{ "tag": [ "compiled" ], "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-06df56-2026-08-07T15:26:44+01:00", "date": "2026-08-07T15:26:44+01:00", "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-06df56", "initiationType": "tender", "parties": [ { "id": "GB-COH-02154540", "name": "Post Office Limited", "identifier": { "scheme": "GB-COH", "id": "02154540" }, "additionalIdentifiers": [ { "scheme": "GB-PPON", "id": "PRNP-5883-YMLG" } ], "address": { "streetAddress": "100 Wood Street", "locality": "London", "postalCode": "EC2V 7ER", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom", "region": "UKI31" }, "contactPoint": { "email": "procurement@postoffice.co.uk" }, "roles": [ "buyer" ], "details": { "url": "https://corporate.postoffice.co.uk/", "classifications": [ { "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE", "id": "publicUndertaking", "description": "Public undertaking" } ] } }, { "id": "GB-COH-12691292", "name": "ESCHER SOFTWARE SERVICES UK LIMITED", "identifier": { "scheme": "GB-COH", "id": "12691292" }, "additionalIdentifiers": [ { "scheme": "GB-PPON", "id": "PWDM-5461-DNTM" } ], "address": { "streetAddress": "25 Savile Row", "locality": "London", "postalCode": "W1S 2ER", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom", "region": "UKI32" }, "contactPoint": { "email": "karl.oliver@eschergroup.com" }, "roles": [ "supplier" ], "details": { "url": "https://www.eschergroup.com/", "scale": "sme", "vcse": false, "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false, "shelteredWorkshop": false } } ], "buyer": { "id": "GB-COH-02154540", "name": "Post Office Limited" }, "tender": { "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-06df56", "legalBasis": { "id": "2023/54", "scheme": "UKPGA", "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents" }, "title": "Product Journey Engine (PJE) Development and Configuration Services", "description": "Post Office Limited (\"POL\") is undertaking the \"Horizon Replacement Services\" transformation programme to replace the legacy Horizon IT system used across its branch network. The programme was procured via a competitive flexible procedure published on Find a Tender (procurement identifier OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-050efb) and comprises two lots: * Lot 1 (Replacement Service Provider): awarded to Accenture (UK) Limited. * Lot 2 (COTS-EPOS-SaaS): awarded to OneView Commerce, Inc.. As part of the programme, POL has identified a requirement for Escher's proprietary Product Journey Engine (\"PJE\") - a standalone, independently licensable software module incorporating Escher's proprietary framework, tools and a library of postal-retail customer journeys, comprising three journeys preconfigured for mail-related transactions, a further ten journeys to be configured by Escher, with the remaining journeys to be configured by POL. The PJE is required to enable complex transactions to be configured, adapted and deployed rapidly within POL's architecture and broader transformation programme. This notice relates specifically to the Year 1 development and configuration of the PJE (estimated value PS12,000,000). POL has awarded this contract directly to Escher under section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023. The separate PJE licence (Years 1-7) and Year 2 support elements are intended to be procured via POL's existing call-off arrangements under Crown Commercial Service framework RM6098 (Technology Products and Associated Services 2) and are not the subject of this notice. POL considers that a direct award is justified because Escher is the sole owner of the intellectual property, source code, technical know-how and development capability in respect of the PJE.", "status": "complete", "procurementMethod": "direct", "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award", "procurementMethodRationale": "Post Office Limited (\"POL\") intends to award a contract for Year 1 development and configuration of the Product Journey Engine (\"PJE\") directly to Escher under section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023. POL considers that the direct award justification in paragraph 5 of Schedule 5 to the Act applies (single supplier - intellectual property or other exclusive rights, with no reasonable alternatives). In addition and/or in the alternative, POL considers that the direct award justification in paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 applies (absence of competition for technical reasons, with no reasonable alternatives). More specifically, POL considers that: * Escher is the sole owner of the intellectual property rights in the PJE, including all relevant source code, the proprietary framework, associated tooling and the preconfigured postal-retail customer journey library. * Only Escher is able to develop, configure and customise the PJE. * Escher has confirmed in writing that, subject to any agreed software escrow arrangements, it will not grant any other supplier access to its code base to develop, customise or configure the PJE (core Standard Business Applications). * The PJE development and configuration services can therefore only be provided by Escher by reason of Escher's intellectual property and exclusive rights within the meaning of paragraph 5 of Schedule 5; and/or * For technical reasons, Escher is the only supplier able to provide the required PJE development and configuration services. * Specifically, the PJE incorporates Escher's proprietary framework, tools and preconfigured postal journeys, and requires specialist knowledge of Escher's code base, architecture and development tooling that only Escher possesses. * No other supplier has the technical capability, source code access or development environment necessary to configure, adapt and deploy the PJE, within the meaning of paragraph 6 of Schedule 5. POL is also satisfied that there are no reasonable alternatives to awarding this contract directly to Escher. In particular, POL has concluded that publication of a tender notice would not trigger more competition or a better outcome. This conclusion is based on the following factors: * Escher is the only company globally with a proven library of customer journeys specifically designed for postal retail point-of-service - comprising three journeys preconfigured for mail-related transactions and a further ten journeys to be configured by Escher - implemented across dozens of postal operators worldwide; * The PJE is a standalone, independently licensable module that incorporates Escher's proprietary intellectual property. * No other supplier holds the relevant source code, technical know-how or development capability; * POL has confirmed with Escher that Escher will not grant any third party access to its code base to develop, customise or configure the PJE. POL has therefore tested and recorded that no third-party route is available; and * There is no alternative product or supplier on the market that could deliver equivalent preconfigured postal-retail customer journeys with the same speed of deployment and proven track record. In accordance with section 41(4) of the Procurement Act 2023, POL has assessed whether Escher is an excluded supplier or an excludable supplier and is satisfied that Escher is neither excluded nor excludable.", "lots": [ { "id": "1", "status": "complete", "suitability": { "sme": true } } ], "documents": [ { "id": "conflictOfInterest", "documentType": "conflictOfInterest", "description": "Not published" } ], "riskDetails": "POL has identified the following risks, the occurrence of which could jeopardise the satisfactory performance of the contract, but because of their nature, cannot be addressed in the contracts as awarded, and so may require a substantial amendment to the contracts under paragraph 5 of Schedule 8 (materialisation of a known risk) to the Procurement Act 2023: * findings of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry (or any other public inquiry, or inquiry of a similar nature, into the operations of the Post Office or the Horizon system) (Inquiry); * policy decisions made by HM Government, any regulator, or any other public body, whether or not in response to findings by an Inquiry; * the enactment or coming into force of legislation relating to the Post Office; * the failure of another supplier appointed as part of the Horizon Replacement Programme to perform its obligations under a contract where that failure affects the ability of the supplier to perform its obligations; * where the deployment of the COTS-EPOS-SaaS solution by the Accenture to the branch estate is delayed, disrupted to otherwise does not proceed according to plan due to complexities arising from the branch network; * where either Accenture or OneView Commerce is unable to perform their obligations under their respective contracts due to complexities arising from the Horizon systems; * There is a delay in implementation of Accenture's solutions, which results in a continued reliance on the incumbent supplier and the need for an extension to the contract or other change to ensure business continuity.", "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [ { "id": "singleSuppliersIntellectualPropertyExclusiveRights" } ] }, "awards": [ { "id": "1", "title": "Product Journey Engine (PJE) Development and Configuration Services", "status": "active", "value": { "amountGross": 14400000, "amount": 12000000, "currency": "GBP" }, "mainProcurementCategory": "services", "aboveThreshold": true, "suppliers": [ { "id": "GB-COH-12691292", "name": "ESCHER SOFTWARE SERVICES UK LIMITED" } ], "items": [ { "id": "1", "additionalClassifications": [ { "scheme": "CPV", "id": "72200000", "description": "Software programming and consultancy services" } ], "deliveryAddresses": [ { "region": "UK", "country": "GB", "countryName": "United Kingdom" } ], "relatedLot": "1" } ], "contractPeriod": { "startDate": "2026-08-20T00:00:00+01:00", "endDate": "2031-08-19T23:59:59+01:00", "maxExtentDate": "2033-08-19T23:59:59+01:00" }, "hasRenewal": true, "renewal": { "description": "2 x 12 month extensions can be entered into at the sole discretion of the contracting Authority. These could be used to provide service continuity." }, "relatedLots": [ "1" ], "documents": [ { "id": "075393-2026", "documentType": "awardNotice", "noticeType": "UK5", "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender", "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075393-2026", "datePublished": "2026-08-07T15:17:57+01:00", "format": "text/html" }, { "id": "075403-2026", "documentType": "awardNotice", "noticeType": "UK6", "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender", "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075403-2026", "datePublished": "2026-08-07T15:26:44+01:00", "format": "text/html" } ], "milestones": [ { "id": "1", "type": "futureSignatureDate", "dueDate": "2026-08-19T23:59:59+01:00", "status": "scheduled" } ], "date": "2026-08-07T00:00:00+01:00" } ], "language": "en" }