RHUL-24081 Hardware and Software for CoStar National Lab

Description

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below to Disguise Technologies. The services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: absence of competition for technical reasons Explanation: The contract with Disguise Technologies Limited for the provision of Disguise Hardware & Software to the CoSTAR National Lab and 3 x Network Labs is part of the CoSTAR Network's ability to perform collaborative R&D, connecting CoSTAR network sites in Pinewood Studios, Abertay University, Ulster University and University of York. The Disguise hardware and software provision is one of the core deliverables for the first 12 months of AHRC/UKRI funding. Without the ability to supply the Disguise hardware and software within scope, the funding of the CoSTAR National Lab could have been affected. The CoSTAR National Lab competition required bidders to provide commercial partners who would co-invest in the development of the lab, with a specific requirement to provide hardware and software as part of the competition. During an open call available to all universities and commercial creative industries, the University negotiated partnership with Disguise Technologies Limited as part of the bid. It is our view that if the University had not followed this approach the CoSTAR grant would have delayed, and deliverables put at risk. This partnership will allow CoSTAR R&D programme to collaborate and share data. The Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Publication has been utilised for the above reasons.