Financial Conduct Authority: CON-21-141 Cryptoasset Blockchain Analysis Platform

UK-London: Financial information systems.
Section I: Contracting Authority
      I.1) Name and addresses
             Financial Conduct Authority
             12 Endeavour Square, London, E20 1JN, United Kingdom
             Tel. +44 2070661000, Email: isprocurement@fca.org.uk
             Contact: Tim Mitchell
             Main Address: www.fca.org.uk
             NUTS Code: UKI4
      I.2) Joint procurement
      The contract involves joint procurement: No.
      In the case of joint procurement involving different countries, state applicable national procurement law: Not provided       
      The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body: No.
      I.3) Communication
      The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Financial-information-systems./35HK868YD8
      Additional information can be obtained from: the abovementioned address
      Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically via https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Financial-information-systems./35HK868YD8 to the abovementioned address       
      Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at: Not provided
      I.4) Type of the contracting authority
            Other type:: Financial Regulator
      I.5) Main activity
            Other activity:

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
      II.1.1) Title: CON-21-141 Cryptoasset Blockchain Analysis Platform       
      Reference Number: CON-21-141
      II.1.2) Main CPV Code:
      48812000 - Financial information systems.

      II.1.3) Type of contract: SUPPLIES
      II.1.4) Short description: On 10th January 2020 the FCA became the anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing (AML/CTF) supervisor for firms carrying out certain in scope cryptoasset activity in the UK. The FCA is required under The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (MLRs) to approve and register firms conducting in scope cryptoasset activities and ensure that these firms are effectively monitored to secure compliance with these regulations.
As the supervisor of in scope cryptoasset activity in the UK, the FCA requires access to specialist services to support the analysis of cryptoasset blockchain data. The FCA is seeking the services of a third-party firm specializing in this area who can provide access to a platform that can support the robust and efficient analysis of cryptoasset blockchain data and provide training and ongoing support in the use of this platform.       
      II.1.5) Estimated total value:
      Value excluding VAT: 500,000       
      Currency: GBP
      II.1.6) Information about lots:
      This contract is divided into lots: No       
   
II.2) Description
      
      II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
      Not Provided       
      II.2.3) Place of performance:
      UKI4 Inner London – East
      
      II.2.4) Description of procurement: On 10th January 2020 the FCA became the anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing (AML/CTF) supervisor for firms carrying out certain in scope cryptoasset activity in the UK. The FCA is required under The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (MLRs) to approve and register firms conducting in scope cryptoasset activities and ensure that these firms are effectively monitored to secure compliance with these regulations.

Under these regulations in scope cryptoasset firms are required to establish and maintain policies, controls and procedures to mitigate and manage effectively the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing.

The FCA is required to secure that any application for registration meets the relevant requirements of the MLRs and effectively monitor firms for which it is the supervisory authority. The FCA must take necessary measures for the purpose of securing compliance by firms with the requirements of the regulations. Relevant persons who contravene the requirements of the MLRs may be guilty of an offence under regulation 86 and liable to summary conviction or indictment.
A cryptoasset is a cryptographically secured digital representation of value or contractual rights that uses a form of distributed ledger technology and can be transferred, stored or traded electronically. One application of this distributed ledger technology is seen in the use of public blockchains which underpin popular cryptoassets such as bitcoin. For the purpose of this document the term cryptoasset blockchain data will refer to data that is recorded on the public distributed ledgers of cryptoassets.

As the supervisor of in scope cryptoasset activity in the UK, the FCA requires access to specialist services to support the analysis of cryptoasset blockchain data. The FCA is seeking the services of a third-party firm specializing in this area who can provide access to a platform that can support the robust and efficient analysis of cryptoasset blockchain data and provide training and ongoing support in the use of this platform.

The analysis of cryptoasset blockchain data is an essential aspect of the FCA toolkit when approaching its duties as supervisor of firms carrying out certain cryptoasset activity in the UK. The development of this capability is closely aligned with operational objectives of the FCA and has applications in the prevention of harm to consumers, in enhancing the integrity of the UK financial system and in promoting competition.

The FCA seeks a blockchain analysis solution which enhances our capability to:
- Perform analysis of cryptoasset blockchain data associated with in scope cryptoasset activity.
- Identify and respond to risks identified through the analysis of cryptoasset blockchain data.
- Use cryptoasset blockchain data to support the effective supervision of in scope cryptoasset activity, to support the development of intelligence and enforcement investigations as required.

The scope of this procurement exercise is to secure a platform that provides:
- The capability to visualize, review and export cryptoasset blockchain data to support FCA functions.
- Applies robust analytical techniques to support the efficient review of cryptoasset blockchain data including clustering and the aggregation of blockchain data.
- Provides data on attribution of cryptoasset addresses across a wide range of cryptoassets and blockchains.
- Supports users of the platform with training and specialist support on an ongoing basis.
      II.2.5) Award criteria:
            Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents            
      II.2.6) Estimated value:
      Value excluding VAT: 500,000       
      Currency: GBP       
      II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
      Duration in months: 24       
      This contract is subject to renewal: No       
      Description of renewals: Not provided
      
      II.2.10) Information about variants:
      Variants will be accepted: Yes
      II.2.11) Information about options:
      Options:       No             
      Description of options: Not provided
      II.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues:
      Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue: No
      II.2.13) Information about European Union funds:
      The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No       
      Identification of the project: Not provided             
      II.2.14) Additional information: To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://fca.delta-esourcing.com/respond/35HK868YD8

This contract may be subject to extensions up to a further 24 months       


Section III: Legal, Economic, Financial And Technical Information
   III.1) Conditions for participation
      III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
      List and brief description of conditions:          
      Not Provided       
      III.1.2) Economic and financial standing       
      List and brief description of selection criteria:       
      Not Provided    
      Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :       
      Not Provided    
      III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
      List and brief description of selection criteria:       
      Not Provided      
      Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :          
      Not Provided   
      III.1.5) Information about reserved contracts (if applicable)   
      The contract is reserved to sheltered workshops and economic operators aiming at the social and professional integration of disabled or disadvantaged persons: No       
      The execution of the contract is restricted to the framework of sheltered employment programmes: No    
      
   III.2) Conditions related to the contract
         
      III.2.2) Contract performance conditions          
      Not Provided          
      III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
      Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract: No

Section IV: Procedure
   IV.1) Description OPEN
      IV.1.1) Type of procedure: Open   
   
   IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system    
         The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement - NO    
         In the case of framework agreements justification for any duration exceeding 4 years: Not Provided    
   
   
   IV.1.6) Information about electronic auction:
      An electronic auction will be used: No
      Additional information about electronic auction: Not provided
   IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
      The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes       
   IV.2) Administrative information
      IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure:
         Notice number in the OJ S: Not provided       
      IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
       Date: 16/12/2021 Time: 12:00
            
      IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English,       
      IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender:
         Duration in month(s): 4
      
      IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders:
         Date: 16/12/2021
         Time: 12:00
      

Section VI: Complementary Information
   VI.1) Information about recurrence
   This is a recurrent procurement: No    
   Estimated timing for further notices to be published: Not provided
   VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
   Electronic ordering will be used No       
   Electronic invoicing will be accepted No       
   Electronic payment will be used No       
   VI.3) Additional Information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://fca.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Financial-information-systems./35HK868YD8

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://fca.delta-esourcing.com/respond/35HK868YD8
   VI.4) Procedures for review
   VI.4.1) Review body:
             Financial Conduct Authority
       12 Endeavour Square, London, E20 1JN, United Kingdom
   VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures:
Not provided
   VI.4.3) Review procedure
   Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:    
    Not Provided    
   VI.4.4) Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained:
Not provided
   VI.5) Date Of Dispatch Of This Notice: 15/11/2021

Annex A