Award

003490 - Annual licence for Link Maker

DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

03 Jun 2026 at 16:24

Summary of the contracting process

Durham County Council, a sub-central government public authority in the United Kingdom, has completed a procurement process titled "003490 - Annual licence for Link Maker." The procurement falls under the category of industry-specific software packages and serves the location of Durham, UKC14 region. The award process for this contract was completed on 3rd June 2026, following an award in the goods category. The procurement method was direct and conducted below the threshold without competition. The contract period started on 1st April 2026 and will last until 31st March 2027, with a contract value of GBP 29,721.68 net and GBP 35,666.01 gross. The contract was signed on 31st March 2026.

This tender represents a strategic opportunity for businesses specialising in software solutions tailored for industry-specific applications, particularly in the public administration context. Companies similar to LINK MAKER SYSTEMS LIMITED, which participated as the supplier, may find significant growth potential by leveraging such contracts to expand their portfolios and enhance their credibility in the public sector software industry. Businesses with strengths in delivering comprehensive software systems that support public service functions, especially those working with public and voluntary adoption agencies, are ideally suited to seek similar opportunities.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

003490 - Annual licence for Link Maker

Notice Description

Link Maker is a national database that allows adoption agencies to match children with approved prospective adopters across England. This is the only system available and used by all 34 Regional Adoption Agencies and the Voluntary Adoption Agencies. In addition is is utilised for linking and matching across the 2 spokes of Adopt Coast to Coast. It is essential to practice. The invoice will be paid by Durham and through a Purchase Order one-third of the cost will be reimbursed by Together for Children.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06acde
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052524-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems


CPV Codes

48100000 - Industry specific software package

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£29,721 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Jun 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
30 Mar 20262 months ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
DURHAM
Postcode
DH1 5WB
Post Town
Durham
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC41 Durham
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
County Durham
Electoral Ward
Framwellgate and Newton Hall
Westminster Constituency
City of Durham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

LINK MAKER SYSTEMS

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-06acde-2026-06-03T17:24:23+01:00",
    "date": "2026-06-03T17:24:23+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06acde",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PMPB-8772-VYWM",
            "name": "Durham County Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PMPB-8772-VYWM"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Corten House, Dunholme Close",
                "locality": "Durham",
                "postalCode": "DH1 5WB",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKC14"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "zoe.embleton@durham.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.durham.gov.uk/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-08472919",
            "name": "LINK MAKER SYSTEMS LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "08472919"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PXCR-9611-VMWV"
                }
            ],
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "C/O Gateley Legal",
                "locality": "Manchester",
                "postalCode": "M2 4WU",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKD33"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "accounts@linkmaker.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PMPB-8772-VYWM",
        "name": "Durham County Council"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-06acde",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "003490 - Annual licence for Link Maker",
        "description": "Link Maker is a national database that allows adoption agencies to match children with approved prospective adopters across England. This is the only system available and used by all 34 Regional Adoption Agencies and the Voluntary Adoption Agencies. In addition is is utilised for linking and matching across the 2 spokes of Adopt Coast to Coast. It is essential to practice. The invoice will be paid by Durham and through a Purchase Order one-third of the cost will be reimbursed by Together for Children.",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Below threshold - without competition",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "status": "active",
            "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-08472919",
                    "name": "LINK MAKER SYSTEMS LIMITED"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "48100000",
                            "description": "Industry specific software package"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UKC14",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "awardID": "1",
            "title": "Annual licence for Link Maker",
            "status": "active",
            "period": {
                "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2027-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 35666.01,
                "amount": 29721.68,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "aboveThreshold": false,
            "dateSigned": "2026-03-31T00:00:00+01:00",
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "052524-2026",
                    "documentType": "contractNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK7",
                    "description": "Contract details notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052524-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-06-03T17:24:23+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "language": "en"
}