Checkpoint Firewalls

Tender description

DHCW require the replacement of four (4) firewalls, the role of these new firewalls is to provide the virtual private networks (VPN) to DHCW 3rd party providers. Please note this contract is a direct award noting Regulation 32(b)(ii) of the The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 where the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by a particular economic operator for any of the following reasons:— (ii)competition is absent for technical reasons The Authority identifies SEP2 as the Checkpoint partner who understand the configuration of the Checkpoint Firewalls and provides the existing support contract to the Authority. If the Authority sought an alternative solution to the Checkpoint Appliances it would need to develop and maintain skills with another technological solution and would need another support partner which would result in disproportionate technical difficulties for the Authority. The Authority would have to duplicate all technical infrastructure configurations to re-establish the VPNs with the various third parties and the Authority will need to arrange downtime or ‘at risk’ windows to do the work if a new supplier was appointed.