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Alpha Digital Product Software Engineering Services

OAK NATIONAL ACADEMY LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

17 Aug 2026 at 15:50

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Oak National Academy Limited is procuring software engineering services for the design and development of an initial alpha digital product, working with its engineering teams and project sponsors. The work covers building the product on Oak’s established technology stack, including Next.js, React and TypeScript, and using its component library. It includes integration with Sanity CMS, PostgreSQL, Vercel, Oak infrastructure and third-party services or APIs, potentially including MCP services, knowledge graphs and semantic search. The supplier must support automated and user-interface testing, static analysis, code review, logging, telemetry, monitoring and secure development. The work also includes technical documentation, knowledge transfer and support for handover to the Department for Education and migration to its infrastructure. Delivery is in the United Kingdom, for Oak National Academy Limited, based in Manchester.

This procurement has been completed and awarded following a below-threshold limited competition. One completed lot was awarded to UMBEL WORKS LTD, an SME. The contract was signed on 23 July 2026 and runs from 17 August 2026 to 28 February 2027. Its value is £74,865 excluding VAT, or £89,838 including VAT. The awarded work is classified as IT services covering consulting, software development, internet and support. The successful supplier is providing the full software engineering requirement described for the alpha digital product. The contracting route was a limited procedure rather than an open competition. The recorded outcome is an active contract with the selected supplier, while the tender itself is complete.

This award shows demand from Oak National Academy for specialist digital product engineering delivered alongside an established public-sector technology team. Suppliers seeking similar work from this buyer would need credible capability in Next.js, React and TypeScript, with experience integrating content management systems, cloud infrastructure, databases and deployment platforms. Strong engineering assurance is central: competitors would need to demonstrate automated and UI testing, static analysis, code review, monitoring, logging, secure development and vulnerability management. Experience with third-party APIs, semantic search, knowledge graphs or MCP services would be relevant to the technical scope. A credible provider would also need to work within existing architecture and CI/CD practices, meet GDS accessibility standards, and provide clear documentation, knowledge transfer and migration support for Department for Education infrastructure.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Alpha Digital Product Software Engineering Services

Notice Description

Oak National Academy is procuring software engineering services to design and develop an initial alpha digital product in collaboration with Oak's engineering teams and project sponsors. The services include: Developing the alpha product using Oak's established technology stack, including Next.js, React and TypeScript. Using Oak's component library and meeting applicable Government Digital Service (GDS) accessibility standards. Integrating with Sanity CMS and Oak infrastructure, including PostgreSQL and Vercel. Implementing automated testing, UI testing, static analysis, code review and other engineering quality controls. Following Oak's secure development practices and addressing identified vulnerabilities. Implementing appropriate application logging, telemetry and monitoring. Developing integrations with third-party services and APIs, which may include MCP services, knowledge graphs and semantic search. Working with Oak's platform and engineering teams to ensure security, maintainability, CI/CD alignment and consistent architectural approaches. Supporting handover of the alpha product to the Department for Education, including technical documentation, knowledge transfer and support for migration to Department for Education infrastructure.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e5db
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078224-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - limited competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£74,865 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
23 Jul 20261 months ago
Contract Period
17 Aug 2026 - 28 Feb 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
OAK NATIONAL ACADEMY 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
MANCHESTER
Postcode
M3 3AA
Postcode Area
Manchester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD33 Manchester
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Manchester
Electoral Ward
Deansgate
Westminster Constituency
Manchester Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

UMBEL WORKS LTD

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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