Department for Business and Trade - Bill of Lading Shipping Data - Early Engagement Questionnaire

Department for Business and Trade (DBT) (previously known as Department for International Trade), has a potential requirement for the provision of Bill Of Lading Shipping Data.

DBT are looking for interested suppliers to complete an Early Engagement Questionnaire, attached below: (Project_2599 - DBT - Bill of Lading Shipping Data - Early Engagement Questionnaire).

At this stage, DBT wants to understand the view of the market in terms of its approach to this requirement, key considerations, and costings. Information that it gathers will be used to refine requirements to ensure they are fit for suppliers to deliver against.

It should be noted that DBT makes no commitment to procure these services and may decide to not progress this any further following this engagement with the market. DBT reserves the right to change any information contained within the Early Engagement documentation at any time, and Potential Suppliers rely upon any information provided entirely at their own risk.

The requirement is for Bill of Lading database and/or service for exports from the UK where a container leaves from a UK port and imports to the UK where the container lands at a UK port or the container lands at a foreign port but with a final destination of the UK. The data that is provided under the Contract will be in the context of UK to World trade, and World to UK trade.

The Authority currently has a Contract with ThinkData Works, to provide this data to DBT, Department for Transport (DfT) and Office for National Statistics (ONS) up to November 2023.

The data set will be procured and managed by DBT. However, the data set will be used in conjunction with other departments. Colleagues from DBT, DfT and ONS will have full access to the service and data once the Contract starts, preferably through DBT's systems. DBT is also exploring options to share record level data with other Government Departments.

The Secretary of State for DBT is the contracting authority responsible for meeting this anticipated requirement. DBT intends to publish the Contract Notice in May 2023, with a contract start date in November 2023.

It is anticipated the contract shall be for a period of 24 months, including any available contract option(s). The requirement has an estimated total value of £560,000 including VAT and this value includes any available contract option(s).