PURCHASE & SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE OF DIGITAL RECORDING EQUIPMENT

This is a Contract Details Notice.

This notice is presented on the basis of two exemptions permitting direct award without competition under the Procurement Act 2023. These are as follows:-

Are required to be compatible with an existing asset. This must be intended as an extension to or partial replacement of existing goods or services where a change would result in goods or services that are different or incompatible with the existing goods and services. The difference or incompatibility must result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance. Cheshire Constabulary currently have 42 fixed recorders and 11 portable recorders, which were procured via a Value Added Reseller from David Horn Communications Ltd. DHC are the only Supplier who can provide support and maintenance for their recorders.

Where the provider is the sole supplier of the goods, services or works. There are clearly other suppliers of Digital recording equipment out there, however only David Horn Communications Ltd themselves or DHC via a reseller can supply the required models when replacements are needed. This is because Cheshire Constabulary can't procure other makes of recorders from alternative Suppliers because CC need DHC recorders due to compatibility issues because they need to integrate with the existing infrastructure within the Constabulary and the wider West Coast Collaboration Forces. This means there is an absence of competition for technical grounds as only a specific supplier can supply (or a particular supplier holds the intellectual property or other exclusive rights) and there are no reasonable alternatives.