This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

05 Aug 2026 at 11:26

Award

03 Jun 2026 at 13:33

AwardUpdate

03 Jun 2026 at 13:30

Award

03 Jun 2026 at 13:17

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process described relates to a contract awarded by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for a Domain Name Service (DNS) Solution. This procurement is categorised under information technology services, specifically concerning the management and support of data networks, computer network services, and Internet domain-related services. The procurement occurred at the Award stage after a former competitive process was terminated due to unsuitable bids and concerns over value for money. The BBC chose a direct award method, with the contract awarded to IBM United Kingdom Limited, located in Winchester. The contract commenced on the 1st of June 2026 and is set to end on the 31st of May 2029, with potential for a 12-month renewal. The total contract value is approximately £1.32 million. Due to the criticality of the service to the BBC's online operations, third-party tenders, such as those from resellers, were not considered suitable.

This tender represents substantial business growth opportunities for large-scale companies capable of delivering high-availability IT solutions critical for large organisations like the BBC. The direct award to IBM underscores the importance of established expertise and experience in handling essential IT infrastructures. Enterprises specialising in technology, especially with proficiencies in DNS solutions and data network management, would be well-positioned to take on similar deeply integrated IT service contracts. This procurement highlights the potential for large IT firms to secure significant and long-term contracts with governmental or public authority sectors, broadening their market presence and business prospects.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Domain Name Service (DNS) Solution

Notice Description

The BBC is procuring an Internet-facing authoritative DNS (Domain Name Service) solution. The purpose of this solution is to ensure BBC Online and related services continue to remain available in the UK across the globe. Due to the critical nature of this service to the BBC's online presence, it is essential the BBC has direct access to the technical and operational teams responsible for providing the DNS services. To ensure service continuity and the necessary level of technical expertise, the BBC will not accept tender submissions from third parties, such as resellers. Currently, the high availability design of BBC Online relies heavily on DNS for load balancing across different service architectures, failover responses in the event of service problems, and ensuring the best possible audience experience by routing clients to the most appropriate services that can respond to their requests. Original Tender notication was published using PCR2015. A decision to terminate the Competitive Procedure was taken on 18/12/2025 following an internal review which concluded that no suitable bids were received and proceeding would not currently deliver value for money for the license fee payer.

Procurement Information

Original Tender notication was published using PCR2015. A decision to terminate the Competitive Procedure was taken on 18/12/2025 following an internal review which concluded that no suitable bids were received and proceeding would not currently deliver value for money for the license fee payer.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ac8d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074148-2026
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
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

72222300 - Information technology services

72315000 - Data network management and support services

72417000 - Internet domain names

72700000 - Computer network services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,100,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£1,100,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Aug 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
28 May 20262 months ago
Contract Period
31 May 2026 - 31 May 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
BBC (BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION)
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
W1A 1AA
Post Town
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
West End
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

IBM UNITED KINGDOM

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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