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Force HQ Hydra Foundation

Northumbria Police

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

09 Sep 2026 at 15:33

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Northumbria Police procured an industry-specific software package to support Hydra, an immersive learning platform for emergency service employees. The platform provides realistic, safe environments in which learners can test their skills and embed learning that would otherwise take place in classrooms. The requirement is categorised as goods and is delivered in the North East of England. Northumbria Police is the buying organisation. The procurement is therefore relevant to suppliers of immersive learning platforms, emergency-services training technology, simulation software and related specialist software products. It may also suit businesses able to provide a complete platform-based learning environment rather than a conventional classroom training service, particularly where the product supports realistic practice, skills testing and workforce development in operational settings.

The procurement is complete and was awarded to Critical Simulations Ltd on 27 August 2026. The awarded contract value is £135,576. The contract runs from 14 September 2026 to 31 July 2027. Northumbria Police used a direct single-tender action below the applicable threshold, rather than an open competition. The tender had an estimated value of £135,576 and a submission deadline of 6 May 2026 at 5pm. The requirement was suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. The award was made to one supplier, and the published outcome identifies Critical Simulations Ltd as the active award holder. The evaluation basis is reflected in the direct-award route, with the procurement focused on obtaining the specified Hydra foundation platform for the Force.

This award demonstrates demand from a police force for specialist immersive learning software that can give emergency service employees realistic opportunities to practise and test skills safely. A credible future competitor would need a proven platform capable of reproducing realistic learning environments, supporting structured skills development and helping organisations embed training beyond the classroom. Relevant suppliers are likely to include simulation-software developers, immersive learning technology firms and specialist providers with experience in emergency-services or operational training. The requirement was identified as suitable for SMEs, and the selected supplier is itself an SME, indicating that a smaller specialist business can be credible for this type of public-sector requirement. Businesses should be able to explain how their platform supports learner practice, realistic scenarios and workforce learning outcomes for a police or emergency-service setting.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Force HQ Hydra Foundation

Notice Description

Hydra is an immersive learning platform to provide emergency service employees with a real life learning experience to enable them to test their skills and embed learning. Hydra provides the Force with an opportunity to embed learning that will often take place in classrooms, giving the learners the opportunity to practice their skills in a safe, realistic environment.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-885ae9b9-b305-4812-9704-2b306d9393ef
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6bfb1a2b-7339-4560-94f9-87c5653aec72
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Single tender action (below threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48100000 - Industry specific software package

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£135,576 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£135,576 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
27 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
14 Sep 2026 - 31 Jul 2027 6-12 months
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
Northumbria Police
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Postcode
NE1 3PH
Postcode Area
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC43 Tyneside
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England)
Local Authority
Newcastle upon Tyne
Electoral Ward
Monument
Westminster Constituency
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CRITICAL SIMULATIONS LTD

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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