DSIT Continuation of Security Support Services

As per UK5 notice:

This contract is to be awarded using a direct award under the Procurement Act 2023, on the basis that the services can only reasonably be provided by a single supplier due to technical and operational considerations.

The incumbent resource (Avella Security Ltd) holds specialist, niche expertise and embedded knowledge of the programme, including familiarity with delivery outputs, stakeholders, and internal processes. Replacing this resource would require a transition period that would result in duplication of cost, loss of delivery momentum, and material delay to programme outcomes.

No reasonable alternative supplier or resource is available that could deliver the requirement within the required timeframe without introducing disproportionate technical and operational risk. On this basis, competition is not considered viable in the immediate term.

The requirement is time-critical and unavoidable, as there is a need to maintain continuity of delivery without interruption. A competed procurement would introduce delays that cannot be accommodated within programme timelines and would risk delivery failure.

The proposed contract is low value and short-term in nature, and has been deliberately structured as a bridging arrangement to enable DSIT to complete their recrutiment processes.

This approach ensures that the use of a direct award is proportionate and controlled. This direct award forms a temporary measure only.