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IT Neutral Vendor

HEART ACADEMIES TRUST

This public procurement record has 9 releases in its history.

Award

26 Jun 2026 at 06:58

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

04 Mar 2026 at 16:34

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderCancellation

04 Mar 2026 at 16:15

UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
Award

03 Mar 2026 at 17:31

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

01 Dec 2025 at 15:43

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

31 Oct 2025 at 12:09

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

20 Oct 2025 at 15:49

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
PlanningUpdate

16 Oct 2025 at 11:59

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

14 Oct 2025 at 11:59

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for the IT Neutral Vendor contract by the HEART Academies Trust has been concluded. The Trust, located in Bedford, UK, operates under the category of a sub-central government public authority and was supported by procurement specialists, VALUE MATCH SERVICES LTD. The awarded supplier is WCL (UK) LIMITED. This framework contract involves a managed service model for ICT goods and services and targets the education sector but is also available to other public sector organizations. The competitive procedure, with an open and flexible approach, proceeded through various stages, culminating in an official contract signed on 3rd June 2026, with a value totalling £800 million. This procurement will be active from 1st April 2026 to 30th June 2030, covering the whole of the UK.

This tender creates robust opportunities for businesses involved in the ICT sector to expand their footprint within public domain services. The framework seeks suppliers adept at effectively managing supply chains with the need for alignment to standards, offering a breadth of ICT goods and services. Large companies capable of acting as neutral vendors, particularly those with strength in consultancy, software development, and telecommunications services, are well-suited to compete in this space. The framework ensures sustainability and social value goals, sharpening competitive edges by value for money and operational efficiencies through reliable ICT service distribution across the UK.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

IT Neutral Vendor

Notice Description

This Framework Contract will adopt a Neutral Vendor Managed Service model to offer a 'one stop shop' for all in scope ICT goods and services based on the Framework CPV codes. The Neutral Vendor will act a single interface between the Customer and the Supply Chain. The Framework is primarily focussed on the Education Sector, but must be available and suitable for all public sector organisations. The key objectives and focus of the framework are: ? Value for money - through competition and in the case of direct award, demonstrated through benchmarking. ? Access to a fully managed service - engaging with the Customer, providing advice and guidance, building up knowledge of each Customer based on previous engagements to inform the service they are offered, supporting the delivery of the outcomes required. ? Access to high quality ICT goods and services - high quality goods and services should be tailored to each Customers requirements. ? Transparency - copies of benchmarking information must be shared, especially in the case of direct awards, ensuring direct awards are only used where justified, sharing competition information with the Customer, whole life cost is presented including full transparency over Supplier fees to access the managed service. ? Process efficiencies for Customers - streamlining invoices with effective management information, simplifying procurement processes. ? Effective management of the Supply Chain - ensuring alignment with standards, only onboarding suitable Suppliers, offering choice to Customers, effective rotation of opportunities between appropriate Suppliers. ? Sustainability and Social Value - ensuring alignment with Customers objectives around sustainability and social value.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: Where additional CPV codes are required, this can be proposed by the Neutral Vendor. The Framework Owner may opt to include additional codes through a contract variation if it is justified and is within the scope of ICT delivery.

Planning Information

We will undertake a market engagement session relating to this procurement on 17th November. The purpose of this engagement is to support suppliers in preparing for the forthcoming procurement opportunity in a fair, transparent, and informed manner. To participate in the engagement session, please email an expression of interest to procurement@heartacademiestrust.co.uk by Wed 12th November. Suppliers are invited to submit questions during the engagement process; all questions will be collated and responded to in a non-attributed format to ensure equal access to information across the market. Questions should be submitted by email to procurement@heartacademiestrust.co.uk. The session will take place via Microsoft Teams on 17th November at 14:00. A copy of the engagement session, recording and any non-attributed questions received and answers will be issued as part of the tender pack to ensure equal treatment.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05cc2a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060074-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

30 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages

31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting

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

42 - Industrial machinery

48 - Software package and information systems

50 - Repair and maintenance services

51 - Installation services (except software)

64 - Postal and telecommunications services

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

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

30000000 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages

31000000 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting

32000000 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

42960000 - Command and control system, printing, graphics, office automation and information-processing equipment

48000000 - Software package and information systems

50300000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services related to personal computers, office equipment, telecommunications and audio-visual equipment

51300000 - Installation services of communications equipment

51600000 - Installation services of computers and office equipment

64200000 - Telecommunications services

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

79210000 - Accounting and auditing services

79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services

79500000 - Office-support services

79800000 - Printing and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£800,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£800,000,000 £100M-£1B
Awards Value
£808,000,000 £100M-£1B
Contracts Value
£800,000,000 £100M-£1B

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Jun 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
12 Dec 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
1 Dec 2025Expired
Award Date
3 Mar 20265 months ago
Contract Period
3 Jun 2026 - 30 Jun 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HEART ACADEMIES TRUST
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BEDFORD
Postcode
MK42 9TR
Postcode Area
Milton Keynes
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH24 Bedford
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Bedford
Electoral Ward
Cauldwell
Westminster Constituency
Bedford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

WCL (UK) LIMITED

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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