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PROC0905- Flexible benefits platform Darwin

Sovereign Network Group

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

18 Sep 2026 at 15:10

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

18 Sep 2026 at 12:03

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Sovereign Network Group procured the continued provision of Darwin, a flexible employee benefits platform. The service is a single digital system for SNG and its employees to manage and administer employee benefits, supported by software programming and consultancy services. It is a technology and information-systems service delivered for SNG across the United Kingdom. The requirement covers the existing integrated platform and its supporting interfaces, data structures and business processes. The platform is intended to support employee benefits administration at organisational scale, including services that can accommodate changes in employee numbers. The buying organisation is Sovereign Network Group, based in Basingstoke.

The procurement is complete and was awarded to MERCER LIMITED on 18 September 2026. SNG used a direct award for the continued provision of services by the incumbent supplier, citing technical and interoperability reasons, service continuity and the platform’s deep integration with its systems. The award covers one lot. The contract period is 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2029. Its value is £466,680 excluding VAT, or £560,016 including VAT. The contract includes an annual change budget: additional services for employee numbers above the agreed minimum volumes can be purchased separately at the applicable contract rates. A future signature milestone was scheduled for 30 September 2026.

This award indicates demand for suppliers able to provide and support enterprise employee benefits platforms, rather than standalone benefits consultancy. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need a mature digital platform covering employee benefits administration, with robust software development and consultancy capability. It would also need to demonstrate secure, reliable interoperability with core organisational systems, existing interfaces and data structures, alongside dependable migration, testing and operational support. Experience maintaining service continuity for a large workforce would be relevant, as would the capacity to handle changing employee volumes through flexible service arrangements and agreed rates. The incumbent’s position was supported by deep integration and accumulated investment, so future challengers would need a convincing approach to compatibility, implementation risk, data migration and continuity.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

PROC0905- Flexible benefits platform Darwin

Notice Description

This is a Contact Award for the provision of Flexible benefit platform Darwin, which is a single digital platform that enables SNG and its employees to manage and administer employee benefits.

Procurement Information

This contract is for the continued provision of services by the incumbent supplier. The existing platform is deeply integrated with SNG's core systems and supporting business processes. These integrations have been developed and refined over time and are critical to the effective delivery of the service. For technical and interoperability reasons, a change of supplier at this time would create significant challenges in maintaining compatibility with SNG's existing systems, interfaces, data structures and operational processes. Transitioning to an alternative solution would require substantial redevelopment, testing and migration activity, resulting in significant implementation risk, additional cost and potential disruption to business operations. A change of supplier during the proposed contract term would therefore create a material risk to service continuity and the effective operation of the integrated solution. Continued use of the incumbent supplier is considered necessary to ensure ongoing interoperability, maintain service stability and protect SNG's existing investment in the platform and its integrations. The direct award will also provide SNG with sufficient time to review its benefits strategy and undertake a comprehensive assessment of the market. During this period, SNG will evaluate available solutions and market developments and determine whether a future competitive procurement exercise would offer improved value and outcomes. SNG anticipates completing this review and determining its future sourcing strategy within the next two to three years.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077552
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088784-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

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

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

72200000 - Software programming and consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£466,680 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
18 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 30 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
Sovereign Network Group
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BASINGSTOKE
Postcode
RG21 4FA
Postcode Area
Reading
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ37 North Hampshire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Basingstoke and Deane
Electoral Ward
Eastrop & Grove
Westminster Constituency
Basingstoke

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Mercer Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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