Award

STA-26020b Provision of a Managed Network Service for the CoSTAR National Lab

ROYAL HOLLOWAY AND BEDFORD NEW COLLEGE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

15 Jan 2026 at 11:35

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

15 Jan 2026 at 10:31

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, a sub-central government public authority, has completed the procurement process for the provision of a Managed Network Service for the CoSTAR National Lab. The contract, awarded by direct award to Sohonet Limited, involves the design, build, configuration, and ongoing management of network infrastructure necessary for the lab's operations in Egham, United Kingdom. The procurement falls under the services category, specifically internet and computer network services, and covers a contract period from 1st February 2026 to 31st March 2029. The contract's gross value is £715,463.65. Key milestones include a future signature date scheduled for 28th January 2026.

This tender, awarded to Sohonet Limited due to technical reasons and urgency, presents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in network design and management to observe a real-life application of high-bandwidth and media workflow integration technologies in a public sector setting. While this specific contract has been directly awarded and is not open to new bidders, it highlights the demand for advanced network services, particularly for high-traffic environments. Companies seeking to grow in similar sectors can benefit from aligning their services with the needs demonstrated in this procurement, including core network redundancy and enhanced traffic efficiency solutions.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo
All Features Pricing

Notice Information

Notice Title

STA-26020b Provision of a Managed Network Service for the CoSTAR National Lab

Notice Description

Provision of a Managed Network Service for the CoSTAR National Lab. The service includes the design, build, configuration, and installation of all required network hardware, covering core, aggregation, access switching, firewall, internet edge, and Wi-Fi components. Implementation will need to include installation and patching, commissioning, integration with partner systems, and final testing, user acceptance testing, and handover. Ongoing network management will include monitoring and management of all routers, switches, internet bandwidth, and managed security services. Network provision scope to include Core Redundancy and design changes to reduce the risk of workflow disruption. This will involve adding additional network equipment and routing licenses across all devices to enable VXLAN to improve local traffic efficiency for high-bandwidth devices and support media workflow integration for multicast traffic.

Procurement Information

Royal Holloway University of London serves as the lead partner of the CoSTAR National Lab, which forms a key component of the wider Convergent Screen Technologies And performance in Realtime (CoSTAR) programme. The University is the Contracting Authority and procuring entity for this contract. The contracted services will be carried out at the CoSTAR National Lab facility, located within studio premises leased by the University. Under the current tenancy agreement, the University is required by the Landlord to contract with the existing network provider for the management and supply of telecommunications and broadband services to the Demised Premises. The appointment of alternative service providers is strictly subject to the landlord's prior consent and is not guaranteed. Sohonet Ltd is the designated connectivity provider for the premises responsible for the management of all on-site physical infrastructure, cabling and technical support services. As a result, engaging an alternative supplier is not considered to be a feasible option. Doing so would require the undertaking of extensive structural and construction work to install new cabling and may require a provider to enter into wayleave agreement by the landlord. Even if such permission would be granted by the landlord, this would incur significant delays, increased costs, and considerable disruption to the programme. It is our intention to award a contract to Sohonet Ltd for a fixed term until March 2029 which is the duration of the funding.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060660
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003413-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

72400000 - Internet services

72700000 - Computer network services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£596,219 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
14 Jan 20261 months ago
Contract Period
1 Feb 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ROYAL HOLLOWAY AND BEDFORD NEW COLLEGE
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@rhul.ac.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
EGHAM
Postcode
TW20 0EX
Post Town
Twickenham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ25 West Surrey
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Runnymede
Electoral Ward
Englefield Green East
Westminster Constituency
Windsor

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SOHONET

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-060660-2026-01-15T11:35:11Z",
    "date": "2026-01-15T11:35:11Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-060660",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-RC000823",
            "name": "Royal Holloway and Bedford New College",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "RC000823"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PRVY-6462-QBVG"
                }
            ],
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Royal Holloway University of London, Egham Hill",
                "locality": "Egham",
                "postalCode": "TW20 0EX",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ25"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "procurement@rhul.ac.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-03132110",
            "name": "Sohonet Limited",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "03132110"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "5 Soho Street",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "W1D 3DG",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI32"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "creditcontrol@sohonet.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "large",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-COH-RC000823",
        "name": "Royal Holloway and Bedford New College"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "STA-26020",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "STA-26020b Provision of a Managed Network Service for the CoSTAR National Lab",
        "description": "Provision of a Managed Network Service for the CoSTAR National Lab. The service includes the design, build, configuration, and installation of all required network hardware, covering core, aggregation, access switching, firewall, internet edge, and Wi-Fi components. Implementation will need to include installation and patching, commissioning, integration with partner systems, and final testing, user acceptance testing, and handover. Ongoing network management will include monitoring and management of all routers, switches, internet bandwidth, and managed security services. Network provision scope to include Core Redundancy and design changes to reduce the risk of workflow disruption. This will involve adding additional network equipment and routing licenses across all devices to enable VXLAN to improve local traffic efficiency for high-bandwidth devices and support media workflow integration for multicast traffic.",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "Royal Holloway University of London serves as the lead partner of the CoSTAR National Lab, which forms a key component of the wider Convergent Screen Technologies And performance in Realtime (CoSTAR) programme. The University is the Contracting Authority and procuring entity for this contract. The contracted services will be carried out at the CoSTAR National Lab facility, located within studio premises leased by the University. Under the current tenancy agreement, the University is required by the Landlord to contract with the existing network provider for the management and supply of telecommunications and broadband services to the Demised Premises. The appointment of alternative service providers is strictly subject to the landlord's prior consent and is not guaranteed. Sohonet Ltd is the designated connectivity provider for the premises responsible for the management of all on-site physical infrastructure, cabling and technical support services. As a result, engaging an alternative supplier is not considered to be a feasible option. Doing so would require the undertaking of extensive structural and construction work to install new cabling and may require a provider to enter into wayleave agreement by the landlord. Even if such permission would be granted by the landlord, this would incur significant delays, increased costs, and considerable disruption to the programme. It is our intention to award a contract to Sohonet Ltd for a fixed term until March 2029 which is the duration of the funding.",
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons"
            },
            {
                "id": "urgency"
            }
        ],
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 715463.65,
                "amount": 596219.71,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-03132110",
                    "name": "Sohonet Limited"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "72400000",
                            "description": "Internet services"
                        },
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "72700000",
                            "description": "Computer network services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UKJ2",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKJ2",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-02-01T00:00:00Z",
                "endDate": "2029-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "hasOptions": true,
            "options": {
                "description": "There may be a need for some additional equipment and license during the contract period if required."
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "003374-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003374-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-01-15T10:31:38Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                },
                {
                    "id": "003413-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003413-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-01-15T11:35:11Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-01-28T23:59:59Z",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ],
            "date": "2026-01-14T00:00:00Z"
        }
    ],
    "language": "en"
}