ETENDERS

Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice

Information

Published

Date of dispatch of this notice: 28/01/2022

External Reference: 2022-271638

TED Reference: 2022/S 023-059123

Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice

Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Services

Directive 2014/25/EU

Section I: Contracting authority/entity

I.1)

Name and addresses

Gas Networks Ireland
N/A
P.O.Box 900, Webworks, Eglinton Street
Cork
Cork
IE
Contact person: Tender Admin
E-mail: Tenders@gasnetworks.ie
NUTS code:  IE -  IRELAND
Internet address(es):
Main address: http://www.gasnetworks.ie

I.6)

Main activity

Production, transport and distribution of gas and heat

Section II: Object

II.1)

Scope of the procurement

II.1.1)

Title

21/093 - Provision of a Prepayment Metering (interim solution)
Reference number:  21/093
II.1.2)

Main CPV code

65500000  -  Meter reading service
II.1.3)

Type of contract

Services
II.1.4)

Short description

21/093 - Provision of a Prepayment Metering (interim solution)
II.1.6)

Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: no
II.2)

Description

II.2.2)

Additional CPV code(s)

32000000  -  Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
38551000  -  Energy meters
38552000  -  Electronic meters
66172000  -  Financial transaction processing and clearing-house services
II.2.3)

Place of performance

NUTS code:  IE -  IRELAND
Main site or place of performance:  
Ireland
II.2.4)

Description of the procurement

Provision of a Prepayment Metering interim solution to Gas Networks. This procedure aims at putting in place an interim solution for the procurement of suitable pre-payment meters to help facilitate certain customers’ financial hardship cases with increasing energy prices. Prepayment metering is used as a budgetary tool for people in financial hardship and to prevent them from being disconnected from their gas supply.
II.2.5)

Award criteria

Price
II.2.11)

Information about options

Options: no
II.2.13)

Information about European Union funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1)

Description

IV.1.1)

Type of procedure

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the Official Journal of the European Union in the cases listed below
  • The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive
Explanation
A Prepayment Metering interim solution is urgently required by Gas Networks Ireland under the emergency procedure, due to supply chain unforeseeable circumstances impacting the performance of GNI existing supplier as notified to GNI in the late summer of 2021. This is a critical service to aid domestic gas customers in the financial management of their gas utility bills. The interim solution is urgently needed to facilitate this requirement due to the lifting of a moratorium on gas disconnections by the Irish Energy Regulatory (Commission for Regulation of Utilities), as well as the current significant increase in energy prices.
The Contract can only be performed by Secure Meters (UK) Ltd because the delivery of suitable prepayment meters cannot be provided by another supplier in a suitable timeframe for a variety of reasons (e.g. more complex solutions necessitating longer project design / development / implementation timelines, level of maturity of end-to-end systems, risks regarding certification of meters). Any delay to the procurement of new prepayment meters is likely to affect Irish domestic gas customers in the financial management of their gas utility bills.
Although Gas Networks Ireland could not comply with procedural time limits for the immediate delivery of suitable prepayment meters, Gas Networks Ireland has planned the procurement of a new enduring solution which is due to commence by Q3 of 2022.
IV.1.8)

Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement : yes
IV.2)

Administrative information

Section V: Award of contract/concession

V.2)

Award of contract/concession

V.2.1)

Date of conclusion of the contract/concession award decision

28/01/2022
V.2.2)

Information about tenders ( Agree to publish? yes )

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators :  no
V.2.3)

Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire ( Agree to publish? yes )

Secure Meters(UK) Ltd
02199653
Eastleigh
SO533TL
UK
NUTS code:  UK -  UNITED KINGDOM

The contractor/concessionaire will be an SME : no

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.4)

Procedures for review

VI.4.1)

Review body

The High Court
High Court Central Office, Four Courts, Inns Quay
Dublin
IE
Telephone: +353 18886000
E-mail: highcourtcentraloffice@courts.ie
Internet address: http://www.courts.ie

VI.4.3)

Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures: 
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
Please refer to Statutory Instrument 131 of 2010, European Communities (Award of Contracts by Utility Undertaking) (Review Procedures) Regulations 2010 (and in particular Regulation 7 and 10(2)).