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Education Systems Portfolio

Norfolk County Council

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

22 Apr 2026 at 11:09

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

04 Feb 2026 at 11:15

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

17 Mar 2025 at 16:58

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

17 Mar 2025 at 15:03

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Norfolk County Council, a sub-central governmental authority in Norwich, has completed an open procurement process for its Education Systems Portfolio. The contract involves acquiring a comprehensive software system to support the Children's Services Department alongside related professional services for implementation, ongoing support, and maintenance. The competitive flexible procedure was utilised for this tender, and Access UK Limited has been awarded the contract. Initially valued at £2,880,721, the contract commenced on 2nd April 2026 and will last until 1st April 2033, with possibilities for renewal extending up to 2043. Significant dates included the finalisation of dialogues by February 20th, 2026 and the signing of the contract on the same day. The procurement spans multiple regions, specifically UKH15, UKH16, and UKH17, covering IT and software services aimed at enhancing information systems within the council.

The contract presents substantial growth opportunities for companies with expertise in IT and software services, particularly those able to offer robust support systems and implementations tailored to children's services. This procurement is particularly suitable for large-scale businesses like Access UK Limited, which can handle the extensive requirements for system integration, user training, and functional development inherent in such projects. Companies within IT software development, consulting, and support services are ideally positioned to consider future engagements with Norfolk County Council, especially as the system may need further modifications in response to governmental structural changes envisaged under the Local Government Review. This is a prime opportunity for businesses capable of innovating and adapting offerings to meet evolving client needs within the public sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Education Systems Portfolio

Notice Description

Norfolk County Council is awarding a contract to purchase a software system that covers the end-to-end processes in its Children's Services Department. This contract also includes support and maintenance for the system and professional services for implementation and ongoing requirements. On 19 November 2025, the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness made a written statement [UIN HCWS1071] saying that three proposals for unitary local government in Norfolk had been received. The Minister announced a consultation exercise, which ended on 11 January 2026. The Minister stated that "once the consultations have concluded, the Government will assess the proposals against the criteria in the invitation and decide, subject to parliamentary approval, which, if any, proposals are to be implemented, with or without modification". A "minded to" decision has been made for 3 unitary councils in Norfolk. On 4 December 2025, the Secretary of State for Local Government made a written statement [UIN HCWS1128] stating that the government intends to establish a Mayoral Strategic Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk as soon as possible, and that it is minded to hold inaugural mayoral elections in May 2028. Should these processes lead to unitary local government in Norfolk and/or to the establishment of a Mayoral Strategic Authority covering Norfolk (i) the contract may be transferred, assigned or novated to any successor authority(ies) to the council, or to any joint body incorporating or formed by any such successor and/or to any Mayoral Strategic Authority; and/or (ii) the council or a successor authority or joint body may order services on behalf of other local authorities serving any area within Norfolk's current geographical boundaries. In the event of a change from two-tier to unitary local government in Norfolk and/or the establishment of a Mayoral Strategic Authority covering Norfolk it may be necessary to modify this contract to the extent necessary to permit its continued satisfactory performance.

Lot Information

Lot LOT-0001

Options: The council will have the right to purchase (1) additional licenses if usage or numbers of users increase (2) additional support hours and professional services if required to maximise the return on investment for the Council and to maintain or improve the wholistic view of the child and support efficient access to services (3) additional modules and additional functionality to maximise the return on investment for the Council and to maintain or improve the wholistic view of the child and support efficient access to services (5)Training to ensure maximum and efficient use of the system.

Renewal: This contract is for an initial term of 7 years plus an additional 5 years plus a further 5 years at the Council's discretion. The start date is the go live date of the system and support and maintenance. The estimate value in this notice is for the full 17 years of the contract not including VAT or indexation.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04edf9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036484-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

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

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

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£4,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£2,880,721 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£2,880,721 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Apr 20264 months ago
Submission Deadline
28 Apr 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
4 Feb 20266 months ago
Contract Period
2 Apr 2026 - 1 Apr 2033 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Norfolk County Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NORWICH
Postcode
NR1 2DH
Postcode Area
Norwich
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH5 Norfolk
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH51 Norwich and East Norfolk
Delivery Location
TLH15 Norwich and East Norfolk, TLH16 North and West Norfolk, TLH17 Breckland and South Norfolk
Local Authority
Norwich
Electoral Ward
Lakenham
Westminster Constituency
Norwich South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Access UK Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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