This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. This notice acknowledges that the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland proposes to contract with Ekco for the continued provision of ICT Managed Support Services.

NMBI has a contract in place since October 2020 with ICT managed services company EKCO (previously Unity) for the provision of general ICT maintenance. It expired on 03 October 2024 and the spend to date has exceeded original estimates due to increased usage as a result of a number of …

CPV: 72610000 Computer support services, 72510000 Computer-related management services
Place of execution:
This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. This notice acknowledges that the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland proposes to contract with Ekco for the continued provision of ICT Managed Support Services.
Awarding body:
Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
Award number:

1. Buyer

1.1 Buyer

Official name : Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
Legal type of the buyer : Body governed by public law, controlled by a central government authority
Activity of the contracting authority : Health

2. Procedure

2.1 Procedure

Title : This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. This notice acknowledges that the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland proposes to contract with Ekco for the continued provision of ICT Managed Support Services.
Description : NMBI has a contract in place since October 2020 with ICT managed services company EKCO (previously Unity) for the provision of general ICT maintenance. It expired on 03 October 2024 and the spend to date has exceeded original estimates due to increased usage as a result of a number of unforeseen extenuating factors. These include: • internal NMBI ICT staff turnover – particularly at manager level • implementing technical provisions for remote working due to COVID restrictions in 2020-2022 • complexities arising from the introduction of our digital registration system MYNMBI and the integration of this with our existing system, including access for third parties etc. • a number of cyber security incidents, including two malware attack attempts, for which Ekco provided containment support, as well as investigation expertise. To ensure compliance with the procurement regulations in these exceptional circumstances NMBI is planning to utilise article 32 of the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016, to award a new contract without prior publication to the existing provider EKCO for the continuation of their services. The use of the derogation is justified for a number of reasons including: • To provide essential continuity for cyber security. Ekco have an experienced security team who have responded effectively to a number of recent and ongoing issues in NMBI. It is essential that this support is continued and not doing so would represent a risk to the organisation. • To provide essential continuity of services for NMBI. There has been considerable change/flux in the NMBI ICT department in the past 24 months and there are current resourcing challenges. • To provide needed support for MyNMBI Next Gen (our digital registration system) from a partner that knows NMBI and the working environment. Requirements and demands on the inhouse ICT team have increased in 2024 due to the development of the new MyNMBI Next Gen digital registration system. Ongoing support from NMBI ICT is required by the project team and developers in relation to access etc. As a result, an overstretched existing team is working on a large critical business system that is absorbing a lot of resources. • Internal ICT capacity at a senior level has been severely lessened for unforeseen reasons. In the meantime, and in mitigation of this situation, Ekco has essential understanding of the NMBI ICT environment which is needed to maintain ongoing operational support for the ICT environment, suppliers and systems.

2.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Services
Main classification ( cpv ): 72610000 Computer support services

2.1.2 Place of performance

Country subdivision (NUTS) : Dublin ( IE061 )
Country : Ireland

2.1.3 Value

Estimated value excluding VAT : 220 000 Euro

2.1.4 General information

Legal basis :
Directive 2014/24/EU

3. Part

3.1 Part technical ID : PAR-0001

Title : This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. This notice acknowledges that the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland proposes to contract with Ekco for the continued provision of ICT Managed Support Services.
Description : NMBI has a contract in place since October 2020 with ICT managed services company EKCO (previously Unity) for the provision of general ICT maintenance. It expired on 03 October 2024 and the spend to date has exceeded original estimates due to increased usage as a result of a number of unforeseen extenuating factors. These include: • internal NMBI ICT staff turnover – particularly at manager level • implementing technical provisions for remote working due to COVID restrictions in 2020-2022 • complexities arising from the introduction of our digital registration system MYNMBI and the integration of this with our existing system, including access for third parties etc. • a number of cyber security incidents, including two malware attack attempts, for which Ekco provided containment support, as well as investigation expertise. To ensure compliance with the procurement regulations in these exceptional circumstances NMBI is planning to utilise article 32 of the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016, to award a new contract without prior publication to the existing provider EKCO for the continuation of their services. The use of the derogation is justified for a number of reasons including: • To provide essential continuity for cyber security. Ekco have an experienced security team who have responded effectively to a number of recent and ongoing issues in NMBI. It is essential that this support is continued and not doing so would represent a risk to the organisation. • To provide essential continuity of services for NMBI. There has been considerable change/flux in the NMBI ICT department in the past 24 months and there are current resourcing challenges. • To provide needed support for MyNMBI Next Gen (our digital registration system) from a partner that knows NMBI and the working environment. Requirements and demands on the inhouse ICT team have increased in 2024 due to the development of the new MyNMBI Next Gen digital registration system. Ongoing support from NMBI ICT is required by the project team and developers in relation to access etc. As a result, an overstretched existing team is working on a large critical business system that is absorbing a lot of resources. • Internal ICT capacity at a senior level has been severely lessened for unforeseen reasons. In the meantime, and in mitigation of this situation, Ekco has essential understanding of the NMBI ICT environment which is needed to maintain ongoing operational support for the ICT environment, suppliers and systems. General information Legal basis: Directive 2014/24/EU Title: This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. This notice acknowledges that the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland proposes to contract with Ekco for the continued provision of ICT Manager Services Description: NMBI has a contract in place with ICT managed services company EKCO (previously Unity) for the provision of general ICT maintenance. It has expired and the spend to date has exceeded original estimates due to increased usage as a result of a number of unforeseen extenuating factors. These include: • internal NMBI ICT staff turnover – particularly at manager level • implementing technical provisions for remote working due to COVID restrictions in 2020-2022 • complexities arising from the introduction of our digital registration system MYNMBI and the integration of this with our existing system, including access for third parties etc. • a number of cyber security incidents, including two malware attack attempts, for which Ekco provided containment support, as well as investigation expertise. • To ensure compliance with the procurement regulations in these exceptional circumstances NMBI is planning to utilise article 32 of the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016, to award a new contract without prior publication to the existing provider EKCO for the continuation of their services. The use of the derogation is justified for a number of reasons including: • To provide essential continuity for cyber security. Ekco have an experienced security team who have responded effectively to a number of recent and ongoing issues in NMBI. It is essential that this support is continued and not doing so would represent a risk to the organisation. • To provide essential continuity of services for NMBI. There has been considerable change/flux in the NMBI ICT department in the past 24 months and there are current resourcing challenges. • To provide needed support for MyNMBI Next Gen (our digital registration system) from a partner that knows NMBI and the working environment. Requirements and demands on the inhouse ICT team have increased in 2024 due to the development of the new MyNMBI Next Gen digital registration system. Ongoing support from NMBI ICT is required by the project team and developers in relation to access etc. As a result, an overstretched existing team is working on a large critical business system that is absorbing a lot of resources. • Internal ICT capacity at a senior level has been severely lessened for unforeseen reasons. In the meantime, and in mitigation of this situation, Ekco has essential understanding of the NMBI ICT environment which is needed to maintain ongoing operational support for the ICT environment, suppliers and systems.

3.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Services
Main classification ( cpv ): 72510000 Computer-related management services

3.1.2 Place of performance

Country : Ireland
Anywhere in the given country

3.1.5 General information

Reserved participation :
This procurement is also suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

3.1.9 Further information, mediation and review

Review organisation : The High Court of Ireland
Organisation providing offline access to the procurement documents : Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
Organisation receiving requests to participate : Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
Organisation processing tenders : Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland

8. Organisations

8.1 ORG-0001

Official name : Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
Registration number : 0000
Postal address : 18/20 Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin
Town : Dublin
Postcode : A94 R299
Country : Ireland
Telephone : 01 639 8500
Internet address : https://www.nmbi.ie
Buyer profile : https://www.nmbi.ie
Roles of this organisation :
Buyer
Organisation providing offline access to the procurement documents
Organisation receiving requests to participate
Organisation processing tenders

8.1 ORG-0002

Official name : The High Court of Ireland
Registration number : The High Court of Ireland
Department : The High Court of Ireland
Postal address : Four Courts, Inns Quay, Dublin 7
Town : Dublin
Postcode : D07 WDX8
Country : Ireland
Telephone : +353 1 8886000
Roles of this organisation :
Review organisation

8.1 ORG-0003

Official name : European Dynamics S.A.
Registration number : 002024901000
Department : European Dynamics S.A.
Town : Athens
Country : Greece
Telephone : +30 2108094500
Roles of this organisation :
TED eSender

11. Notice information

11.1 Notice information

Notice identifier/version : 83d2747f-5d09-4f90-bb67-7c609a37f892 - 01
Form type : Planning
Notice type : Prior information notice or a periodic indicative notice used only for information
Notice dispatch date : 25/10/2024 15:28 +01:00
Languages in which this notice is officially available : English

11.2 Publication information

Notice publication number : 00656423-2024
OJ S issue number : 211/2024
Publication date : 29/10/2024
Estimated date of publication of a contract notice within this procedure : 01/05/2025