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Digital Development Partner

The Arts Council of England

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

02 Sep 2026 at 12:38

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Arts Council of England appointed a specialist digital development partner for its significant digital and data transformation programme. The services are intended to accelerate delivery, strengthen engineering and governance standards, and build sustainable internal capability in support of the Arts Council’s long-term digital objectives. The requirement covers information systems and technology strategic review and planning services, alongside broader external support for digital transformation. This is a professional technology services opportunity for organisations able to work with a public-sector arts and cultural body. The buying organisation is Arts Council of England, based in Manchester, and the procurement concerns delivery of its organisational transformation programme rather than a construction or physical supply requirement.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a competitive selective procedure under a framework agreement. One completed lot was awarded to Mphasis UK Limited. The award was made on 1 September 2026 for £5,000,000,000 excluding VAT, or £6,000,000,000 including VAT. The contract period runs from 29 September 2026 to 28 September 2029, with an option for a two-year renewal extending the maximum period to 27 September 2031. The award is above the applicable threshold. A future contract signature was scheduled for 28 September 2026. Evaluation selected the most suitable partner to support digital delivery, engineering, governance and internal capability objectives.

For a supplier that did not win this award, the outcome demonstrates that Arts Council of England buys substantial, strategic digital transformation support through a competitive framework route. A credible future competitor would need to show strong information systems and technology strategy capability, experience accelerating digital and data programmes, and the ability to improve engineering and governance standards. It would also need to demonstrate that it can transfer knowledge and build sustainable internal capability, rather than provide only short-term delivery resources. The successful supplier was an SME, showing that scale alone is not the defining profile. Firms combining transformation leadership, technical delivery and public-sector governance capability are best placed for this buyer’s requirement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Digital Development Partner

Notice Description

Arts Council England is progressing a significant digital and data transformation programme and requires specialist external support to accelerate delivery, strengthen engineering and governance standards, and build sustainable internal capability, therefore, it was decided to run a competitive tender to choose the most suitable partner to help Arts Council achieve its long-term digital objectives.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f055
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083036-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Award under framework
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

72222000 - Information systems or technology strategic review and planning services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£5,000,000,000 £1B-£10B
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
1 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
29 Sep 2026 - 28 Sep 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
The Arts Council of England
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
M1 1FN
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
Piccadilly
Westminster Constituency
Manchester Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Mphasis

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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