Digital Knowledge Exchange Platform - Discovery Phase_NCA

Description

Service provision for new digital platform - discovery phase only. Under Regulation Reg 6(1)(b)(ii) of the Procurement (Scotland) Regulations 2016, a contracting authority may award a contract without competition based on the following justification: Competition is absent for technical reasons (only if it is not caused by artificial narrowing down of the parameters of the procurement and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists) Explanation: Heriot-Watt University has been awarded a grant by the EPSRC to deliver a Knowledge Exchange Platform. Following extensive market research carried out by members of the University Academic & Research community, it was found that service provider 'The Energy Systems Catapult' are the only provider to have the wealth of knowledge and experience in bridging the gap between industry, government, academia and research. They have specific experience exploring the opportunities and challenges associated with the UK meeting its Net Zero targets, including developing and implementing digital support tools for the community. 'The Energy Systems Catapult' will be providing the ‘discovery phase’ for the digital platform. Works will involve capturing the knowledge exchange requirements of all our stakeholders, design a knowledge exchange system specification, create a costed implementation action plan, and produce a procurement specification to build and implement the knowledge exchange platform.