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Web Filtering and Monitoring

The David Ross Education Trust

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

27 Oct 2026 at 08:32

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

26 Oct 2026 at 15:30

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The David Ross Education Trust plans to procure web filtering and monitoring services for staff and student devices, covering use both on and off site across a multi-academy trust. The service is expected to support centralised safeguarding, alerts and reporting, alongside role-based administration and access controls, and to meet current Department for Education filtering and monitoring expectations. The Trust is seeking market insight into available solutions, supplier capabilities, emerging technologies and alternative ways of structuring the service, including combined or separate filtering and monitoring provision. Delivery is for the Trust’s operations in the United Kingdom; engagement sessions are planned at its offices in Loughborough.

This is at the planning stage: the Trust is undertaking voluntary preliminary market engagement, not inviting tenders. Suppliers wishing to take part are expected to register their interest by 6 November 2026; selected suppliers are expected to receive invitations and session times by 11 November. Engagement sessions are planned for 18 November 2026, with 45 minutes allocated to each supplier. The Trust expects a formal tender to begin in early 2027. It will use feedback to refine its requirements, contract structure and procurement strategy, including whether to buy combined or separate services. The planned contract period runs from 1 July 2027 to 1 July 2030, with a possible extension to 1 July 2032. The procurement is flagged as above the relevant threshold; no estimated monetary value is stated.

The engagement is relevant to suppliers of web filtering, online monitoring or combined safeguarding technology, including providers experienced in services for schools and multi-academy trusts. Suppliers should be prepared to explain how their solutions cover staff and student devices on and off site, and support central oversight, alerts, reporting, role-based controls and Department for Education expectations. The Trust is also interested in implementation requirements, support models, safeguarding practice, user experience, contract management and value for money. Providers with knowledge of emerging technologies and alternative service or contract models can contribute, particularly by comparing the operational advantages, disadvantages and risks of a combined service against separate filtering and monitoring contracts. Participation is voluntary and does not affect eligibility for the future tender. The Trust welcomes relevant experience and practical market insight rather than detailed sales presentations or product demonstrations.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Web Filtering and Monitoring

Notice Description

David Ross Education Trust (DRET) is undertaking preliminary market engagement in advance of a planned procurement for Web Filtering and Monitoring Services, expected to be tendered in early 2027. The purpose of this engagement is to better understand the current market, available solutions, procurement options, and supplier capabilities in order to inform the development of the Trust's future procurement strategy and specification. The Trust is particularly interested in solutions capable of supporting: Staff and student devices. On-site and off-site filtering and monitoring. Multi-academy trust environments. Centralised safeguarding, alerting and reporting functions. Role-based administration and access controls. Compliance with current Department for Education filtering and monitoring expectations. The Trust welcomes feedback on alternative approaches, emerging technologies and market developments that may support these objectives or provide additional value. This notice is issued solely to inform the market and seek supplier feedback. It is not a call for competition and no procurement documents are available at this stage.

Planning Information

Suppliers interested in participating in this Preliminary Market Engagement exercise should register their interest via email to Procurement@Dret.co.uk by 6 November 2026. Expressions of interest should include the organisation name, primary contact details, a brief overview of the relevant web filtering and/or monitoring solution, confirmation of whether the organisation provides a combined filtering and monitoring solution, a filtering-only solution, a monitoring-only solution, or both, together with a summary of relevant experience within the education sector, including schools and multi-academy trusts where applicable. Expressions of interest will be reviewed by the Trust and selected suppliers will be invited to attend an engagement session. Invitations and allocated time slots will be issued by 11 November 2026. Engagement sessions will take place on 18 November 2026 at the David Ross Education Trust offices in Loughborough. Each supplier will be allocated a 45-minute session. The purpose of these sessions is not to receive detailed sales presentations or product demonstrations. Rather, the Trust wishes to engage with the market to gain insight into current solutions and approaches available within the education sector and to better understand the key considerations, best practice, emerging technologies, implementation requirements, support models and safeguarding considerations associated with web filtering and monitoring services. A key objective of the engagement is to inform the future procurement strategy and determine whether the Trust's requirements would be best met through a single supplier providing both filtering and monitoring services, separate contracts for filtering and monitoring services, or an alternative approach proposed by the market. Suppliers are therefore encouraged to share their views on the advantages, disadvantages, risks and operational considerations associated with each approach, including any implications for safeguarding, reporting, user experience, contract management and value for money. Feedback gathered through this engagement process will be used to refine the Trust's requirements, determine the most appropriate contract structure and inform the development of the specification and procurement approach for a formal tender, which is currently anticipated to commence in early 2027. Participation in this market engagement exercise is entirely voluntary and is not a prerequisite for participation in any future procurement process. Suppliers who choose not to participate will not be disadvantaged in any subsequent tender opportunity.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07906a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/101292-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

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

CPV Codes

48700000 - Software package utilities

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Oct 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 Jan 20273 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jul 2027 - 1 Jul 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
The David Ross Education Trust
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LOUGHBOROUGH
Postcode
LE11 4SQ
Postcode Area
Leicester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF2 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF22 Leicestershire CC and Rutland
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Charnwood
Electoral Ward
Loughborough Ashby
Westminster Constituency
Loughborough

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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