Supply of 3 x Multi Skimmer LMS and Pump System

Description

The requirement is for 3 x LMS skimmer heads and associated equipment to be used with LLP 56 power packs which are already part of the stockpile. The national stockpile currently does not have any of these medium sized oil recovery skimmers and it is a requirement to ensure operational response to oil spill as part of the national contingency plan To ensure value for money in the use of public funds the skimmers are required to be operated by their associated power units. These items are, by design, to be used together and will make complete packages. To ensure continuity of service and compatibility with the power packs and ancillaries the product must be bought from the original supplier of the power packs which denotes the use of direct award.

Key facts

Procedure

Direct award

Lots

1

Contact

Contracts@mcga.gov.uk

Contract period

1 Dec 2026 → 30 Nov 2027

Value incl. VAT

£170k

Category

goods

Awarded suppliers

• LAMOR CORPORATION UK LIMITED · GB-PPON-PPWB-5147-XBGX · UKJ34, GB

Ground given for limiting competition

The buyer’s own stated reason for awarding without open competition, as published. Their assertion, not a finding.

In accordance with section 41 and Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023, the contracting authority considers that a direct award is justified because, for technical and interoperability reasons, only the existing equipment manufacturer can supply goods that are technically compatible with the existing equipment and meet the requirement, and there is no reasonable alternative. The MCA maintains a national stockpile of counter pollution equipment which includes existing Lamor LLP 56 power packs. The additional skimmer heads are required to operate directly with these existing power packs and must therefore be technically compatible and interoperable with the equipment already held within the stockpile. The required Lamor skimmer heads are designed to interface with the existing LLP 56 power packs. Procuring alternative skimmer equipment would result in equipment that is not compatible with the existing power packs and would consequently require the MCA to procure additional power packs and associated equipment in order to provide the same operational capability. On this basis, there is no reasonable alternative which would meet the requirement while maintaining interoperability with the MCA's existing equipment. Changing supplier would introduce incompatible equipment into the national counter-pollution stockpile and result in disproportionate additional technical, operational and financial consequences. The proposed direct award also avoids the unnecessary procurement of three additional power packs, which are estimated to cost approximately £100,000 in total. The approach therefore makes use of existing MCA assets while maintaining operational compatibility, continuity and value for money. Accordingly, the MCA considers that the conditions for direct award under Schedule 5 are satisfied.