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API test, design and documentation tooling

Financial Conduct Authority

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

AwardUpdate

16 Sep 2026 at 12:07

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

16 Sep 2026 at 11:34

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Financial Conduct Authority bought enterprise licences for API test, design and documentation tooling. The service provides software-related support to standardise API documentation, improve API design and collaboration, and support secure API development across the FCA’s engineering teams. The requirement covers API testing, design and documentation capabilities rather than general software development. The buyer is the Financial Conduct Authority, a UK central government public authority based in London. The awarded supplier, SmartBear (Ireland) Limited, is an SME headquartered in Galway, Ireland. The procurement is categorised as services, with the underlying classification covering software-related services. The requirement was treated as a single procurement lot and is intended for use across the FCA’s engineering teams.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded to SmartBear (Ireland) Limited. The FCA used a direct award below the applicable threshold without competition. The award is active and the contract was signed on 24 August 2026, with a contract period from 24 August 2026 to 23 September 2029. The contract value is £49,470.59 excluding VAT and £59,364.67 including VAT. The award covers the single lot for the API test, design and documentation tooling requirement. The recorded procurement stage and outcome show that a supplier has already been selected; this is not an opportunity to submit a bid. The award relates to services and was made under the legal basis identified as the Procurement Act 2023.

This award indicates sustained demand from the Financial Conduct Authority for enterprise-grade API lifecycle tooling within engineering teams. Suppliers seeking comparable work with this buyer would need a credible platform covering API testing, API design and API documentation in one service, with licensing suitable for enterprise use. The requirement also points to capabilities that support consistent documentation, collaborative design and secure API development, so competitors should be able to demonstrate practical value across those outcomes rather than offer isolated testing tools. Relevant suppliers would benefit from experience supporting software engineering environments, managing enterprise licences and working with public-sector security and governance expectations. SmartBear’s selection through a direct below-threshold route also shows that a clearly defined, established product can meet this type of requirement without a competitive tender.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

API test, design and documentation tooling

Notice Description

Provision of API test, design and documentation tooling Enterprise licences to standardise API documentation, improve API design and collaboration, and support secure API development across engineering teams.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06faf3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087697-2026
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
Below threshold - without 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

72260000 - Software-related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£49,470 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
24 Aug 2026 - 23 Sep 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Financial Conduct Authority
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
E20 1JN
Postcode Area
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI41 Hackney and Newham
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Newham
Electoral Ward
Stratford Olympic Park
Westminster Constituency
Stratford and Bow

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SmartBear (Ireland) Limited

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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