Award

DWP Digital Channels Contact Centre (DC3)

DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

AwardUpdate

18 Jun 2025 at 16:16

AwardUpdate

06 Jun 2025 at 10:08

Award

06 Jun 2025 at 09:31

Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), located at Caxton House, London, England, has recently completed the procurement process for the Digital Channels Contact Centre (DC3). This contract represents a modernisation initiative within one of the largest government contact centres in Europe, under the DWP’s Contact Centre Modernisation Programme. This procurement falls under the industry categories of Software package and information systems, Telecommunications services, IT services, and Call centres, with a significant focus on delivering enhanced digital communications capabilities. The selective procurement method utilised a competitive procedure with negotiation, tailored for services, and oversighted the award process which was completed on 7th May 2025, with an estimated contract value of £265.32 million, extending up to 6th May 2030.

For businesses keen on tapping into growth via large-scale digital transformation and contact centre solutions, involvement in this tender process opens significant opportunities. SMEs, especially those involved in cloud-based contact centre technologies, telecommunication solutions, and CRM integrations, stand to benefit from engaging with similar procurement opportunities in the future. Route 101 Limited, an SME itself, exemplifies success by having secured the role of the supplier for this substantial contract. This lays a vital blueprint for SMEs aiming to scale through offering innovative and cost-effective tech solutions to significant government projects that demand modernisation and enhanced service delivery. The DWP's initiative highlights the ongoing demand for technological innovation to remodel public service sectors across diverse geographical locations, including the UK and even globally.

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Notice Title

DWP Digital Channels Contact Centre (DC3)

Notice Description

The existing DWP contact centre is the largest across all UK government departments and is one of the largest contact centres in Europe. The current contact centre platform is delivered on behalf of DWP by a managed service provider. The Contact Centre Modernisation Programme (CCMP) is directly aligned to the DWP Strategy and Departmental plans to transform our services and deliver an effective welfare system for Citizens when they need it, while reducing costs and achieving value for money for taxpayers. The CCMP strategy involves the establishment of a new Digital Channels Contact Centre (DC3) platform with a replacement managed service provider. DC3 will provide enhanced capabilities including softphone inbound and outbound calls, Work Force Optimisation (WFO), webchat, Intelligent Voice Routing (IVR), advisor skills-based call routing, call recording and call transcription. It will be cloud hosted and will integrate with existing platforms that deliver capabilities for Non-Geographic Numbers (0800 etc), Video, Payment Card Industry compliance, and Automated Customer Experience as well as integrations into Business Group CRM and call routing strategies. Additional information: The value of the Contract stated in this notice is an estimated total value based on: a. an estimate of PS168.8m (exclusive of VAT) for the contracted services to be provided during (i) the 5-year initial term of the Contract (which is reflective of the accelerated delivery plan submitted by the successful bidder in accordance with the final tender instructions) and (ii) the two optional 1-year extensions to the Contract, including in each case forecast indexation (as appropriate, in line with the associated contractual provisions); and b. an estimate of PS52.3m (exclusive of VAT) for (i) the forecast use of the Optional Services specified within the Contract and (ii) ad-hoc Contract Change (based on historic levels of change), excluding in each case forecast indexation (which may need to be applied in future, in line with the associated contractual provisions).

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-82559c55-165e-4a9d-bca7-1e54891970a1
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b4dfbb5f-e908-478f-85ae-dfea3c86c9a9
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive procedure with negotiation (above threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

64 - Postal and telecommunications services

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

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security


CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

64200000 - Telecommunications services

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

79512000 - Call centre

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£265,320,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£265,320,000 £100M-£1B
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Jun 20258 months ago
Submission Deadline
25 Sep 2023Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 May 20259 months ago
Contract Period
6 May 2025 - 6 May 2030 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1H 9DA
Post Town
South West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ROUTE 101

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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.

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