---
title: "Wide Area Network Services CPA/SPU/2762"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-060f28"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-060f28"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060f28.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060f28.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "CHESHIRE FIRE AUTHORITY"
published: "2026-01-27"
---

# Wide Area Network Services CPA/SPU/2762

Buyer: CHESHIRE FIRE AUTHORITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-060f28

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## Summary

The Cheshire Fire Authority, based in Winsford, Cheshire, United Kingdom, engaged in a public procurement process titled "Wide Area Network Services CPA/SPU/2762." This particular procurement is classified under the IT services category, including consulting, software development, Internet, and support. The procurement was carried out through a direct award method without competition, due to extreme and unavoidable urgency as indicated by its status of completion. The contract, awarded to Capita Business Services Ltd of London, commenced on 3rd February 2026 and is set to conclude on 2nd May 2026. The purpose of the contract is to ensure continuous operation of essential Wide Area Network Services with a contract value of £88,309.72.

This project presents key opportunities for large-scale IT services providers, particularly those with existing infrastructure capabilities, to collaborate and ensure smooth transitions for essential network services. Businesses positioned to offer high-speed setup and quick response to urgent needs will find themselves well-suited to leveraging such procurement opportunities, potentially gaining further collaborations with public authorities due to demonstrated reliability and swift service delivery. This tender reflects an emphasis on maintaining critical communication services, offering fertile ground for IT service providers looking to expand their governmental contract portfolio.

## Notice

This notice is presented on the basis of an exemption permitting direct award without competition under the Procurement Act 2023. The ground relied on is as follows:- "strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency to preserve assets or enable services to be maintained". This award is justified because the provision of ongoing Wide Area Network Services is critical to continued operations. There is a current contract in place for the provision of such services which comes to an end on 02nd February 2026. Steps have been taken in a timely fashion to secure a new long-term contract for the provision of wide area network services with effect from 03rd February 2026 https://sell2.in-tend.co.uk/blpd/view-contract?secureid=5b0b705a-ec31-46c4-ab1a-92aed8a53c67. However, given the criticality of such services to the ability to continue to provide blue light services in Cheshire and given the timing along with unexpected/ emerging risks, it is strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency to facilitate appropriate contingency arrangements to mitigate any risk of a gap in provision. This notice is presented on the basis of an exemption permitting direct award without competition under the Procurement Act 2023. The ground relied on is as follows:- "strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency to preserve assets or enable services to be maintained". This award is justified because the provision of ongoing Wide Area Network Services is critical to continued operations. There is a current contract in place for the provision of such services which comes to an end on 02nd February 2026. Steps have been taken in a timely fashion to secure a new long-term contract for the provision of wide area network services with effect from 03rd February 2026 https://sell2.in-tend.co.uk/blpd/view-contract?secureid=5b0b705a-ec31-46c4-ab1a-92aed8a53c67. However, given the criticality of such services to the ability to continue to provide blue light services in Cheshire and given the timing along with unexpected/ emerging risks, it is strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency to facilitate appropriate contingency arrangements to mitigate any risk of a gap in provision. Such a short term contingency arrangement cannot be awarded on the basis of a competitive tendering procedure because the services are strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency and, there is both insufficient time to complete a further competitive exercise and insufficient time for any other provider (given the works involved) to set up and establish a replacement supply. These services could only be provided by the existing supplier whose infrastructure is already in place. As indicated, this award is only for the purpose of securing services for so long as is necessary to mitigate the risk. A short-term contract for the shortest possible term has been provisioned for and a further contract is already in place for the longer term. Other options including informal competition, quotes or use of a framework were considered but the timescale means no other supplier could provision in the timeframe required even if commenced immediately. Factoring in any exercise would extend an already impossible timeframe. Such a short term contingency arrangement cannot be awarded on the basis of a competitive tendering procedure because the services are strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency and, there is both insufficient time to complete a further competitive exercise and insufficient time for any other provider (given the works involved) to set up and establish a replacement supply. These services could only be provided by the existing supplier whose infrastructure is already in place. As indicated, this award is only for the purpose of securing services for so long as is necessary to mitigate the risk. A short-term contract for the shortest possible term has been provisioned for and a further contract is already in place for the longer term. Other options including informal competition, quotes or use of a framework were considered but the timescale means no other supplier could provision in the timeframe required even if commenced immediately. Factoring in any exercise would extend an already impossible timeframe.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006899-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - without competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 27 Jan 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 13 Jan 2026 |
| Contract period | 3 Feb 2026 - 2 May 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £88,309 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | CHESHIRE FIRE AUTHORITY |
| Locality | WINSFORD, CHESHIRE |
| Post town | Crewe |
| Postcode | CW7 2FQ |
| 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 | Winsford Over & Verdin |
| Westminster constituency | Mid Cheshire |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | CAPITA BUSINESS SERVICES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

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

## Release History

- 27 Jan 2026 at 09:20 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006899-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006899-2026
  27th January 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://sell2.in-tend.co.uk/blpd/view-contract?secureid=5b0b705a-ec31-46c4-ab1a-92aed8a53c67
- 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-060f28. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-060f28.json.