Open Digital Planning - Back Office Planning System (BOPS) Development and Route-to market

The direct award is justified on two grounds: prototypes and development, and single supplier (technical reasons).

This contract is being awarded directly under Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023, which permit direct awards in cases involving specialised development activities and novel service delivery.

The supplier has previously delivered the core platform and is uniquely positioned to provide the required enhancements due to their established technical integration and in-depth understanding of the system architecture. Engaging a new supplier would introduce material risks to interoperability, delivery timelines, and cost efficiency.

The work forms part of a strategically funded programme involving multiple interdependent digital initiatives. Continuity with the incumbent supplier ensures alignment across workstreams, supports programme stability, and mitigates disruption to delivery.

This approach is consistent with the objectives of the Procurement Act to support innovation, efficiency, and value for money in the delivery of public services.

Buckinghamshire Council is the national lead and contract holder for the Back Office Planning System (BOPS), a key component of the Open Digital Planning (ODP) programme, which is fully sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). BOPS is being developed in coordination with two sister products, as part of a comprehensive digital transformation of planning services in the UK.