Award

Rehosting Partner for Stanage Data Centre

UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

07 Apr 2025 at 10:50

Summary of the contracting process

The University of Sheffield, a public body governed by public law, has completed the procurement process for a rehosting partner for the Stanage Data Centre. This procurement falls under the services category, specifically data storage services, and is situated in the region UKD. The process, carried out without prior publication of a call for competition, resulted in an award to Softcat PLC. The contract was signed on 27 March 2025, with the provision of secure, scalable data storage and hosting services, essential given the growing demand for data storage to support research projects at the university. The procurement was executed under the NHSSBS Digital Workplace Solutions Framework Agreement.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses specialised in providing scalable and secure data storage facilities. The nature of the services required, including potential ad hoc services, makes the tender particularly attractive to large-scale IT service providers capable of ensuring minimal disruption during transitions and who are familiar with managing complex data infrastructure. Softcat PLC, a large supplier based in Marlow, was selected based on their existing relationship and capability to meet the university's expanded hosting capacity requirements. Businesses looking to grow in the data management and hosting services sector, especially those that can offer reliable and rapid deployment capabilities, would find tenders like these promising.

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Notice Title

Rehosting Partner for Stanage Data Centre

Notice Description

As a result of growing demand for data storage to support existing and new research projects, the University has concluded an exercise to identify a suitable data centre partner to provide reliable hosting services and expanded hosting capacity. This requirement was fulfilled under the NHSSBS Digital Workplace Solutions Framework Agreement.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The University has identified a supplier for the provision of secure, scalable data storage and hosting services as well as the ability to provide ad hoc services as needed. The selected supplier was awarded through the NHSSBS Digital Workplace Services Framework Agreement.

Procurement Information

The decision to award this contract is lawful as it was carried out through the NHS SBS Digital Workplace Framework an established, fully PCR-compliant route. This framework permits direct awards to approved suppliers, and Softcat was selected from the list of awarded suppliers. Using this framework allowed us to act quickly and efficiently, without the delays and risks associated with running a full open tender. Given the scale and urgency of the project, as well as the pre-existing relationship with both Softcat and the incumbent hosting provider, this route ensured best value and full legal compliance. Maintaining continuity with our existing supplier was critical. The data centre supports vital research infrastructure, and any disruption could have seriously impacted ongoing academic and critical research activities. Moving to a new provider would have meant relocating sensitive equipment, a process made even more challenging by the current state of the ageing cabling, which poses risks of downtime or failure during a move. The incumbent supplier not only offered continuity and familiarity but also responded to our new requirement for expanded hosting capacity by offering additional space within the data centre. This, along with favourable discounted rates and an aligned approach to the university's long-term objectives, made staying with the current supplier the most practical and value-driven choice.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04fdf2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013347-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

72317000 - Data storage services

72514000 - Computer facilities management services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£2,939,429 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Apr 202510 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
27 Mar 202511 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
Contact Name
Savio Arinda
Contact Email
s.t.arinda@sheffield.ac.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
SHEFFIELD
Postcode
S10 2TN
Post Town
Sheffield
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE3 South Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE32 Sheffield
Delivery Location
TLD North West (England)

Local Authority
Sheffield
Electoral Ward
Broomhill and Sharrow Vale
Westminster Constituency
Sheffield Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SOFTCAT

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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