Award

ICR Support and Maintenance STA

NHS BUSINESS SERVICES AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

02 Mar 2026 at 15:41

Award

02 Mar 2026 at 07:53

Summary of the contracting process

The NHS Business Services Authority, located in Newcastle upon Tyne, has finalised a procurement process concerning the "ICR Support and Maintenance STA," aimed at offering continuous support for its Kofax ICR Solution, which encompasses a suite of software products including KTT. This contract, awarded to Tungsten Automation UK Limited, spans five years from 13 March 2026 to 28 February 2031, ensuring the software's maintenance until end-of-life. Falling under the services category, the procurement process used a direct award method due to technical constraints and lack of supplier alternatives. Companies interested in similar procurement opportunities should note the specific industry category of software support services and that the procurement stage is complete, with key dates indicating the contract's beginning shortly after the signature milestone scheduled on 13 March 2026.

This tender provides substantial opportunities for enterprises skilled in technical maintenance and support services to engage with public authority contracts. Given the direct award methodology, firms possessing specialised capabilities or unique solutions, particularly for software products, may find growth opportunities in similar government contracts. While Tungsten Automation UK Limited, a large-scale supplier, was chosen for this contract due to its unique capability to support the proprietary software of NHSBSA, SMEs that develop niche software solutions may also thrive by fulfilling specific governmental requirements where competition is limited due to technical reasons. Consequently, businesses with expertise in legacy systems, software support, or unique technical platforms should monitor such procurement activities for future opportunities.

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

Notice Title

ICR Support and Maintenance STA

Notice Description

The NHSBSA has previously purchased a perpetual license for the Tungsten (formerly known as Kofax) ICR Solution made up of a product suite including KTT. This contract is for the support and maintenance of the Kofax ICR Solution previously procured by the NHSBSA. This contract will be for 5 years, covering support of the product until it is end of life. The contract will commence on 10 March 2026 and run until the 28 February 2031.

Procurement Information

Section 41 and Schedule 5.6 of the Procurement Act 23 allows a direct award on the basis that competition is absent for technical reasons. NHSBSA holds a perpetual license and the supplier is the only provider that can provide support for the legacy bespoke system. Supplier has confirmed its resellers can not provide the services.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-065ef0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018588-2026
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
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

72261000 - Software support services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£284,304 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Mar 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
27 Feb 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
13 Mar 2026 - 28 Feb 2031 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NHS BUSINESS SERVICES AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Postcode
NE15 8NY
Post Town
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC43 Tyneside
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Newcastle upon Tyne
Electoral Ward
Lemington
Westminster Constituency
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

TUNGSTEN AUTOMATION

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-065ef0-2026-03-02T15:41:26Z",
    "date": "2026-03-02T15:41:26Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-065ef0",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PRLZ-1599-JGTT",
            "name": "NHS Business Services Authority",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PRLZ-1599-JGTT"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Stella House, Goldcrest Way, Newburn Riverside",
                "locality": "Newcastle upon Tyne",
                "postalCode": "NE15 8NY",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKC22"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "nhsbsa.commercialservicesteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-03006365",
            "name": "Tungsten Automation UK Limited",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "03006365"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Pountney Hill House, 6 Laurence Pountney Hill",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "EC4R 0BL",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI31"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "barbara.kaizer@tungstenautomation.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "large",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PRLZ-1599-JGTT",
        "name": "NHS Business Services Authority"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "W178544",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "ICR Support and Maintenance STA",
        "description": "The NHSBSA has previously purchased a perpetual license for the Tungsten (formerly known as Kofax) ICR Solution made up of a product suite including KTT. This contract is for the support and maintenance of the Kofax ICR Solution previously procured by the NHSBSA. This contract will be for 5 years, covering support of the product until it is end of life. The contract will commence on 10 March 2026 and run until the 28 February 2031.",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "Section 41 and Schedule 5.6 of the Procurement Act 23 allows a direct award on the basis that competition is absent for technical reasons. NHSBSA holds a perpetual license and the supplier is the only provider that can provide support for the legacy bespoke system. Supplier has confirmed its resellers can not provide the services.",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                }
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "title": "ICR Support and Maintenance",
            "status": "pending",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 341164.9,
                "amount": 284304.08,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-03006365",
                    "name": "Tungsten Automation UK Limited"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "72261000",
                            "description": "Software support services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-03-13T00:00:00Z",
                "endDate": "2031-02-28T23:59:59Z"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "018192-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018192-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-03-02T07:53:49Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                },
                {
                    "id": "018588-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018588-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-03-02T15:41:26Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-03-13T23:59:59Z",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ],
            "date": "2026-02-27T00:00:00Z",
            "standstillPeriod": {
                "endDate": "2026-03-11T23:59:59+00:00"
            }
        }
    ],
    "language": "en"
}