Award

Decommission and recommission of Hydra facilities at an alternative Home Office location

HOME OFFICE

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

17 Nov 2025 at 13:57

Award

23 Oct 2025 at 15:36

Award

07 Oct 2025 at 16:17

Summary of the contracting process

The Home Office, located in London, has completed a procurement process for the "Decommission and recommission of Hydra facilities at an alternative Home Office location". This project falls within the industry category of training simulators, specifically for the needs of immigration enforcement officer training. The procurement was carried out via a direct award to Critical Simulations Ltd, justified by technical reasons to ensure compatibility with existing systems. This contract, valued at £125,536, began on 5th November 2025 and is set to conclude on 24th August 2026, highlighting the critical nature and time-sensitive requirements of the project.

This tender presents business growth opportunities particularly for companies experienced in system integration and technology support for training simulators. Given the technical specificity and interoperability demands of this project, companies with expertise in maintaining continuity of service in critical government infrastructure, like Critical Simulations Ltd, are well-suited to compete. This contract also underscores the importance of SME experiences, as demonstrated by the supplier, in executing such government projects strategically and efficiently.

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Notice Title

Decommission and recommission of Hydra facilities at an alternative Home Office location

Notice Description

Decommission and recommission including system upgrade to maintain system capability of the Hydra facilities at an alternative Home Office location

Procurement Information

This direct award to a single supplier is justified on the grounds of avoiding incompatibility between existing systems and new goods/services, resulting in significant financial costs and time delays, and delivery risks for a critical Authority system. Currently, Critical Simulations Limited (CSL), provides expert technology support to ensure the efficient delivery of immersive Hydra critical incident training for Immigration Enforcement officers at Authority locations. There is a requirement to move some of this existing technology infrastructure to a new Authority location to retain this essential equipment and operational capability. All existing equipment at the original location has been configured and integrated by the existing supplier to ensure it is compatible and suitable as part of the overall Hydra training suite network. Transferring this existing equipment ensures continuity of service, and interoperability with the existing network. This solution also provides a significantly more cost-effective approach than reprocuring all new equipment. Following decommission, site transfer, and upgrades to the existing equipment in the new location to maintain compatibility with the wider network, the new location can continue to be maintained by Critical Simulations Limited as part of the wider network, as a like for like replacement of the original location. This would not be possible should an alternative supplier be appointed for this requirement, and the equipment would cease to form part of Critical Simulations Limited ongoing responsibility for the network.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05a9f2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074406-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation


CPV Codes

34152000 - Training simulators

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£125,536 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£125,536 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Nov 20253 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
5 Oct 20254 months ago
Contract Period
5 Nov 2025 - 24 Aug 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HOME OFFICE
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
ieprocurement@homeoffice.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CRITICAL SIMULATIONS

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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