Automatic Voter Registration: EMS changes Democracy Counts

This Contract Award Notice informs the market of Welsh Government's decision to award a contract to the Supplier for the provision of software development, testing, implementation and support services to enhance the Supplier's Electoral Management System used by Welsh local authorities in support of the introduction of Automatic Voter Registration in Wales. The services include the design, development and deployment of functionality required to implement legislative changes relating to electoral registration and administration, including elector matching capabilities, elector registration processes, communications functionality and associated system enhancements. The contract forms part of a wider programme of Electoral Management System changes being implemented across Wales to support new electoral legislation. As detailed in the Transparency Notice, the contract relates to modifications and enhancements to the Supplier's existing proprietary Electoral Management System platform. Welsh Government concluded that only the Supplier could deliver the required services because it owns and maintains the relevant platform and possesses the intellectual property rights, technical knowledge and access necessary to undertake the required development work. Welsh Government further concluded that no reasonable alternative supplier could deliver the required functionality. Welsh Government considers that the conditions for direct award were met under Section 41 and Schedule 5, Paragraphs 5 and 6 of the Procurement Act 2023, as only the Supplier could provide the required services due to intellectual property rights, exclusive rights and an absence of competition for technical reasons, and no reasonable alternative existed. Welsh Government will not enter into the contract until expiry of the applicable standstill period.