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

General Medical Council (GMC)

This public procurement record has 6 releases in its history.

Award

30 Sep 2026 at 14:58

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
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) has procured a managed wide-area network (WAN) service using software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) and Security Service Edge (SSE). The work replaces the GMC’s existing point-to-point Ethernet network with a more flexible, cloud-based solution. It covers seven UK and Northern Ireland sites: three in Manchester, plus London, Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff. The service supports around 1,800 staff working remotely and in a hybrid model, connecting remote users to the Manchester and London data centres. The existing network has provider equipment at each site, backup circuits at four sites and direct internet access at two. The procurement is for network services across the GMC estate.

The procurement is complete and awarded to Softcat Plc through an open procedure. The award was made on 12 August 2026, and the contract was signed on 7 September 2026. The awarded value is £1,166,667 excluding VAT (£1,400,000 including VAT); the signed contract value is £834,717.50 excluding VAT (£1,001,661 including VAT). The contract runs from 7 September 2026 to 6 September 2029, with an option for two further 12-month extensions, potentially to 6 September 2031. There was one lot. Evaluation weighted quality at 65%, commercial price at 25% and social value at 10%. The stated economic selection requirement was £5 million professional indemnity insurance. Five bids were received, including two from SMEs.

This outcome shows the GMC’s demand for an end-to-end managed SD-WAN and SSE service across a seven-site, UK-wide estate, supporting a large hybrid workforce and remote access to two data centres. A credible competitor would need demonstrable experience delivering multi-site SD-WAN solutions and the capability to design and operate a cloud-based WAN that connects geographically dispersed offices, supports remote users and incorporates site-level resilience and internet connectivity. The requirements also point to a need to address security as part of the network service, rather than offering connectivity alone. The GMC treated service quality as the largest part of its evaluation, alongside price and social value, so suppliers would need to evidence delivery quality as well as competitive commercial terms and a clear social-value contribution. The competition was open to SMEs, and the selected supplier was a large business.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

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

Notice Description

Part C Specification 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 61. 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/092456-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details 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
£834,717 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
28 May 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
20 Apr 2026Expired
Award Date
12 Aug 20261 months ago
Contract Period
7 Sep 2026 - 6 Sep 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

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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