Planning

BLC0273 Adobe or equivalent software

BLUELIGHT COMMERCIAL LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

09 Jul 2025 at 14:12

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

BLUELIGHT COMMERCIAL LIMITED, a sub-central government public authority based in London, is in the planning stage of a procurement process for a national contract related to "BLC0273 Adobe or equivalent software." This procurement falls under the industry category of software package and information systems, and it aims to meet the software needs of UK policing and potentially fire authorities. A key milestone involves a remote market engagement session using Microsoft Teams, scheduled for Friday, 18th July at 10:30 am. Prospective participants must register their interest by completing a survey by 16th July. This session is part of a preliminary market engagement, prior to any formal tender notice, indicating the authority's intent to gather information to inform future procurement strategies. The estimated contract value is £12 million, with the procurement route yet to be finalised, and a future notice expected by 1st September 2025.

This tender presents significant opportunities for technology providers, particularly those specialising in PDF management software. It is well-suited for SMEs and VCSEs looking to explore the procurement needs within the public sector. The focus on exploring Adobe alternatives opens the door for innovative solutions that can showcase competitive capabilities within the industry. Businesses prepared to engage in deep technological discussions and those with innovations aligning with the mentioned requirements will have an opportunity to influence the approach of this procurement and establish a significant presence in the public sector's software supply chain.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

BLC0273 Adobe or equivalent software

Notice Description

Further to the UK1: Pipeline Notice published on 9th June (ref: 2025/S 000-030886) for a national contract for all policing (and potential for fire authorities) for Adobe or equivalent software needs. BlueLight Commercial are issuing this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice to further understand alternative products to Adobe available within the PDF management market which will help inform BLC's overall approach and strategy to the procurement. To be clear BLC have not yet chosen a route to market and may decide that an open procurement is not an appropriate route for this Contract and may review existing Frameworks available under the Public Contract Regulations 2015. BlueLight Commercial therefore invites interested technology providers to attend a market engagement session on Friday 18th July, 10.30am. During the session we will provide an overview of the current contract and our minimum requirements of the software moving forward. Following this initial market engagement session BlueLight Commercial intends to hold one-to-one meetings on 24th July with technology providers which will focus on gaining an understanding of the technology capabilities and functionality in the market. Depending on the level of interest, BlueLight Commercial reserves the right to restrict these meetings to technology providers only who can meet the minimum requirements set out within the initial market engagement session. If you have any questions, please contact the BlueLight Commercial ICT Team at nationalict@bluelight.police.uk. It is important to note that this notice acts as an invitation to attend market engagement, it is not a call for competition and as such potential providers will need to express interest in any future opportunity once a tender notice is published on Find a Tender Service (FTS). This preliminary market engagement notice is not a pre-qualification questionnaire and is not part of any pre-qualification or selection process and is intended as an awareness, communication, and information gathering exercise only to help inform a subsequent procurement exercise.

Planning Information

The intention is to hold the session remotely via Microsoft Teams on Friday 18th July, 10.30am. The event will be limited to 2 people from each organisation. If you would like to register your interest to attend the session, please do so by completing this survey https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/SNW4UF/ by 12pm Wednesday 16th July, stating the name, role and e-mail address of each attendee.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-055c30
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038666-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
£12,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Jul 20257 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
20 Apr 2026 - 19 Apr 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
BLUELIGHT COMMERCIAL LIMITED
Contact Name
Emily Stewart
Contact Email
emily.stewart@bluelight.police.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 3JS
Post Town
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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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