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Managed Network Services

Essex County Council

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

ContractAmendment

15 Sep 2026 at 16:11

UK10 - Contract Change Notice
Award

26 Jun 2026 at 16:00

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

30 Mar 2026 at 15:57

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

02 Sep 2025 at 21:36

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Essex County Council procured managed network services to replace its existing network technology while retaining the current operating model and supporting hybrid working, changing sites and increasing cyber-security threats. The requirement covers the design, build, replacement and management of Wi-Fi, local area network and wide area network components, security software, data-network support and a managed service wrap. Services include proactive support, reporting, resilience, cloud-enabled working, service requests, projects, transition and contract exit. The network serves about 175 Essex County Council sites, around 9,000 authority users, and public and guest users. The work is delivered across Essex for the Council and any successor body created through local government reform.

The procurement has been awarded and the contract is active. Essex County Council used a two-stage competitive flexible procedure: a Procurement Selection Questionnaire followed by an Invitation to Tender. Four valid final-stage bids were received. Technical quality counted for 55%, technical social value for 5% and commercial pricing for 40%; the technical assessment covered service management, transition, resilience, capacity, technology, security, compliance and exit. MLL Telecom Ltd was awarded the contract on 30 March 2026 for £29,049,600 gross. The contract was signed on 29 May 2026 and runs from 29 May 2026 to 28 May 2033, with possible extensions to 28 May 2039. The original estimate was £61,607,520 gross.

This award demonstrates demand for a large, integrated public-sector network service covering extensive site infrastructure and a substantial user base. A credible future competitor would need to design, replace and operate Wi-Fi, LAN and WAN environments while maintaining reliable connectivity, scalable capacity and a consistent service across changing locations. Strong capability in cyber security, cloud infrastructure, disaster recovery, resilience, service availability and performance management would be important. The requirement also favours suppliers able to manage transition from existing contracts, support unmanaged sites, reduce on-premises infrastructure, provide transparent reporting and deliver minor and complex network projects. Evidence of financial and technical capacity, robust documentation, effective communications, social value delivery and support for organisational change would strengthen a future response.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Managed Network Services

Notice Description

Competitive Flexible Procedure conducted for Managed Network Services, based on the below. This Procurement aims to replace the existing network technology while maintaining the same operating model to meet the Authority's evolving needs, which include hybrid working, an evolving real estate and defending against increasing cyber threats. The Authority requires a modern and well managed enterprise network solution that is designed, built, and managed based on effective security principles. The Solution will need to ensure that there is robust protection whilst maintaining a quality service experience to our Users and their various working styles. The wider adoption of hybrid working has seen the traditional perimeter of the network extend outside of our buildings. This change needs to be reflected in the security of the network, thereby securing the User and their Device as well as the traditional elements of the network. The Services must provide consistent and reliable connections that are scalable and flexible, both operationally and commercially, to accommodate changes in usage and demand at all Sites both now and in the future. The Procurement aims to consolidate contract management through operating a unified Managed Network Service for the Sites. The Provider must provide a reliable and consistent Service, including a managed service "wrap" founded on proactive support, open and transparent communication, strategic alignment with the Authority's business goals, and accurate data and reporting. This will enable the Authority to gain insights from the Provider on how to reduce costs and carbon emissions while promoting innovation during the life of the Contract. The Services must minimise network reliance on specific Sites through reducing on premise infrastructure. The Authority will work with the Provider to reduce network-related carbon emissions annually and to minimise costs associated with Sites by leveraging cloud infrastructure and enabling working for business continuity. This Contract will require the Provider to replace the network components at each Site, i.e. Wi-Fi, LAN and WAN to achieve the Authority's aims and outcomes. The Authority currently has various contracts in place to provide network services for circa 175 sites. The 175 Sites in scope comprise 127 under an existing managed services contract with the remainder, known as New Sites, having unmanaged services. There are c.9000 Authority Users who can use the network daily, along with General Public and Guest Users. It is anticipated, that during the life of this contract/framework, the LGR process will commence and/or progress potentially impacting this contract/framework. Impacts may include, but are not limited to, modifications such as a transfer of the legal entity you currently contract with, significant increases and/or decreases in the value/volume of goods/services/works required due to the change in size/scope of the Contracting Authority, and/or changes to the scope of the nature of goods/services/works required. Although any contract scope changes should broadly relate to the nature of the existing scope, new goods/services/works of a related nature may be required that were not previously included. The contracting authority is Essex County Council and any Successor Body meaning one or more entities which assumes any of the Council's functions (as applicable) as a result of Local Government Reform (LGR). Such successor body or bodies may be, without limitation, a local authority, a combined authority, a combined county authority, a strategic authority or any other status determined pursuant to the Devolution and LGR Legislation. The scale and exact timing of the changes are unknown at this point, but it is known that LGR will impact the County of Essex. All suppliers who work with the Authority need to be aware and where possible, work with the Authority to adapt to any changes/modifications as required to ensure smooth transition and continuity of services.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid. Services within the Networks scope which do not materially alter the original requirement. Any Services which are described and within the scope as defined for Minor Projects, Complex Projects or Technical Collaborations Project work includes additions, removals, decommissioning, and changes to the existing service provision, the specific details of which cannot be foreseen. Much of this work would be associated with Essex County Councils changing property portfolio (e.g. Estates Transformation Programme).

Renewal: The Authority may at its sole discretion extend the Term by such period as it may specify in written notice given not less than 3 months' prior to the expiry of the Term and may do so on as many occasions as it shall think fit provided that such extensions shall not, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, exceed forty-eight (48) months in total. The Authority may, in addition to the extension described above, at its sole discretion require the Provider to provide TAP Services (which includes BAU, Exit Services and Chargeable Service Requests) for such a further period as it may specify in written notice given not less than 3 month's prior to the expiry of the Contract Term and may do so on as many occasions as it shall think fit provided that such extensions shall not, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, exceed twenty-four (24) months in total.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0592b5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087449-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK10 - Contract Change Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

48 - Software package and information systems

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

CPV Codes

32410000 - Local area network

32430000 - Wide area network

32510000 - Wireless telecommunications system

48730000 - Security software package

72315100 - Data network support services

72710000 - Local area network services

72720000 - Wide area network services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£61,607,520 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£61,607,520 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£29,049,600 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£24,208,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
30 Mar 20267 months ago
Contract Period
29 May 2026 - 28 May 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
Essex 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
CHELMSFORD
Postcode
CM1 1QH
Postcode Area
Chelmsford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH36 Heart of Essex
Delivery Location
TLH3 Essex
Local Authority
Chelmsford
Electoral Ward
Moulsham and Central
Westminster Constituency
Chelmsford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

MLL Telecom Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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