---
title: "Force HQ Hydra Foundation"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-885ae9b9-b305-4812-9704-2b306d9393ef"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-885ae9b9-b305-4812-9704-2b306d9393ef"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-885ae9b9-b305-4812-9704-2b306d9393ef.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-885ae9b9-b305-4812-9704-2b306d9393ef.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Northumbria Police"
published: "2026-09-09"
---

# Force HQ Hydra Foundation

Buyer: Northumbria Police  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-885ae9b9-b305-4812-9704-2b306d9393ef

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-885ae9b9-b305-4812-9704-2b306d9393ef)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-885ae9b9-b305-4812-9704-2b306d9393ef.json)

## Summary

Northumbria Police procured an industry-specific software package to support Hydra, an immersive learning platform for emergency service employees. The platform provides realistic, safe environments in which learners can test their skills and embed learning that would otherwise take place in classrooms. The requirement is categorised as goods and is delivered in the North East of England. Northumbria Police is the buying organisation. The procurement is therefore relevant to suppliers of immersive learning platforms, emergency-services training technology, simulation software and related specialist software products. It may also suit businesses able to provide a complete platform-based learning environment rather than a conventional classroom training service, particularly where the product supports realistic practice, skills testing and workforce development in operational settings.

The procurement is complete and was awarded to Critical Simulations Ltd on 27 August 2026. The awarded contract value is £135,576. The contract runs from 14 September 2026 to 31 July 2027. Northumbria Police used a direct single-tender action below the applicable threshold, rather than an open competition. The tender had an estimated value of £135,576 and a submission deadline of 6 May 2026 at 5pm. The requirement was suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. The award was made to one supplier, and the published outcome identifies Critical Simulations Ltd as the active award holder. The evaluation basis is reflected in the direct-award route, with the procurement focused on obtaining the specified Hydra foundation platform for the Force.

This award demonstrates demand from a police force for specialist immersive learning software that can give emergency service employees realistic opportunities to practise and test skills safely. A credible future competitor would need a proven platform capable of reproducing realistic learning environments, supporting structured skills development and helping organisations embed training beyond the classroom. Relevant suppliers are likely to include simulation-software developers, immersive learning technology firms and specialist providers with experience in emergency-services or operational training. The requirement was identified as suitable for SMEs, and the selected supplier is itself an SME, indicating that a smaller specialist business can be credible for this type of public-sector requirement. Businesses should be able to explain how their platform supports learner practice, realistic scenarios and workforce learning outcomes for a police or emergency-service setting.

## Notice

Hydra is an immersive learning platform to provide emergency service employees with a real life learning experience to enable them to test their skills and embed learning. Hydra provides the Force with an opportunity to embed learning that will often take place in classrooms, giving the learners the opportunity to practice their skills in a safe, realistic environment.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6bfb1a2b-7339-4560-94f9-87c5653aec72 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Single tender action (below threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 9 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 27 Aug 2026 |
| Contract period | 14 Sep 2026 - 31 Jul 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £135,576 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £135,576 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Northumbria Police |
| Locality | NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE |
| Postcode area | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Postcode | NE1 3PH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear |
| ITL 3 | TLC43 Tyneside |
| Local authority | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Electoral ward | Monument |
| Westminster constituency | Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West |
| Delivery location | TLC North East (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | CRITICAL SIMULATIONS LTD |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 48 - Software package and information systems

### Codes

- 48100000 - Industry specific software package

## Release History

- 9 Sep 2026 at 15:33 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6bfb1a2b-7339-4560-94f9-87c5653aec72

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6bfb1a2b-7339-4560-94f9-87c5653aec72
  9th September 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-885ae9b9-b305-4812-9704-2b306d9393ef. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-885ae9b9-b305-4812-9704-2b306d9393ef.json.