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Interim Microsoft Managed Service

GOVERNMENT PROPERTY AGENCY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

19 Mar 2026 at 17:36

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

19 Mar 2026 at 17:27

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Government Property Agency has facilitated a direct award contract titled "Interim Managed Service Provider" in the industry category of IT services, specifically concerning consultancy and support within the United Kingdom. The contract addresses the need for expert Microsoft support services, including the management of Entra ID, Conditional Access policies, and Multi-Factor Authentication to enhance cyber security. Bridgeall Limited, located in Glasgow, is appointed as the supplier and commenced service on 1 April 2026, extending until 31 March 2027. This contract is a temporary solution as the GPA outlines its strategic approach to Microsoft service management. The direct award was deemed necessary under the Procurement Act 2023 due to the potential difficulties and costs associated with switching suppliers midstream without disrupting existing processes.

This tender presents an excellent growth opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the IT sector, particularly those with Microsoft Gold Partner status or specialised skills in managing Microsoft products and services. The direct award method highlights a preference for suppliers who can seamlessly integrate with existing systems and fill immediate technical support needs. Companies already familiar with GPA's systems or those capable of rapidly acquiring customer-specific knowledge could gain a competitive edge. By engaging in contracts like these, SMEs can not only expand their portfolio but also enhance their reputation within central government procurement processes.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Interim Microsoft Managed Service

Notice Description

The requirement is for a direct award for the provision of expert Microsoft support services. This includes proactively managing Entra ID, Conditional Access policie, and MFA to strengthen endpoint security and mitigate cyber risks. The existing service gap necessitates expert, multi-tiered support to reduce the internal IT burden and ensure faster resolution of technical incidents and user access issues. Procuring a third-party Microsoft Gold Partner to manage backup services moves the GPA to a secure future state, further data retention as well as ransomware protection. Sustained support for Azure Virtual Desktop centralises IT administration, ensuring a secure, scalable digital workplace. Standard procurement processes can cause delays for emerging business needs; the Professional Services Retainer fills this gap by allowing immediate access to engineers for urgent projects and will only be used if required. This arrangement serves as an interim solution while the GPA develops its wider strategic Microsoft implementation and managed service partner strategy.

Procurement Information

Procurement Act 2023, Section 41, Schedule 5: The GPA relies on Paragraph 7 (a) and (b) of Schedule 5 for this award: Incompatibility (7a): The Supplier is currently providing a managed service that utilises deep institutional knowledge and specific system development within the GPA's resource pool. A change in supplier at this stage would result in the GPA receiving services that are technically incompatible with the existing infrastructure and governance framework. Disproportionate Technical Difficulties (7b): Transitioning to a new supplier for a limited 12-month interim period would cause significant re-work of processes, an increase in technical debt, and substantial time delays. This would create a high risk of service disruption and increased costs before the final transition to the GPA's long-term strategic partner.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-066fa1
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025482-2026
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
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

72220000 - Systems and technical consultancy services

72267000 - Software maintenance and repair services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£203,500 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Mar 20266 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
19 Mar 20266 months ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 30 Mar 2027 6-12 months
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
GOVERNMENT PROPERTY AGENCY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B2 4BJ
Postcode Area
Birmingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Ladywood
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Bridgeall

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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