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Content Management

Office for National Statistics

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

23 Oct 2026 at 15:47

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) procured specialist Wagtail content management system (CMS) and digital product services to maintain and enhance its new website platform. The work covers migration from legacy publishing services, completing remaining platform and CMS capabilities for the transformation programme, operating the live service and making ongoing improvements. It also aims to reduce delivery risks from shortages of specialist skills, transfer knowledge and grow capability within ONS teams, and support a gradual reduction in supplier dependency. The service is for ONS’s UK website platform, with the buyer based in Newport, Wales. This is a technology services requirement focused on a particular CMS platform and ongoing product engineering, rather than a general-purpose content or website supply contract.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded to Torchbox. ONS selected the supplier through a selective call-off from a framework agreement. The award was made on 16 October 2026, for £1.8 million. The contract period runs from 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2029. The tender closed for submissions at midday on 1 October 2026. The stated evaluation criteria and eligibility requirements are not included in the published process information; the procurement is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. There is one award and one supplier. The stated contract scope combines specialist Wagtail CMS expertise, engineering, migration support, live service operation and ongoing improvement, with work supporting ONS’s website transformation and internal capability transfer.

For suppliers considering comparable ONS requirements, this award shows demand for specialist Wagtail CMS skills alongside software engineering and digital product support. A credible competitor would need to demonstrate the ability to maintain and enhance a live public-facing website, support migration from legacy publishing services, and deliver platform capabilities as part of a wider transformation programme. Experience operating services reliably while making continuous improvements would be relevant, as would the ability to transfer knowledge and build the buyer’s in-house capability rather than create long-term dependency. The combined scope indicates a need for a supplier able to work across technical delivery and live operations, and to address the risks created by scarce specialist skills. The buyer has selected an SME for this requirement, and the opportunity was procured through a framework call-off.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Content Management

Notice Description

To provide specialist Wagtail CMS expertise, engineering capability and associated digital product support required to: Maintain and enhance the new ONS website platform. Support migration from legacy publishing services. Deliver remaining platform and CMS capabilities required to complete the transformation programme. Support live service operation and continuous improvement. Reduce delivery risks associated with specialist skills shortages. Accelerate knowledge transfer and capability growth within ONS teams. Support transition towards reduced supplier dependency over time.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-62b9df7f-669b-4cd6-b6d4-04c0177b6e3c
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/0cb2d1a4-003c-41f6-a1e0-e056513fc98e
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a framework agreement
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

72500000 - Computer-related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,800,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,800,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
16 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Feb 2027 - 31 Jan 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Office for National Statistics
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NEWPORT
Postcode
NP10 8XG
Postcode Area
Newport
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL54 Monmouthshire and Newport
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Newport
Electoral Ward
Tredegar Park and Marshfield
Westminster Constituency
Newport West and Islwyn

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Torchbox Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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