework Agreement for consultant communicator services is non-exclusive. For special needs, the DSS and the joint ministries can establish separate contracts within areas covered by this contract
The Framework Agreement does not establish a procurement obligation for DSS. The intention is for the Framework Agreement to cover DSS and the joint ministries" needs for consultancy services within the stated ICT disciplines, but without any obligation to purchase.
Other entities in the joint ministries shall have the option to use all or part of the Framework Agreement at any time during the contract or released option period and on the same terms as for DSS:
— the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs,
— the Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion,
— the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries,
— the Ministry of Health and Care Services,
— the Ministry of Climate and Environment,
— the Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation,
— the Ministry of Culture,
— the Ministry of Education and Research,
— the Ministry of Agriculture and Food,
— the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy,
— the Ministry of Transport and Communications,
— the Ministry of Defence,
— the Ministry of Finance,
— the Ministry of Justice and Public Security,
— the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including foreign service missions,
— the Office of The Prime Minister,
— the Office of the Attorney General,
— NORAD.
There will also be an option for extensions, cf. point pkt.II.2.7.
DSS will have a minimum 10 day waiting period from the award of contract until the contract can be signed.