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Network Strategy SD-WAN and Security Service Edge (SSE)

General Medical Council (GMC)

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Award

12 Aug 2026 at 16:34

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

20 May 2026 at 16:30

UK4 - Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

07 May 2026 at 11:04

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

28 Apr 2026 at 09:48

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

09 Mar 2026 at 15:15

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The General Medical Council (GMC) procured a wide area network and security service to replace its existing point-to-point Ethernet WAN with a more flexible cloud-based SD-WAN and Security Service Edge solution. The service supports approximately 1,800 staff working in a hybrid model, with remote users connecting through VPN to data centres in Manchester and London. It covers seven GMC sites across the UK and Northern Ireland: three in Manchester, and one each in London, Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff. The network includes structured Cat 6 cabling, provider-managed customer premises equipment, backup circuits at four sites and direct internet connectivity at Manchester and London. This is a technology services requirement for multi-site network connectivity, resilience, internet access and security.

The procurement has been completed and Softcat Plc was selected as the supplier on 12 August 2026, subject to a standstill period ending 21 August 2026. The award is for £1,166,667 excluding VAT (£1,400,000 including VAT), with a contract period from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2029 and options to extend for two 12-month periods, up to 31 August 2031. The original estimated value was £1,250,000 excluding VAT (£1,500,000 including VAT). GMC used an open procedure, with electronic submissions allowed in English. Five bids were received, including two from SMEs. Evaluation weighted quality at 65%, commercial price at 25% and social value at 10%. Suppliers needed £5 million professional indemnity insurance.

This award demonstrates a substantial, multi-site demand from the GMC for managed SD-WAN and Security Service Edge capability across UK and Northern Ireland locations. A credible future competitor would need proven experience delivering complex multi-site SD-WAN solutions, including cloud-based wide area networking, secure remote access, internet connectivity and provider-managed customer premises equipment. Operational capability should include resilient network design, secondary circuits, service continuity and support for hybrid workforces, with experience integrating sites and data-centre connectivity. Suppliers should be able to demonstrate strong technical quality, provide evidence of £5 million professional indemnity cover and develop credible social value commitments. The requirement is suitable for SMEs, while the winning supplier’s scale indicates capacity to manage a nationally distributed public-sector network.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Network Strategy SD-WAN and Security Service Edge (SSE)

Notice Description

Background information - The current WAN solution is coming to the end of the contract and GMC are looking to move to a new provider and a new WAN Solution across all GMC sites. We have approx. 1,800 staff who work in a remote working hybrid model with only 20% of these are onsite at any one-time. Remote workers connect via VPN into the Manchester and London Datacentres. We are therefore inviting bids from suppliers who can meet the requirements outlined in the sections detailed in the required Lots below. - The current GMC WAN adopts point to point ethernet technology and the strategic roadmap is to move to a more flexible Cloud based SD-WAN model. - GMC locations: * London - Regent's Place, 350 Euston Road, London, NW1 3JN * Manchester - 3 Hardman Street, Manchester, M3 3AW * Manchester - 3 Hardman Square, Manchester, M3 3EB * Manchester - St James's Buildings, 79 Oxford Street Manchester, M1 6FQ * Edinburgh - The Tun, 4 Jackson's Entry, Edinburgh EH8 8PJ * Cardiff - Caspian Point 2, Caspian Way, Cardiff Bay, CF10 4DQ * Belfast - Bedford House, 16-22 Bedford Street, Belfast, BT2 7FD Current Wide Area & Internet Networks - The GMC operates from 7 main site in the UK and N. Ireland, namely Manchester (x3), London, Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff. - All sites operate on structured cabling systems, the standard being Cat 6. - The current GMC WAN is comprised of 7 sites connected together using Ethernet point to point services. This is a manged WAN with service provider Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) at each site. - 4 of sites have secondary backup circuits (Manchester 3HS, Manchester 3HSQ, Manchester SJB and London) - 2 of the sites provide direct internet connectivity (Manchester 3HS and London).

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Option to extend by 2 periods of 12 months.

Planning Information

GMC will undertake targeted engagement. Suppliers with proven experience in delivering multi-site SD-WAN solutions are invited to express their interest at gmctenders@gmc-uk.org

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06658c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076953-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

72720000 - Wide area network services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,250,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,250,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£1,166,667 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
28 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
20 Apr 2026Expired
Award Date
12 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
General Medical Council (GMC)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MANCHESTER
Postcode
M3 3AW
Postcode Area
Manchester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD33 Manchester
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Manchester
Electoral Ward
Deansgate
Westminster Constituency
Manchester Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Softcat Plc

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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