Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Award Notice for Safety and Security Software under Crown Commercial Service G-Cloud 14 Framework Agreement (Ref. RM1557.14), Using Lot 2: Cloud Software

UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

19 Aug 2026 at 14:41

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Chester procured safety and security software, specifically the SafeZone cloud software service, for use in the North West of England. The requirement covers the supply and ongoing use of software supporting safety and security activities, rather than physical security works or general IT infrastructure. The procurement is categorised as software packages and information systems, with associated software supply services. The buyer is the University of Chester, based in Chester. The selected solution is SafeZone, supplied by CriticalArc Ltd. The opportunity is relevant to software providers specialising in cloud-based safety, security, incident response or related protection and communications systems for higher education or comparable organisations.

The procurement is complete and was awarded on 14 July 2026 to CriticalArc Ltd. It was run as a selective call-off from the Crown Commercial Service G-Cloud 14 framework, using Lot 2 for cloud software, following formal searches, service assessment and evaluation. The awarded value is £170,000 in GBP for the full potential four-year contract period; the notice states that this figure has been rounded up. The contract runs from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2030. The tender submission deadline was 13 July 2026 at 10:00. The requirement was identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

This award signals established demand from the University of Chester for a cloud-based safety and security platform serving a university environment. Competitors would need a credible product covering the practical functions delivered by SafeZone, with the reliability, security and service capability expected of software used for safety-related purposes. Experience supplying comparable organisations, particularly higher education or other multi-site institutions, would help demonstrate understanding of user needs, implementation and support. Suppliers should also be able to operate effectively through a public sector framework call-off, respond to formal service assessment and evaluation, and provide a sustainable service over a multi-year contract. The stated suitability for SMEs and VCSEs indicates that smaller specialist providers may be credible competitors if they can evidence these capabilities.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Award Notice for Safety and Security Software under Crown Commercial Service G-Cloud 14 Framework Agreement (Ref. RM1557.14), Using Lot 2: Cloud Software

Notice Description

This Award Notice follows the formal searches, service assessment and evaluation conducted through CCS G-Cloud 14, for Safety and Security Software which resulted in an award for SafeZone from CriticalArc. The contract values in this notice are for the full potential 4 year contract period and have been rounded up.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-77324dba-d14d-4b3e-86f6-52695ce7bca3
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/440d6839-bd98-4671-8dbd-7a651b365eff
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

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

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

72268000 - Software supply services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£170,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£170,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
13 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
14 Jul 20261 months ago
Contract Period
1 Aug 2026 - 31 Jul 2030 4-5 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
UNIVERSITY OF CHESTER
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CHESTER
Postcode
CH1 4BJ
Postcode Area
Chester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester
Delivery Location
TLD North West (England)
Local Authority
Cheshire West and Chester
Electoral Ward
Chester City & the Garden Quarter
Westminster Constituency
Chester North and Neston

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CriticalArc Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

Loading OCDS record...