Award

Salesforce CRM Licensing and Support Services

NATIONAL ENERGY SYSTEM OPERATOR LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

28 May 2026 at 10:34

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process detailed involves National Energy System Operator Limited (NESO), located in Wokingham, United Kingdom, serving as the buying organisation. The contract, titled "Salesforce CRM Licensing and Support Services", falls under the software-related services industry category, specifically categorised under CPV 72260000. The process reached the "Award" stage, with a planned contract period from 1st June 2026 to 30th May 2027. NESO has awarded the contract through a direct award method due to operational criticality and the need for continuity during their TSA transition period. Key dates include the future signature date scheduled for 29th May 2026.

This tender provides growth opportunities for businesses specialising in software-related services, particularly those involving CRM platforms and SaaS solutions. Although the procurement process was completed through a direct award to Salesforce UK Limited, similar future opportunities may arise as NESO explores and optimises their technology stack post-separation. Large-scale enterprises with expertise in CRM licensing and platform support services could find potential long-term partnership prospects. This transitional contract underscores a strong demand for reliable service continuity and innovative integration solutions in the energy sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Salesforce CRM Licensing and Support Services

Notice Description

Provision of Salesforce Platform licensing, associated SaaS platform services, and support arrangements required to support NESO's customer-facing and operational activities, including Connections and Market Registration services. The contract will ensure continuity of service following TSA exit arrangements and includes the renewal and management of the existing Salesforce estate, including associated platform components and user licensing.

Procurement Information

The direct award is justified due to the operational criticality of Salesforce, which underpins NESO's customer-facing and regulatory-facing activities, including Connections and Market Registration services. Any disruption to the platform or associated services would materially impact the operational continuity of NESO's customer-facing services and NESO's ability to support key business and stakeholder activities. Salesforce remains part of NESO's approved technology stack and the requirement relates to continuity of the existing platform and associated services rather than the selection of a new customer-facing solution. The proposed approach aligns with the TSA exit strategy and the principle of delivering a like-for-like transition from National Grid during the TSA dial-down period. Alternative compliant routes to market were explored and assessed collaboratively across NESO. However, these options presented increased commercial cost, extended delivery timelines which could not be aligned to NESO's TSA exit requirements, and additional operational and governance risk. Based on the assessment undertaken, the direct award route represents the lowest operational risk and most commercially advantageous option in the short term, demonstrating a clear case for material value for public money. The risk of successful market challenge is considered low given the incumbent nature of the platform, the operational dependency on the existing services, and the disproportionate cost and delivery risk associated with transitioning to an alternative solution within the required timelines. NESO has now entered the TSA transition period and requires continuity of service ahead of the expiry of the current arrangements. Failure to implement contractual arrangements within the required timelines would create material operational risk and potential disruption to business-critical services. Value for money has been assessed through benchmarking against alternative compliant routes to market and existing commercial baselines. The proposed approach is considered proportionate and appropriate in the context of the current operational and transition requirements. A move to higher-cost alternative routes for equivalent capability would not represent efficient use of consumer funds and would introduce additional delivery and operational risk without corresponding service benefit. The proposed arrangement is intended as a transitional one-year agreement to maintain continuity of service while, post-separation, NESO conducts licence optimisation, usage analysis, and validation of future business requirements. During the contract term, NESO will continue to assess the future commercial model and route to market while retaining Salesforce as part of the approved technology stack.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a755
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050191-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency 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

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

CPV Codes

72260000 - Software-related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£4,008,005 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 May 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
28 May 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
31 May 2026 - 30 May 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
NATIONAL ENERGY SYSTEM OPERATOR LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
WOKINGHAM
Postcode
RG41 5BN
Post Town
Reading
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Wokingham
Electoral Ward
Winnersh
Westminster Constituency
Wokingham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SALESFORCE

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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