Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Penetration Testing

UK Hydrographic Office

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

18 Aug 2026 at 13:57

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The UK Hydrographic Office bought penetration testing services for its systems and services. The work covers computer audit and security testing, intended to identify vulnerabilities and assess the resilience of UKHO technology. Delivery is associated with the UK Hydrographic Office in Taunton and the South West of England. The requirement sits within the Cyber Security Services 3 Dynamic Purchasing System and is a public-sector cyber security service rather than a general IT support contract. It would suit organisations specialising in authorised security testing, vulnerability assessment and the production of clear technical findings for a government agency. The buyer is a national agency responsible for defence-related activity, so suppliers should be comfortable working in a public-sector environment with formal governance and compliance expectations.

The procurement has been awarded and the tender is complete. It used a limited award procedure without a separately published competition, following a competition under the Cyber Security Services 3 Dynamic Purchasing System. Bridewell Consulting Limited was awarded the penetration testing requirement, with an active contract signed on 13 August 2026. The contract value is £900,000. The buyer reserved an optional one-year extension. Evaluation covered price at 30%, technical and delivery at 25%, operational readiness at 15%, governance and compliance at 10%, reporting and communication at 10%, and social value at 10%. Ten bids were recorded for the requirement. The procurement was structured as one lot, whose tender status is recorded as cancelled, while the related award and contract are active.

This procurement indicates substantial demand for repeatable penetration testing across a national agency's systems and services. A credible competitor would need demonstrable technical capability in authorised security testing, vulnerability identification and risk-based assessment, supported by strong delivery planning and operational readiness. Governance and compliance controls matter materially, as does the ability to communicate findings clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders. Suppliers should be able to produce reliable, usable reports and manage engagement with a public-sector security customer. The evaluation also gave significant weight to social value, so bidders would need a credible approach in that area alongside service quality and price. The scale indicates that delivery capacity, resilient resourcing and the ability to support a broad organisational environment would be important when this requirement is next considered.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Penetration Testing

Notice Description

The provision of penetration testing services for UKHO systems and services awarded under RM3764.3 Cyber Security Services 3.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The provision of penetration testing services for UKHO systems and services awarded under RM3764.3 Cyber Security Services 3.

Options: 1 optional extension year

Procurement Information

Contract awarded following a competition conducted under the Cyber Security Services 3 Dynamic Purchasing System (RM3764.3).

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e698
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078565-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

72800000 - Computer audit and testing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£900,000 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK Hydrographic Office
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
TAUNTON
Postcode
TA1 2DN
Postcode Area
Taunton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK62 Somerset
Delivery Location
TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Somerset
Electoral Ward
Taunton East
Westminster Constituency
Taunton and Wellington

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Bridewell Consulting Limited

Further Information

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.

Loading OCDS record...