Award

SC1B/DDSFTW114 - British Computer Society Memberships

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 6 releases in its history.

Award

16 Sep 2025 at 10:02

Award

11 Jul 2025 at 13:05

AwardUpdate

27 Jun 2025 at 12:43

AwardUpdate

26 Jun 2025 at 16:47

Award

25 Jun 2025 at 14:52

Planning

23 Jun 2025 at 15:28

Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) in the United Kingdom has awarded a contract titled "SC1B/DDSFTW114 - British Computer Society Memberships" in the services sector. The procurement process involved a direct award method due to the British Computer Society (BCS) being the only supplier capable of meeting the specific needs of MOD. The contract, signed on 31st July 2025, renews the agreement for organisational memberships with BCS for 2,000 personnel, ensuring the professional development of IT professionals within the MOD's digital and information profession. The contract term extends from 1st August 2025 to 31st July 2026 with a total value of £278,928 GBP. The procurement addresses the ongoing shortage of suitably qualified personnel in digital and cybersecurity sectors and aligns with government capability frameworks.

This contract presents significant business growth opportunities for companies focused on professional development and IT training sectors. While the British Computer Society holds exclusivity as the supplier in this case, other organisations could benefit from similar opportunities by aligning their service offerings to meet the MOD's needs for professional development and workforce training. Businesses specialising in IT professional organisation, development programs, and consultancy services could leverage such government partnerships to expand their service portfolio, enhance reputation, and secure follow-on contracts through demonstrated competence in delivering critical professional services.

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Notice Title

SC1B/DDSFTW114 - British Computer Society Memberships

Notice Description

A shortage of SQEP (Suitably Qualified Experienced Personnel) still exists in GDD (Government, Digital, Data) & Cybersecurity, so the department continues to promote professional development as a beneficial, rewarding and necessary intervention. The SDR (Strategic Defence Review) has reinforced this need to professionalise the digital workforce. OM (Organisational Membership) with the BCS (British Computer Society) provides a route to professionalisation with the leading professional body for IT (Information Technology) professionals. There is no alternative supplier. The requirement supports the HDIP (Head of Digital and Information Profession) continuing responsibility for developing Information Capability across Defence, including the alignment to government capability frameworks and industry recognised skill standards. As a result, the HDIP would like to extend the MOD (Ministry of Defence) OM with BCS for a further 12 (twelve) months. The current contract term expires on the 31st July 2025 and if this is not extended the department will have to revert to an individual memberships model which is significantly more expensive. There is therefore a need to extend the current OM capability for a further 12 (twelve) months at a membership level of 2,000 (two thousand). Under the contract, 1,690 (one thousand six hundred and ninety) memberships will be for DD (Defence Digital) consumption whilst the other 310 (three hundred and ten) memberships will be for DE&S (Defence, Equipment and Support) consumption.

Procurement Information

BCS are the globally recognised British Computer Society and are the only chartered institute for IT (Information Technology) who hold a Royal Charter. There are no other professional bodies who offer the same membership support and recognised qualifications. Therefore, there are no other professional bodies that the MOD (Ministry of Defence) can approach for this service as BCS are the exclusive supplier of these specific services. This contract renewal is to continue the service for MOD Digital professionals as part of their career pathway development with the purchase of 2,000 (two thousand) operational memberships in total. In line with wider Defence objections, the MOD are committed to supporting the 1 in 10 (one in ten) professionals being in a digital role and working with BCS to provide networking, specialist interest groups, recognised industry standard, CDP (Continuous Professional Development) and maintaining currency in qualifications. Under the contract, 1,690 (one thousand six hundred and ninety) memberships will be for DD (Defence Digital) consumption whilst the other 310 (three hundred and ten) memberships will be for DE&S (Defence, Equipment and Support) consumption. Absence of competition for technical reasons applies here as there is no reasonable alternative. This also represents an additional repeat purchase of the same services currently supplied by BCS under the extant contract.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-055205
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056855-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

98 - Other community, social and personal services


CPV Codes

98100000 - Membership organisation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£196,680 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£232,440 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£232,440 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
23 Jun 2025Expired
Award Date
25 Jun 20258 months ago
Contract Period
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active, Pending
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Contact Name
Joe Beavin
Contact Email
example.example@mod.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
WILTSHIRE
Postcode
SN13 9NR
Post Town
Swindon
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK72 Wiltshire
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Wiltshire
Electoral Ward
Corsham Ladbrook
Westminster Constituency
Chippenham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

THE BRITISH COMPUTER SOCIETY

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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