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Communications Solution and Telephony Services

Kent County Council trading as Procurement Services

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Tender

22 Jul 2026 at 11:12

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

24 Feb 2026 at 12:05

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

23 Feb 2026 at 16:05

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Kent County Council trading as Procurement Services is procuring a framework for communications and telephony goods, services and solutions for UK public sector organisations. The requirement supports replacement of legacy PSTN and ISDN systems with secure digital and cloud-based communications, with interoperability and resilience across public sector estates. Five service areas are covered: unified communications and telephony; contact centre solutions; mobile and fixed-line services; connectivity and network infrastructure; and support, maintenance and professional services. Scope includes platforms, hardware, software, licensing, migration, installation, configuration, managed services, monitoring, repairs, audits, optimisation and compliance assessments. The framework can be used by central and local government, emergency services, NHS and education bodies, housing associations, charities and other listed public sector organisations. Delivery is across the UK.

The procurement has reached tender: the buyer invited offers through an open procedure. The enquiry deadline was 6 August 2026 at 14:00, and the tender submission deadline was 17 August 2026 at 17:00. Evaluation was based on 60% quality, 30% price and 10% social value for each lot. The framework is divided into five lots, and suppliers may bid for any number of them. Each lot is estimated at £20 million excluding VAT, or £24 million including VAT, over the framework period from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030; the overall estimated value is £100 million excluding VAT, or £120 million including VAT. Framework call-offs may use direct award, a rapid request for quote or further competition. A 1% fee of the award value applies to the successful supplier. The award decision was due by 18 September 2026.

This opportunity suits telecommunications providers, cloud communications specialists, contact-centre platform suppliers, mobile and fixed-line operators, network infrastructure businesses, managed service providers and technical consultancies. Relevant capability includes designing and supplying unified communications, VoIP, SIP trunking, PBX replacement, softphones, omnichannel contact centres, IVR, routing, analytics, workforce management and AI-enabled services. Suppliers with expertise in broadband, leased lines, WAN, LAN, SD-WAN, Wi-Fi, routers, switches and firewalls may suit the connectivity lot. The framework also seeks installation, migration, configuration, monitoring, break/fix, maintenance, audits, strategy, optimisation and compliance expertise. Bidders must be able to provide all services within any lot they bid for, either directly or through subcontractors or partners. The procurement is expressly suitable for SMEs, voluntary, community and social enterprises, and consortia.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Communications Solution and Telephony Services

Notice Description

This Framework will provide a compliant and efficient route for UK public sector organisations to procure communications and telephony-related goods, services, and solutions. The Framework enables the public sector to modernise communication systems, supporting the transition from legacy telephony infrastructures (such as PSTN and ISDN) to secure, digital, and cloud-based technologies. It is designed to deliver interoperability, resilience, and value for money across public sector estates. The Framework is structured into five Lots designed to reflect real operational needs and encourage participation from organisations of all sizes including SMEs, VCSEs, and consortia. Bidders will be expected to be able to provide all services listed within each Lot, this could either be directly or via sub contractors/partners. Bidders can bid for any amount of Lots and do not have to provide all five Lots. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://csg.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-West-Malling:-Communications-network./D9F36UG24Q To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://csg.delta-esourcing.com/respond/D9F36UG24Q

Lot Information

Unified Communications & Telephony

Covers cloud and hybrid telephony platforms, VoIP, SIP trunking, PBX replacement, softphones, and integrated UC services (voice, video, messaging). Includes migration, configuration, licensing, optional managed service and AI-enabled communications capabilities such as intelligent call routing, virtual assistants, speech analytics, transcription, meeting insights, and workflow automation.

Contact Centre Solutions

Provides omnichannel contact centre platforms including voice, chat, email, social, IVR, routing, analytics, workforce management, and quality monitoring. Supports cloud CCaaS, hybrid, on premise upgrades and AI and automation technologies such as chatbots, virtual agents, conversational AI, speech and sentiment analytics, predictive routing, agent assist, knowledge management, and automated customer journeys.

Mobile & Fixed Line Services

Includes mobile voice/data contracts, SIMs, device management, fixed line voice services, PSTN/ISDN replacement, tariffs, roaming controls, and managed mobility services.

Connectivity & Network Infrastructure

Covers broadband, leased lines, WAN/LAN, SD WAN, Wi Fi, and associated network hardware (routers, switches, firewalls). Includes installation, monitoring, and managed network services.

Support, Maintenance & Professional Services

Encompasses installation, configuration, monitoring, break/fix, managed services, telecoms audits, strategy development, optimisation reviews, and compliance assessments.

Planning Information

The purpose of this engagement is to: Understand market capability and capacity Inform the development of the specification and pricing mechanism Explore innovate solutions Identify potential risks and delivery models. Suppliers are invited to participate in the following activities: Online Questionnaire

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-065a6d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069046-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

48 - Software package and information systems

50 - Repair and maintenance services

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

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

48000000 - Software package and information systems

50000000 - Repair and maintenance services

64000000 - Postal and telecommunications services

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

79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£100,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£100,000,000 £100M-£1B
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
17 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
6 Mar 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 30 Sep 2030 4-5 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
Kent County Council trading as Procurement Services
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
WEST MALLING
Postcode
ME19 4YT
Postcode Area
Rochester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ46 West Kent
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Tonbridge and Malling
Electoral Ward
Kings Hill
Westminster Constituency
Maidstone and Malling

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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