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RHUL-26133 VMware Licensing Renewal

Royal Holloway and Bedford New College

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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17 Aug 2026 at 12:01

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Royal Holloway and Bedford New College procured VMware vSphere Foundation licensing to support its university information systems. This is a software and information systems requirement, classified under CPV 48000000, and is a purchase of goods rather than a works or general services contract. The requirement is for licensing renewal, so relevant suppliers are those able to provide, renew and support VMware vSphere Foundation licences for an institutional customer. Delivery is for the university’s operations in Egham, in the South East of England. The procurement was managed by Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, whose university site is at Egham Hill. The scope was awarded through the SLRA Framework, Lot 3, indicating that the buyer used an established framework route for this licensing requirement.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded. Softcat Plc was selected for VMware vSphere Foundation licensing through the SLRA Framework, Lot 3. The award was made on 17 August 2026. The awarded value is £353,157 including the stated currency of GBP. The contract period runs from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2029. The tender submission deadline was 22 July 2026. The process used a framework-based route described as ‘Other’, rather than an open standalone competition. The requirement was evaluated within that framework process and the award is recorded as active. The opportunity was not identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises or voluntary, community and social enterprises. One supplier received the award; the published outcome names Softcat Plc.

This award demonstrates a defined demand from a higher education buyer for enterprise VMware vSphere Foundation licensing at institutional scale, procured through the SLRA Framework. Suppliers competing for comparable requirements would need an established VMware licensing capability, accurate knowledge of vSphere Foundation entitlements and renewal processes, and the operational capacity to support a university environment. Credibility would also depend on being able to transact through the relevant framework route, meet its supplier and compliance requirements, and provide dependable account management throughout a multi-year licensing arrangement. Resellers, software licensing specialists and technology providers with strong public-sector or higher-education experience are the closest fit. A competitor should be able to evidence licensing expertise, continuity of supply, clear commercial control and the ability to manage a substantial renewal for a complex institutional customer.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

RHUL-26133 VMware Licensing Renewal

Notice Description

Awarded to Softcat PLC for VMware vSphere Foundation Licensing via SLRA Framework Lot 3.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-c5af0560-3296-48f3-a99c-20dad4f9b863
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/4d9889b0-9c1f-4f7c-baea-35f0773c158a
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Other -
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£353,157 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£353,157 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
22 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
17 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Aug 2026 - 31 Jul 2029 3-4 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
Royal Holloway and Bedford New College
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EGHAM
Postcode
TW20 0EX
Postcode Area
Twickenham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ25 West Surrey
Delivery Location
TLJ South East (England)
Local Authority
Runnymede
Electoral Ward
Englefield Green East
Westminster Constituency
Windsor

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Softcat Plc

Further Information

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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