Award

Wide Area Network Services CPA/SPU/2762

POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER FOR CHESHIRE

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

26 Jan 2026 at 16:01

AwardUpdate

26 Jan 2026 at 15:53

AwardUpdate

26 Jan 2026 at 13:58

Award

26 Jan 2026 at 13:21

Summary of the contracting process

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, acting as the buying organisation, has initiated a procurement process titled "Wide Area Network Services CPA/SPU/2762" within the IT services category. The primary location for this contract is in Winsford, Cheshire, United Kingdom. This contract follows a direct award procurement method due to extreme urgency, under the Procurement Act 2023. The procurement stage of the process is complete, with the contract set to commence from 3rd February 2026 and end on 2nd May 2026. The awarded contract aims to ensure continued operations of critical network services vital for maintaining blue light services in Cheshire.

This procurement presents opportunities specifically for businesses suited to direct service provision of network operations without the normal lead times associated with competitive tenders. While the contract was directly awarded to Capita Business Services Ltd, it's a notable indicator for other large and capable suppliers in the IT services sector, especially those already possessing the infrastructure to offer such solutions efficiently, to be alert to possible future opportunities as contingency and main service contracts are reconsidered or re-tendered in the longer term.

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Notice Title

Wide Area Network Services CPA/SPU/2762

Notice Description

This notice is presented on the basis of an exemption permitting direct award without competition under the Procurement Act 2023. The ground relied on is as follows:- "strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency to preserve assets or enable services to be maintained". This award is justified because the provision of ongoing Wide Area Network Services is critical to continued operations. There is a current contract in place for the provision of such services which comes to an end on 02nd February 2026. Steps have been taken in a timely fashion to secure a new long-term contract for the provision of wide area network services with effect from 03rd February 2026 https://sell2.in-tend.co.uk/blpd/view-contract?secureid=9fa9c7c1-0b33-4199-8aab-eee9bc6cd239. However, given the criticality of such services to the ability to continue to provide blue light services in Cheshire and given the timing along with unexpected/ emerging risks, it is strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency to facilitate appropriate contingency arrangements to mitigate any risk of a gap in provision. Such a short term contingency arrangement cannot be awarded on the basis of a competitive tendering procedure because the services are strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency and, there is both insufficient time to complete a further competitive exercise and insufficient time for any other provider (given the works involved) to set up and establish a replacement supply. These services could only be provided by the existing supplier whose infrastructure is already in place. As indicated, this award is only for the purpose of securing services for so long as is necessary to mitigate the risk. A short-term contract for the shortest possible term has been provisioned for and a further contract is already in place for the longer term. Other options including informal competition, quotes or use of a framework were considered but the timescale means no other supplier could provision in the timeframe required even if commenced immediately. Factoring in any exercise would extend an already impossible timeframe.

Procurement Information

This notice is presented on the basis of an exemption permitting direct award without competition under the Procurement Act 2023. The ground relied on is as follows:- "strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency to preserve assets or enable services to be maintained". This award is justified because the provision of ongoing Wide Area Network Services is critical to continued operations. There is a current contract in place for the provision of such services which comes to an end on 02nd February 2026. Steps have been taken in a timely fashion to secure a new long-term contract for the provision of wide area network services with effect from 03rd February 2026 https://sell2.in-tend.co.uk/blpd/view-contract?secureid=9fa9c7c1-0b33-4199-8aab-eee9bc6cd239. However, given the criticality of such services to the ability to continue to provide blue light services in Cheshire and given the timing along with unexpected/ emerging risks, it is strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency to facilitate appropriate contingency arrangements to mitigate any risk of a gap in provision. Such a short term contingency arrangement cannot be awarded on the basis of a competitive tendering procedure because the services are strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency and, there is both insufficient time to complete a further competitive exercise and insufficient time for any other provider (given the works involved) to set up and establish a replacement supply. These services could only be provided by the existing supplier whose infrastructure is already in place. As indicated, this award is only for the purpose of securing services for so long as is necessary to mitigate the risk. A short-term contract for the shortest possible term has been provisioned for and a further contract is already in place for the longer term. Other options including informal competition, quotes or use of a framework were considered but the timescale means no other supplier could provision in the timeframe required even if commenced immediately. Factoring in any exercise would extend an already impossible timeframe.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060e8c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006789-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

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

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£186,862 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£186,862 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Jan 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Jan 20261 months ago
Contract Period
3 Feb 2026 - 2 May 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER FOR CHESHIRE
Contact Name
Jemma Taylor
Contact Email
jemma.taylor@cheshire.police.uk
Contact Phone
01606362078

Buyer Location

Locality
WINSFORD, CHESHIRE
Postcode
CW7 2UA
Post Town
Crewe
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD6 Cheshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Cheshire West and Chester
Electoral Ward
Winsford Over & Verdin
Westminster Constituency
Mid Cheshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CAPITA BUSINESS SERVICES

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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