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Vocalink Fixed Extranet Maintenance Services

Department for Work and Pensions

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

09 Jul 2026 at 16:46

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

07 Jun 2026 at 10:09

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

15 May 2026 at 15:44

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process managed by the Department for Work & Pensions involves the "Vocalink Fixed Extranet Maintenance Services" contract, representing a direct award completed under the legal basis of UKPGA 2023/54. The focal industry category is services, specifically the maintenance of information technology equipment. This involves maintaining the fixed extranet connections at DWP Data Centres, crucial for the Central Payment System's banking network linkage. The contract was signed on 24th June 2026, with its term running from 1st July 2026 to 30th June 2028, and allows for a 12-month optional extension. The award has been covered under the GPA and provides reliable connectivity to the UK payment system from London, United Kingdom. The procurement is categorised as a direct method due to the unique intellectual property rights of the supplier, Vocalink International Limited.

This tender presents growth opportunities primarily for large-scale businesses with expertise in information technology and telecommunication infrastructure maintenance. Companies equipped to ensure high availability and robust technical support will be competitive, given Vocalink International Limited's prerequisites for continued proprietary hardware maintenance. This process reiterates the exclusivity within the industry where niche maintenance specialists are essential to uphold systemic reliability for critical public service infrastructure. Consequently, businesses capable of offering technical innovations, secure connectivity, and specialised support services stand to benefit from similar future opportunities, enhancing their service portfolios and engagement with central government contracts.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Vocalink Fixed Extranet Maintenance Services

Notice Description

This is a contract to provide maintenance to the two pairs of diverse Fixed Extranet connections installed in DWP Data Centres for access to the banking network through the Central Payment System.

Procurement Information

This is a contract for support and maintenance services for two pairs of diverse Fixed Extranet Connections installed in our data centres. The Vocalink Fixed Extranet Connections hardware connects DWP's Central Payment System (CPS) to the international banking system, offering continuous, secure, and reliable connectivity to UK payment services. The Central Payment System is DWP's tool for managing Annually Managed Expenditure (AME) and processing payments to citizens. The Vocalink Fixed Extranet Service is critical to citizen payments transacted using the Central Payment System, such as State Pensions, Benefits Payments, and allowances. This service is deployed for access into, Bacs, ICS, CASS, PayPort and the Payment Services Website. Vocalink International Ltd retains an exclusive contractual right to maintain its own proprietary hardware and there are no reasonable alternatives to these maintenance services. The maintenance fee ensures that DWP receives over 99.999% availability for the Central Payment System with proactive line monitoring, 24/7/365 helpdesk management, and a 4-hour fault response time.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069a41
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064905-2026
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

50312610 - Maintenance of information technology equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£445,738 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£445,738 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
20 May 20264 months ago
Contract Period
1 Jul 2026 - 30 Jun 2028 2-3 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
Department for Work and Pensions
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1H 9NA
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Vocalink International Limited

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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