Procurement of Common Access Cards

Concepts

• kings lynn
• technical computer support
• procurement of common access cards
• common access cards
• supplies contract

Location

Description

Procurement contract to provide Common Access Cards.

Total Quantity or Scope

Supplies contract for the procurement of Common Access Cards

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 72611000 - Technical computer support services

Legal Justification

The Lightning II Delivery Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), intends to place a 4 year contract with IdenTrust for the procurement of common access cards (CACs) enabling access to F-35 software applications hosted by the US Government. The contract has an estimated total value of £192,000 VAT inclusive. In accordance with the provisions of The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 SI No. 2020/1319, this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015 as amended (in particular by SI 2020/1319). Prior publication of a Contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate. It is considered that the award of the contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by in accordance with the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with Regulation 32(b)(ii) of the PCR 2015 because competition is absent for technical reasons. The F-35 Program utilises a number of aircraft maintenance tools, provided as software applications, for which the UK Lightning Delivery Team (LDT) needs access via the Partner Nation Supplier, Lockheed Martin. Two-factor authentication (2FA) is required to access these applications and the 2FA is provided by the ECA Medium Token Assurance Certificate on a CAC supplied by Identrust, as one of only two U.S. DoD approved suppliers. Purchase of the CACs from IdenTrust provides a digital profile and user certificate which is associated with a user profile for the associated Program application. Previously with fewer applications and associated users CACs were purchased in low value batches. Work was also undertaken separately by UK MOD to update the MOD Official Network to test and install IdenTrust’s ActivClient software to provide approved users direct access via the IdenTrust CACs to the F-35 maintenance applications. A change away from IdenTrust would block access to the maintenance applications and leave UK MOD unable to fulfil its obligations under the F-35 Program and create a significant capability gap in performing key functions required to support F-35 operations.

Other Information

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