Award

zOS Mainframe support (2026)

MET OFFICE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

23 Apr 2026 at 09:38

Award

09 Mar 2026 at 14:37

Summary of the contracting process

The Met Office, a public authority within the central government based in Exeter, has completed a procurement process for zOS Mainframe support services. This direct award tender, titled "zOS Mainframe support (2026)", involves the support of IBM z15 mainframe hardware and software for one year. It falls under the industry category of repair and maintenance services related to office equipment, telecommunications, and audio-visual apparatus. The contract, which has been awarded to Computacenter (UK) Limited, was signed on 26 March 2026, and runs from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. The location of service delivery is the UKK region, United Kingdom.

This contract presents business growth opportunities primarily for companies involved in IT hardware and software support services, particularly those with expertise in IBM systems management. The direct award was decided without a competitive tendering process due to Computacenter's established history of successful IBM support service delivery for the Met Office, along with the technical risks associated with aged mainframes. Businesses specialising in providing stable and reliable IT support solutions, as well as those leveraging strategic partnerships, like those in existing framework agreements, are well-positioned to benefit from such contracts. However, due to the strategic intent to migrate services away from the zOS environment by September 2026, businesses focusing on transitioning legacy systems to modern IT infrastructures may find additional opportunities in the future.

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Notice Title

zOS Mainframe support (2026)

Notice Description

Support service for zOS mainframe hardware and software for a period of one (1) year. Direct award to be made under CCS Technology Products and Associated Services (RM9098).

Procurement Information

Computacenter was selected via a further competition on the CCS framework agreement for Technical Products and Associated Services (RM6068) in 2020 to supply the existing 2 x IBM z15 zOS mainframe hardware and associated software and hardware support. Historically, at the end of an agreed period of licensing and support of mainframe systems, new mainframes were purchased however Met Office subsequently renewed Support through Computacenter Ltd in 2024, for a further two years, via the TePAS2 framework (RM6098). Computacenter have successfully managed the IBM support for the past six years and there would be limited benefit in competing on-going licencing and support for the next year. Pricing of the licensing and support is determined directly by IBM so any further competition could have limited value. Price would be on the basis of list pricing and reseller margin so there could be limited variation in terms of any pricing submitted. The mainframes are also aged which could reduce any market interest in bidding for the support services given the associated technical risks. Project SKY, within the wider PMLSR programme, has a clear scheduled plan to migrate all services from the z/OS environment that will lead to the eventual decommissioning of the z15 systems. This is the strategic strategy with a current target date of September 2026. Again, this might impact the interest of the market given the high likelihood that the contract will need to be terminated early.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-066580
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036949-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services


CPV Codes

50300000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services related to personal computers, office equipment, telecommunications and audio-visual equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£204,118 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£204,118 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Apr 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
9 Mar 20262 months ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MET OFFICE
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EXETER
Postcode
EX1 3PB
Post Town
Exeter
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK43 Devon CC
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Exeter
Electoral Ward
Pinhoe
Westminster Constituency
Exmouth and Exeter East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

COMPUTACENTER (UK

Further Information

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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