--- title: "VPN Provision" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-061223" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-061223" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061223.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061223.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "OFSTED" published: "2026-02-05" --- # VPN Provision Buyer: OFSTED Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-061223 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-061223) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061223.json) ## Summary The procurement process is being led by Ofsted, a central government public authority based in Manchester, for the provision of a fully managed VPN service. The procurement is in the planning stage, with key activities including an Expression of Interest issued on 20th January 2026 and a deadline of 27th January 2026. Ofsted intends to engage with suppliers via the CCS Framework Technology Services 4 (RM6190), Lot 4a Infrastructure Management. The procurement aims to appoint a supplier to deliver the service by June 2026, with the contract estimated to continue until May 2029, potentially extending to May 2030. This service falls under the IT services category, and the overall value of the contract is expected to be £408,333, well within the lot's threshold. This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in IT services, particularly those experienced with secure network connectivity and infrastructure management. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can particularly benefit from this procurement within the specified framework. The successful supplier will provide end-to-end management of a secure VPN, including design, implementation, and ongoing operation. This procurement could strengthen a provider's portfolio by showcasing their capability in delivering complex and secure IT solutions within central government frameworks, thus supporting business growth and market credibility in a competitive field. ## Notice The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is issuing this notice to notify the market to that we are engaging with suppliers on the Technology Services 4 (RM6190) to help shape a pending tender process for the provision of a fully managed VPN service. The current contract that Ofsted has for providing this service is due to end in October 2026 and Ofsted are looking to start the process of procuring a new contract now. Ofsted intends to appoint a supplier to deliver a fully managed VPN service that provides secure, encrypted network connectivity across the organisation. The appointed supplier will be responsible for the end-to-end design, implementation, operation, monitoring, and support of the VPN service. This approach will remove the requirement for in-house management and ensure that the service is proactively maintained and supported by a specialist provider. Ofsted is therefore looking at running a procurement exercise, starting as soon as is practicable in 2026, for a supplier to provide this service. Our chosen route to market will be via CCS Framework Technology Services 4 (RM6190) -Lot 4a Infrastructure Management (lower value and complexity) and engagement is currently limited to suppliers on this Framework. ### Planning Information Ofsted issued an Expression of Interest to RM6190 Framework suppliers on 20th January 2026, with a deadline of 27th January 2026. Ofsted will now undertake some pre-market engagement sessions with suppliers who responded to the EOI. Ofsted do not guarantee that this exercise will result in a procurement exercise. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010279-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 5 Feb 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 May 2026 - 31 May 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £408,333 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | OFSTED | | Locality | MANCHESTER | | Post town | Manchester | | Postcode | M1 2WD | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD3 Greater Manchester | | ITL 3 | TLD33 Manchester | | Local authority | Manchester | | Electoral ward | Piccadilly | | Westminster constituency | Manchester Central | | Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ## Release History - 5 Feb 2026 at 09:54 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010279-2026 - 29 Jan 2026 at 14:09 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008083-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010279-2026 5th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008083-2026 29th January 2026 - Preliminary market engagement 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-061223. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061223.json.