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Quality Assurance Testing (QAT) services

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

17 Jul 2026 at 12:41

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs procured Quality Assurance Testing (QAT) services. The requirement covers system quality assurance assessment and review, including testing activity used to assess the quality and performance of systems. It is a services contract rather than a goods or construction requirement. Delivery may take place across the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, British Overseas Territories, Europe and the rest of the world. This is relevant to businesses providing professional software quality assurance, system testing, test assessment and review services for a public-sector organisation operating across a wide geographical footprint.

The procurement has been awarded following a selective process using a call-off from a framework agreement. The tender closed for submissions on 20 February 2026 at 16:00 UTC. The contract was awarded on 6 July 2026 to Cognizant Worldwide Limited, with an awarded value of £15,000,000. The contract period runs from 30 June 2026 to 29 June 2029. The overall tender status is complete and the award is active. The recorded procurement value is also £15,000,000. The published outcome therefore shows a completed framework call-off for QAT services, with delivery extending over a multi-year period and awarded to a single named supplier.

This award demonstrates substantial, sustained demand from Defra for outsourced quality assurance and system testing delivered across the UK and international locations. Suppliers considering comparable future work would need demonstrable capability in system quality assurance assessment, structured testing and independent review, together with the operational capacity to support a geographically dispersed public-sector estate. The route to market is significant: credible competitors would need access to, or participation in, a suitable framework capable of supporting selective call-offs. The buyer’s stated suitability position indicates that this requirement was not aimed at SMEs or voluntary, community and social enterprises, so established larger providers with broad delivery resources are better aligned.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Quality Assurance Testing (QAT) services

Notice Description

Quality Assurance Testing (QAT) services

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-eae39206-d649-45d7-89b6-50d9388d1e2e
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/85575844-452c-40e5-a4b7-1753afe330ec
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

72225000 - System quality assurance assessment and review services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£15,000,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 Jul 20263 months ago
Contract Period
30 Jun 2026 - 29 Jun 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
DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS
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
SW1P 3JR
Postcode Area
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

Cognizant Worldwide Limited

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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