Tender

Connectivity, Communications, Security and Safeguarding Services Partner

ACADEMY TRANSFORMATION TRUST

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

17 Dec 2025 at 08:46

TenderUpdate

09 Dec 2025 at 14:47

Tender

09 Dec 2025 at 14:42

Summary of the contracting process

The Academy Transformation Trust, a sub-central government public authority, is currently seeking a partner to provide Connectivity, Communications, Security, and Safeguarding Services. This procurement process is selective and uses a competitive flexible procedure. Located in Sutton Coldfield, United Kingdom, the Trust has detailed its needs for secure broadband connectivity, a centralised hosting platform, and comprehensive safeguarding solutions to support its network across multiple regions in the UK. Following the conclusion of its current connectivity contract in July 2026, the organisation has initiated this tender at the preparation stage, with the expression of interest deadline set for 9th January 2026, while enquiries can be made until 5th January 2026. The anticipated award period is set to conclude by 17th March 2026, providing a clear timeline for interested bidders.

This tender represents a substantial opportunity for businesses specialising in IT services, including consulting, software development, and Internet support. With a gross contract value of £2,400,000, this tender is well-suited for SMEs, especially those with expertise in secure cloud-service connectivity and advanced safeguarding solutions. The contract period, beginning on 1st August 2026 and potentially extending into 2032, affords ample time for businesses to cultivate a strong partnership with the Trust. Companies that can deliver high-quality solutions aligning with the DfE standards will find this tender advantageous for expanding their reach within the education sector, particularly given the emphasis on digital transformation and security.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Connectivity, Communications, Security and Safeguarding Services Partner

Notice Description

At Academy Transformation Trust (ATT), our ambition is that every person who passes through our schools and colleges becomes an educated person - able to take a rightful place in the community of educated people and to join what Robert Maynard Hutchins called "the Great Conversation." An ATT education stresses history, the scientific mode of thinking, the disciplined use of language, a wide-ranging knowledge of the arts and religion, and the continuity of human enterprise. We aspire for everyone, regardless of their starting point, to leave us capable, competent, and confident. Our cross-phase group of academies was founded in 2011 and, since that time, we have grown to our current family of 22 academies (primary, secondary, post-16 and FE) operating across 10 English local authority areas. The Trust's current connectivity contract is coming to an end in July 2026. The Trust has taken this opportunity to review its requirements in terms of: * Internet connectivity and, * in the current climate of increased focus on cyber attacks in education, security at each site and across the wider Trust network. * The safeguarding of students (but all users in general) as they use Trust ICT services and equipment With increasing emphasis and use of moving to cloud based platforms to deliver key services, the Trust needs secure, reliable connectivity to these cloud services and the wider internet. The Trust is in the final stages of moving as many services as possible 'off-site' and into the cloud - indeed, by the end of this academic year this project should be complete, though some services will need to remain local such as access control. To support this outcome, the Trust will require the successful bidder to provide a centralised hosting platform for key Trust services and applications to be delivered to/accessible from all sites. With the majority of services moving into the cloud, connectivity between the school sites is minimised, but will still be required. In addition to a secure network and central hosting there needs to be a comprehensive safeguarding solution, providing web filtering and activity monitoring to DfE KCSIE and other relevant DfE standards. This solution will deliver proactive and reactive filtering and monitoring, managing false positives and allowing Trust staff to be alerted so that they can manage effective and timely interventions when issues and/or concerns around how students (or other users) using Trust services and/or devices may arise. Following internal review and due diligence, the Trust has decided that it wants to test the market to find the most advantageous partner to work with them to deliver the above outcomes The Trust requires the following: - Secure Broadband/Internet connectivity for the Trust sites meeting, at a minimum, the DfE Digital and Technology Standards in Schools and Colleges - The Trust is in the final stages of moving as many services as possible 'off-site' and into the cloud - indeed, by the end of this academic year this project should be complete. To support this outcome, the Trust will require the successful bidder to provide a centralised hosting platform for key Trust services and applications to be delivered to/accessible from all sites. - Central hosting of key Trust-wide applications on Windows-based Virtual Machines - A full safeguarding solution covering both Internet filtering and device/activity monitoring that, at a minimum, meets DfE KCSIE guidelines, but allow the Trust to proactively and reactively manage behaviour and safeguarding issues across its network. - Detailed management information and reporting is required across the entire solution so that the Trust is aware of what traffic and activity is happening at the edge of the Local networks and across the Wide Area network at any given time.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Subject to satisfactory performance of its obligations the contracting authority may, at its sole discretion, extend the Contract for a further period of up to twelve (12) months by giving notice to the Supplier not less than one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the last day of the Contract Initial Period.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f1dd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083608-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

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


CPV Codes

32412110 - Internet network

32430000 - Wide area network

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

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£2,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Dec 20251 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
5 Jan 20266 days to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Jul 2026 - 31 Jul 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ACADEMY TRANSFORMATION TRUST
Additional Buyers

MOXTON EDUCATION LTD

Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
graham.thorpe@moxton-education.com, procurement@attrust.org.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
SUTTON COLDFIELD
Postcode
B73 6AZ
Post Town
Birmingham
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF15 North Nottinghamshire
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)

Local Authority
Newark and Sherwood
Electoral Ward
Castle
Westminster Constituency
Newark

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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