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Palladian Academy Trust - Comms & Security Partner

Palladian Academy Trust

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

29 Oct 2026 at 17:21

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

29 Oct 2026 at 08:28

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Palladian Academy Trust is seeking a communications and security partner to provide broadband and associated services for its schools. The core requirement is a leased-line broadband connection at each school, with a diverse routed automatic failover line, firewalling, and filtering and monitoring aligned with current Keeping Children Safe in Education standards. The service also includes support and maintenance, installation and transition, end-to-end service-level management, monitoring, management and reporting, and coordination of any third parties. The supplier must interface directly with the Trust’s outsourced ICT support provider to resolve issues and requests. Telephony may be added in future years. The Trust provides education for pupils aged 4–19 and is based in Bath and Wiltshire; delivery is required across the listed English regions, including the South West.

The Trust invited offers through an open competitive flexible procedure, with a qualification questionnaire and shortlisting stage followed by tender submission, evaluation, presentations and a final decision. The deadline for clarification questions was 13 November 2026 at 12:00, and the bid deadline was 30 November 2026 at 12:00. The stated contract period runs from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2032. The estimated value is £600,000 excluding VAT (£720,000 including VAT). There is one lot, with provision to add additional sites and associated software and training. Evaluation is weighted 70% for quality and 30% for price. Electronic submission is not permitted; the submission instructions are in the qualification questionnaire. The planned award decision date is 5 February 2027.

This opportunity is aimed at providers able to deliver and support resilient school broadband across a multi-site education trust, bringing together connectivity, network security, safeguarding-related filtering and monitoring, and service management. Suppliers need the operational capability to install and transition services across multiple schools, provide ongoing maintenance and reporting, and manage any other providers involved. The requirement also suits firms that can work closely with an outsourced ICT managed service provider as an integrated part of the Trust’s support arrangements, with responsive and transparent communications. The Trust identifies small and medium-sized businesses as suitable bidders. Providers able to scale service to additional sites and supply related software and training may also be well placed, with potential for telephony provision in later years.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Palladian Academy Trust - Comms & Security Partner

Notice Description

Palladian Academy Trust is a strong Trust based in Bath and Wiltshire that offers education from 4-19. We are proud that our schools serve different communities, some are church schools, some are non-denominational, but together we know we are better placed to ensure our pupils have the best educational experience. The Trust was established in 2016 and is named after a local landmark, The Palladian Bridge in Prior Park, a symbol of connection and unity. As a Trust, we know that each of our schools has its own distinctiveness and each one brings different strengths as an equal partner. While we recognise what each school has to offer individually, we also work together at the same time, to maximise the benefits of being part of a larger network and organisation. Being part of a Trust gives our colleagues access to high quality professional developmental opportunities, gives our pupils the chance to interact with others from different schools and provides challenge and support to Trust and school leaders through effective governance. We are proud to work in partnership with our Local Authorities of BANES and Wiltshire, our two Dioceses of Bath and Wells and Salisbury as well as other local and regional partners. We are also delighted to be an accredited delivery partner for Best Practice Network - delivering NPQ courses since 2023. Underpinning our vision for education are our values: respect, trust, courage, curiosity. We are a values-driven organisation, committed to our vision to provide excellent and equitable opportunities so everyone can flourish; in our classrooms and beyond! Our commitment, vision, values, charters and Palladian Pillars are key signposts that help us best support each other and our pupils. Our leadership and culture charters describe what is important in our Trust and the future we are all creating together. At a high level the key deliverables are: * A broadband service for each school that meets (as a minimum) DfE guidelines (Main line will be leased line for each school) * A diverse routed auto 'failover' line * A firewalled service * Filtering & Monitoring to latest KCSIE Standards . Telephony, maybe added in future years * Support and maintenance service * Full end to end single SLA approach * Management of any 3rd parties required to provide the service * Relevant monitoring, management, and reporting * Full installation and transition service * Value added services * A commitment to open, transparent and timely communications with both the Trust and their IT Support provider (Medhurst) Technical interface into the Trusts outsourced support provision. From the Trust's point of view, the successful bidder should be prepared to work directly with the Trust's ICT Managed Service Provider to resolve any issues and/or requests. To all intents and purposes, the MSP should be viewed as 'part of the Trust'.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: Additional sites to be added with associated software & training

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0792f6
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/102888-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

48 - Software package and information systems

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

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

32510000 - Wireless telecommunications system

32520000 - Telecommunications cable and equipment

32550000 - Telephone equipment

32570000 - Communications equipment

48190000 - Educational software package

48200000 - Networking, Internet and intranet software package

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

80500000 - Training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£600,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£600,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
30 Nov 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jul 2027 - 30 Jun 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Palladian Academy 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
BATH
Postcode
BA2 5RE
Postcode Area
Bath
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Bath and North East Somerset
Electoral Ward
Odd Down
Westminster Constituency
Bath

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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