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Education Network for Northern Ireland - "Education Network (NI)"

Education Authority NI

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

15 Oct 2026 at 16:18

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Education Authority (EA) is continuing education network and IT services for schools in Northern Ireland. The wider service covers managed ICT infrastructure for post-primary and special schools, connectivity and online services for educational establishments, and systems supporting school administration, teaching and learning. The proposed continuity work is narrower: continued NovaT6 timetabling software licences and support for up to 193 post-primary schools, with an option to transfer the licence to the EA. The service includes software implementation and support (CPV 72263000). Existing systems have been configured for the EA’s requirements. The EA says the wider managed-service transition has been disrupted after the replacement provider’s contract was terminated; some services are moving to a service management provider, while procurement of a new managed service provider is under way. Delivery is across Northern Ireland.

The process is recorded as complete, and the contract modification has been awarded to Capita Managed IT Solutions. This is a limited, non-competitive modification to the existing contract, made without a prior call for competition; the EA relies on the modification being non-substantial and permitted by the contract. The stated contract value is £721 million. The modification covers continued NovaT6 licences and associated support for up to 193 post-primary schools for one additional year, from 1 April 2029 to 31 March 2030, plus an option to novate the licence to the EA at any time. The wider contract began on 1 April 2012 and had previously been extended to 31 March 2027, with two further one-year extension options through 31 March 2029. The award is active; the contract is also recorded as active.

For suppliers targeting future education-network work with the EA, this award shows demand for integrated, configured ICT services across Northern Ireland’s schools, including network infrastructure, connectivity, online services and school-management systems. The immediate continuity requirement depends on maintaining the existing NovaT6 timetable service and supporting its established users, configurations, data and interfaces while a wider service transition proceeds. A credible competitor would need the ability to sustain a live education service without disruption, provide specialist software licensing and support, and work with school systems and existing technical arrangements. The wider requirement also calls for capacity to manage and maintain ICT infrastructure and deliver services to post-primary and special schools as well as online provision for educational establishments. Experience in complex, multi-school managed services and controlled migration between providers would be directly relevant.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Education Network for Northern Ireland - "Education Network (NI)"

Notice Description

The purpose of this VEAT notice is to give prior notice to the market that the Education Authority ("EA") intends to modify the Contract. The EA considers this is a modification under Regulation 72(1)(e) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The modification is not substantial.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The supply of a broad range of computer and related services (including, without limitation, on-going management, operation and maintenance services), information technology consultancy services and the supply of computer hardware, software and associated products.The overall scope of the services can be summarised as follows: -- a fully integrated end to end service to meet the management/administration and learning/teaching needs of educational establishments, -- ICT infrastructure and associated services for post primary and special educational establishments, -- connectivity to, and provision of a range of online services for all educational establishments. The systems and services provided via the current contract have been uniquely configured to reflect the varying requirements of the Education Authority.

Options: 2 x 1 year additional optional extensions.

Procurement Information

The EA entered into the Education Network (Northern Ireland) contract with Northgate Managed Services limited (subsequently Capita IT Solutions Limited) on 6 March 2012 (the "Contract" and "Contractor"). The Contract originally commenced on 1 April 2012 and has subsequently been modified, including through the modifications identified in notices - 2019/S 046-106361, 2022/S 000-006649, 2024/S 000-006005 and 2025/S000-009957.The modification identified in the modification notice 2025/S000-012429 provided for a contract extension until 31/03/2027 with a further 2 x 1 year additional extension options until 31/03/2029.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0788dd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097633-2026
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

72263000 - Software implementation services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£721,000,000 £100M-£1B

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Education Authority NI
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT1 2NQ
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
TLN Northern Ireland
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Duncairn
Westminster Constituency
Belfast North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Capita Managed IT Solutions

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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