Remote Securing - Controller Software Detailed Design

The direct award to Navitas Engineering is justified due to its existing role in the Wales & Western Remote Securing Programme and its extensive knowledge of the developing solution, associated infrastructure, and project requirements. The software development element is dependent upon integration with the existing SCADA software system, for which Network Rail does not own the intellectual property rights. The required interfaces with this system are already being developed and delivered by Navitas Engineering as part of the current Remote Securing design.

Furthermore, this contract represents a continuation of the previous phase of services delivered by the Navitas Engineering. Appointing an alternative supplier at this stage would create significant technical compatibility issues and result in disproportionate cost, risk, and programme impacts, making Navitas Engineering the only viable supplier to deliver the required services efficiently and effectively.

Under Schedule 5 – Direct Award Justifications of the Procurement Act 2023, which outlines conditions for direct awards:

Section 5 states:

“The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract—

(a) due to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services, or works required; and

(b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services, or works.”

The direct award to Navitas Engineering is in accordance with Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 UK, on the basis that the services can be supplied only by this supplier due to technical reasons and the need for continuity and compatibility with existing works.

Navitas Engineering has been integral to the development of the W&W Remote Securing design to date and holds detailed knowledge of the existing PACE 1 outputs, system architecture, and stakeholder requirements.