---
title: "STA-26020 Provision of a Managed Network Service for the CoSTAR National Lab"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05e02b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05e02b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05e02b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05e02b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "ROYAL HOLLOWAY AND BEDFORD NEW COLLEGE"
published: "2026-01-15"
---

# STA-26020 Provision of a Managed Network Service for the CoSTAR National Lab

Buyer: ROYAL HOLLOWAY AND BEDFORD NEW COLLEGE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05e02b

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## Summary

The procurement process led by Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, situated at the Royal Holloway University of London in Egham, aimed to establish a Managed Network Service for the CoSTAR National Lab. This Tender, identified by "STA-26020" and targeting the "Internet services" and "Computer network services" categories, was intended to address the needs of the sub-central government public authority. Initially awarded to Sohonet Limited through a direct procurement method due to specific technical and urgency reasons, the contract focused on network design, build, configuration, and management. Critical dates included a contract period starting from 1st December 2025 to 31st March 2029. However, the procurement was ultimately cancelled as of 15th January 2026, due to the need for expanded network provisions involving additional technological enhancements to ensure greater efficiency and reliability.

This tender represents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in high-capacity network management services, especially those with experience in telecommunications equipment, network security, and real-time performance optimisation for media workflows. Although initially planned as a direct award to Sohonet due to their existing infrastructure commitments and landlord restrictions, future potential may exist for businesses offering innovative solutions in network services or those capable of executing large-scale technical integrations swiftly. The project's cancellation, prompted by scope expansion, opens the possibility for qualified firms to propose advanced, cost-effective solutions that accommodate the expanded requirements for core redundancy and network resilience.

## Notice

Provision of a Managed Network Service for the CoSTAR National Lab. The service includes the design, build, configuration, and installation of all required network hardware, covering core, aggregation, access switching, firewall, internet edge, and Wi-Fi components. Implementation will need to include installation and patching, commissioning, integration with partner systems, and final testing, user acceptance testing, and handover. Ongoing network management will include monitoring and management of all routers, switches, internet bandwidth, and managed security services.

### Procurement Information

Royal Holloway University of London serves as the lead partner of the CoSTAR National Lab, which forms a key component of the wider Convergent Screen Technologies And performance in Realtime (CoSTAR) programme. The University is the Contracting Authority and procuring entity for this contract. The contracted services will be carried out at the CoSTAR National Lab facility, located within studio premises leased by the University. Under the current tenancy agreement, the University is required by the Landlord to contract with the existing network provider for the management and supply of telecommunications and broadband services to the Demised Premises. The appointment of alternative service providers is strictly subject to the landlord's prior consent and is not guaranteed. Sohonet Ltd is the designated connectivity provider for the premises responsible for the management of all on-site physical infrastructure, cabling and technical support services. As a result, engaging an alternative supplier is not considered to be a feasible option. Doing so would require the undertaking of extensive structural and construction work to install new cabling and may require a provider to enter into wayleave agreement by the landlord. Even if such permission would be granted by the landlord, this would incur significant delays, increased costs, and considerable disruption to the programme. It is our intention to award a contract to Sohonet Ltd for a fixed term of four (4) years until March 2029 which is the duration of the funding.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003362-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 15 Jan 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 13 Nov 2025 |
| Contract period | 1 Dec 2025 - 31 Mar 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £432,782 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Cancelled |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | ROYAL HOLLOWAY AND BEDFORD NEW COLLEGE |
| Additional buyers | Missing |
| Locality | EGHAM |
| Post town | Twickenham |
| Postcode | TW20 0EX |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex |
| ITL 3 | TLJ25 West Surrey |
| Local authority | Runnymede |
| Electoral ward | Englefield Green East |
| Westminster constituency | Windsor |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SOHONET |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 72400000 - Internet services
- 72700000 - Computer network services

## Release History

- 15 Jan 2026 at 10:12 - TenderCancellation - UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003362-2026
- 18 Nov 2025 at 13:47 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074780-2025
- 13 Nov 2025 at 10:34 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073435-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003362-2026
  15th January 2026 - Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074780-2025
  18th November 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073435-2025
  13th November 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- 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-05e02b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05e02b.json.