---
title: "IT Neutral Vendor"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05cc2a"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05cc2a"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05cc2a.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05cc2a.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "HEART ACADEMIES TRUST"
published: "2026-03-04"
---

# IT Neutral Vendor

Buyer: HEART ACADEMIES TRUST  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05cc2a

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## Summary

On 4th March 2026, HEART Academies Trust awarded a contract for an IT Neutral Vendor Framework, valued at £800 million, with a gross amount of £1 billion. The procurement process used a competitive flexible procedure method and was managed by Value Match Services Ltd. Located in Bedford, HEART Academies Trust primarily focuses on the education sector, but the framework must be applicable to all public sector organisations across the UK. The framework aims to provide a neutral vendor managed service model to streamline the procurement of high-quality ICT goods and services, supported by robust competition and benchmarking. The framework contract is scheduled from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2030, with a standstill period ending on 13th March 2026. WCL (UK) Limited was selected as the vendor to supply these services.

This tender presents significant opportunities for service providers within the ICT industry, particularly those specialising in computing machinery, telecommunications, software development, and installation services. Organisations capable of delivering high-quality and tailored ICT solutions that align with sustainability and social value objectives should consider participation to expand their client base within public and educational sectors. Businesses will benefit from streamlined procurement processes and demonstrate their expertise in providing innovative, efficient, and cost-effective ICT solutions through continual engagement with the public sector frameworks.

## Notice

This Framework Contract will adopt a Neutral Vendor Managed Service model to offer a 'one stop shop' for all in scope ICT goods and services based on the Framework CPV codes. The Neutral Vendor will act a single interface between the Customer and the Supply Chain. The Framework is primarily focussed on the Education Sector, but must be available and suitable for all public sector organisations. The key objectives and focus of the framework are: ? Value for money - through competition and in the case of direct award, demonstrated through benchmarking. ? Access to a fully managed service - engaging with the Customer, providing advice and guidance, building up knowledge of each Customer based on previous engagements to inform the service they are offered, supporting the delivery of the outcomes required. ? Access to high quality ICT goods and services - high quality goods and services should be tailored to each Customers requirements. ? Transparency - copies of benchmarking information must be shared, especially in the case of direct awards, ensuring direct awards are only used where justified, sharing competition information with the Customer, whole life cost is presented including full transparency over Supplier fees to access the managed service. ? Process efficiencies for Customers - streamlining invoices with effective management information, simplifying procurement processes. ? Effective management of the Supply Chain - ensuring alignment with standards, only onboarding suitable Suppliers, offering choice to Customers, effective rotation of opportunities between appropriate Suppliers. ? Sustainability and Social Value - ensuring alignment with Customers objectives around sustainability and social value.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Options: Where additional CPV codes are required, this can be proposed by the Neutral Vendor. The Framework Owner may opt to include additional codes through a contract variation if it is justified and is within the scope of ICT delivery.

### Planning Information

We will undertake a market engagement session relating to this procurement on 17th November. The purpose of this engagement is to support suppliers in preparing for the forthcoming procurement opportunity in a fair, transparent, and informed manner.
To participate in the engagement session, please email an expression of interest to procurement@heartacademiestrust.co.uk by Wed 12th November.
Suppliers are invited to submit questions during the engagement process; all questions will be collated and responded to in a non-attributed format to ensure equal access to information across the market. Questions should be submitted by email to procurement@heartacademiestrust.co.uk.
The session will take place via Microsoft Teams on 17th November at 14:00. 
A copy of the engagement session, recording and any non-attributed questions received and answers will be issued as part of the tender pack to ensure equal treatment.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019663-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 4 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 12 Dec 2025 |
| Future notice date | 1 Dec 2025 |
| Award date | 3 Mar 2026 |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £800,000,000 |
| Lots value | £800,000,000 |
| Awards value | £808,000,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Cancelled, Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | HEART ACADEMIES TRUST |
| Additional buyers | Missing; VALUE MATCH SERVICES LTD |
| Locality | BEDFORD |
| Post town | Milton Keynes |
| Postcode | MK42 9TR |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD6 Cheshire |
| ITL 3 | TLD63 Cheshire West and Chester |
| Local authority | Cheshire West and Chester |
| Electoral ward | Great Boughton |
| Westminster constituency | Chester North and Neston |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | WCL (UK |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 30 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages
- 31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting
- 32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
- 42 - Industrial machinery
- 48 - Software package and information systems
- 50 - Repair and maintenance services
- 51 - Installation services (except software)
- 64 - Postal and telecommunications services
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 30000000 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages
- 31000000 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting
- 32000000 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
- 42960000 - Command and control system, printing, graphics, office automation and information-processing equipment
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
- 50300000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services related to personal computers, office equipment, telecommunications and audio-visual equipment
- 51300000 - Installation services of communications equipment
- 51600000 - Installation services of computers and office equipment
- 64200000 - Telecommunications services
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 79210000 - Accounting and auditing services
- 79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services
- 79500000 - Office-support services
- 79800000 - Printing and related services

## Release History

- 4 Mar 2026 at 16:34 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019663-2026
- 4 Mar 2026 at 16:15 - TenderCancellation - UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019645-2026
- 3 Mar 2026 at 17:31 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019212-2026
- 1 Dec 2025 at 15:43 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078592-2025
- 31 Oct 2025 at 12:09 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070060-2025
- 20 Oct 2025 at 14:49 - PlanningUpdate - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066806-2025
- 16 Oct 2025 at 10:59 - PlanningUpdate - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065876-2025
- 14 Oct 2025 at 10:59 - Planning - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065123-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019663-2026
  4th March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019645-2026
  4th March 2026 - Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019212-2026
  3rd March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078592-2025
  1st December 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070060-2025
  31st October 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066806-2025
  20th October 2025 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065876-2025
  16th October 2025 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065123-2025
  14th October 2025 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- https://cimple.uk/detail/498210
  https://cimple.uk/detail/498210

## Notice URLs

- http://www.everythingict.org
- https://cimple.uk/detail/498210STAGE1SUBMISSIONDEADLINE:12thDecember20255pmSTAGE2SUBMISSIONDEADLINE:23rdJanuary202612pm
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.value-match.co.uk/

## 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-05cc2a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05cc2a.json.