--- title: "Strategic Digital Partner" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-050b01" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-050b01" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050b01.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050b01.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOUNDATION" published: "2025-07-10" --- # Strategic Digital Partner Buyer: THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOUNDATION Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-050b01 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-050b01) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050b01.json) ## Summary The Education and Training Foundation (ETF), a public authority operating as sub-central government based in London, has awarded a contract for a "Strategic Digital Partner" aimed at supporting their digital transformation. The procurement process moved to a direct award following an unsuccessful tender the previous year. The contract involves developing the ETF's digital strategy including website functionalities using Umbraco technology, and ensuring integration with Microsoft Dynamics CRM. The award is given to BlueLight CRM Ltd for services including internet client application development and site design, and the contract period spans from 25 July 2025 to 24 July 2028, with potential extensions until 2030. The development work is expected to be completed by 1 February 2026, with options for additional support work and extensions. This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses involved in digital system development, especially those experienced with educational platforms, UK government compliance, and CRM solutions integration. Companies specializing in client application development, website design, and support services can leverage their skills to support ETF's extensive digital requirements and development goals. SMEs with practical experience in Dynamics-based solutions in education and membership services are well-suited to engage in this kind of procurement. The successful completion and support of this contract can bolster a company's reputation, reliability, and footprint in public sector projects, paving the way for further business expansion in similar sectors. ## Notice Following an unsuccessful tender in 2024, The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) have followed a process for a direct award contract as a follow-on to the original tender. The move to a process for direct award through negotiated procedure was as a direct result of the reasons from the unsuccessful procurement in 2024. Essential requirement detailed in the original tender that were not able to be fulfilled included: - Digital partners should have an extensive portfolio of clients that are professional membership bodies - Compliance with Department for Education (DfE) authority to operate - CRM 'MUST' requirements listed in Part 2 TRD excel spreadsheet Of the 112 suppliers who registered their interest in the bid, several withdrew for the following reasons: - There was concern that there was an existing UX agency partner - They had limited experience in the membership organisation space - They felt the functional requirements lent themselves more to an off the shelf product rather than bespoke - They felt they weren't the right technical fit Note, ETF felt that Umbraco was an essential requirement to avoid security breaches. Following the failed tender a temporary arrangement was put in place with the incumbent supplier, and a review of the market was then undertaken taking into consideration the particular requirements that led to the unsuccessful tender, and the extremely limited potential market. Extensive market research was conducted to identify potential suppliers that could meet the requirements, and then short-listing was carried out based on the necessary capabilities, knowledge and experience, switching the procurement process to a direct award. 21 Umbraco partners recommended on the Umbraco website (https://umbraco.com/partners/?skill=§or=&country=&level=) were considered for suitability. Suppliers were assessed on their ratings, whether they had membership experience (using dynamics) and whether they have worked in education. Out-of-the-box membership solutions suitable for the education sector were also considered. The list was shortlisted to 7 following this assessment. Digital agencies who could not provide end-to-end solutions with Microsoft Dynamics off the shelf products were excluded. In April (2025), ETF held a series of demonstrations in which suppliers were asked to showcase their membership functionality. Membership requirements were shared will all suppliers. Some suppliers offered both Umbraco services and membership functionality, while in other cases, suppliers were brought together to meet ETF's needs. It is important to note that these sessions were not sales pitches but rather an opportunity for suppliers to demonstrate how their solution would meet ETF's specific requirements. No financial discussions were held during these sessions. Focus was primarily on scoring the solution against ETF's requirements. The short-listed suppliers were approached as it was deemed that they were best placed to meet ETF's requirement to build a new website as single open front door with updated branding, consolidating the ETF and SET websites. In line with the agreed technology strategy, the website will be developed using Umbraco technology. While ETF will continue to use Microsoft Dynamics CRM, alternative membership solutions were also explored. A transparency notice was published to reflects the process undertaken. Following the demonstrations, top scoring suppliers were short-listed to submit a proposal. Proposals highlighted the development costs would be higher than originally planned; therefore, the contract value has been increased to reflect this. This risk was identified in the transparency notice. The successfully appointed supplier will: - Support ETF's digital transformation programme to achieve our desired target state by implementing and supporting a CMS solution, inheriting our existing membership portal, and building any necessary integrations into CRM for off-the-shelf membership solution, events and CPD with Dynamics CRM. - Enhance a Single Sign On (SSO) solution, Azure B2C, across our digital estate. - Be a strategic digital partner for the ETF who shares a vision and a roadmap for the future. - Launch a CMS solution with strong digital architecture, navigation, useability, governance, and content management features. - Ensure the CMS is integrated with Google Analytics ready for launch to align with ETF's reporting and insight needs. - Meet relevant security, compliance, and accessibility standards. It is anticipated that the development work will be completed by 1 February 2026. An option for further development work is included in the transparency notice and in this contract award notice. In addition, ETF will also be awarding the successful supplier a support contract, as expressed in the transparency notice. The provision of the support has increased the value of the contract value published in the transparency notice and has extended the length of the contract detailed previously. ETF include the option to extend the support contract until 31 March 2030 in this award notice. In summary, this contract award notice clarifies the reasonable approach taken to move to a direct award through negotiation following a failed procurement, taking into account the specific reasons for the previous unsuccessful tender, and the following thorough identification, and process for final selection of a suitable supplier. ### Procurement Information The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) is looking to award a contract following an incomplete procedure for the Strategic Digital Partner (Content Management System) published under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 FTS/OJEU Ref: 20240321-000001 (2024/S 000-009142) On 21/03/2024 (XMLID=202395, Mail=TED32-XML07-20240321). Tenders or requests to participate were received and rejected. Essential requirement detailed in the original tender that were not able to be fulfilled include: - Digital partners should have an extensive portfolio of clients that are professional membership bodies - Compliance with DfE authority to operate - CRM 'MUST' requirements listed in Part 2 TRD excel spreadsheet. Of the 112 suppliers who registered their interest in the bid, several withdrew for the following reasons: - They didn't offer off-the-shelf platforms - They felt their solution was not suitable - They did not provide hosting, support and maintenance for Umbraco sites - There was concern that there was an existing UX agency partner - They had limited experience in the membership organisation space - They felt the functional requirements lent themselves more to an off the shelf product rather than bespoke - They felt they weren't the right technical fit. Note, ETF felt that Umbraco was an essential requirement to avoid security breaches. This incomplete procurement led ETF to identify suppliers that could be approached, switching the procurement process to a direct award. 21 suppliers who are Umbraco partners recommended on the Umbraco website (https://umbraco.com/partners/?skill=§or=&country=&level=) were considered for suitability. Suppliers were assessed on their ratings, whether they had membership experience (using dynamics) and whether they have worked in education. Out-of-the-box membership solutions suitable for the education sector was also considered. The list was shortlisted to 7 following this assessment. Digital agencies who cannot provide end-to-end solutions with Microsoft Dynamics off the shelf products were excluded. In April (2025), ETF arranged a series of demonstrations in which suppliers were asked to showcase their membership functionality. Membership requirements were shared will all suppliers. Some suppliers offered both Umbraco services and membership functionality, while in other cases, suppliers were brought together to meet ETF's needs. It is important to note that these sessions were not sales pitches but rather an opportunity for suppliers to demonstrate how their solution will meet ETF's specific requirements. No financial discussions were held during these sessions. Focus was primarily on scoring the solution against ETF's requirements. ETF are switching to a direct award following a failed procurement. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038798-2025 | | Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Direct | | Procurement method details | Direct award | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | SME | | All stages | Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 10 Jul 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 1 May 2025 | | Contract period | 24 Jul 2025 - 24 Jul 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | £582,653 | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Complete | | Awards status | Pending | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOUNDATION | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | South West London | | Postcode | SW1W 9SP | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London | | Local authority | Westminster | | Electoral ward | Pimlico North | | Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | BLUELIGHT CRM | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 72211000 - Programming services of systems and user software - 72212220 - Internet and intranet software development services - 72212445 - Customer Relation Management software development services - 72253200 - Systems support services - 72413000 - World wide web (www) site design services - 72416000 - Application service providers - 72421000 - Internet or intranet client application development services ## Release History - 10 Jul 2025 at 08:13 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038798-2025 - 1 May 2025 at 08:56 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018275-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038798-2025 10th July 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018275-2025 1st May 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://www.et-foundation.co.uk - https://umbraco.com/partners/?skill=§or=&country=&level= - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-h6vhtk-050b01. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050b01.json.