Voluntary Transparency Notice - Incinerator Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS)

Description

The Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL), part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) intends to award a contract with a total estimated value of £300k (Excluding VAT) to Endress+Hauser Ltd (Formally SICK UK Ltd) for the provision of maintenance and support on the Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS). In accordance with the provisions of The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 SI No. 2020/1319, this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as amended (in particular by SI 2020/1319). Prior publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate. It is considered that the award of this contract without Prior Publication of a Contract Notice in the UK e-notification service (in accordance with the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 because competition is absent for technical reasons. The contract for the provision of the CEMS and ongoing maintenance and support was originally awarded in 2020 after a competitive process. SICK UK Limited were awarded the original contract and are the UK subsidiary of the original equipment manufacturer. They have the specialist engineering expertise and access to spares to ensure the safe continued operation of the current CEMS. CEMS ensures that the emissions are continuously monitored to maintain the parameters of the Environmental Agency permissible levels. Accuracy is paramount: any deficiency in the monitoring from non-OEM engineers or replacement parts could lead to inadvertent pollutants being released. Any change to provider would necessitate an unacceptable pause to operation for de-installation and re-installation, plus Environmental Agency re-verification, of a different system.