---
title: "Palo Alto Contract Variation"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06e9f8"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e9f8"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e9f8.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e9f8.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Coventry University"
published: "2026-08-21"
---

# Palo Alto Contract Variation

Buyer: Coventry University  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06e9f8

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## Summary

Coventry University procured a Palo Alto PA3220 firewall licence bundle for network security at its Hudson site in Coventry. The requirement covers renewing firewall licences under support, including the bundled Precision AI subscription and continuing access to dynamically updated security signatures. The firewall protects the site’s internet-facing perimeter and supports the university’s core business against cyber threats such as hacking attempts, ransomware and viruses. This is a technology goods requirement within the software and information-systems category. The buyer is Coventry University, an education body governed by public law. Delivery is associated with the university’s Hudson site in Coventry, with the procurement recorded as covering the United Kingdom. The requirement is focused on Palo Alto firewall licensing and related security support rather than general cybersecurity consultancy or wider IT services.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded through a limited procedure without prior publication of a competition. One bid was recorded. The award was made to CDW Ltd, and the contract was signed on 7 August 2026. The contract value is £74,433.72 including the published currency of GBP. The requirement was evaluated on price. The procurement rationale records the use of the incumbent contracted partner, renewal discounts and multi-year pricing protection, with licensing aligned to the PA3220 firewall’s end-of-life date of 31 August 2028. One lot was used, although its recorded status is cancelled while the overall tender and award are complete. The award is active and the contract is active. The procedure was justified by protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights.

This requirement is commercially relevant to suppliers able to provide Palo Alto PA3220 firewall licence renewals and associated manufacturer-backed support, including the bundled Precision AI subscription. Credible competitors would need access to the Palo Alto licensing and support channel, and the ability to maintain continuous perimeter protection through regular signature updates. Experience supporting enterprise or higher-education network environments would be relevant, particularly where service continuity and protection from hacking attempts, ransomware and viruses are essential. Suppliers should also be able to manage renewal pricing, negotiate multi-year protections and align licence terms with hardware lifecycle and end-of-life constraints. The award indicates that Coventry University values a cost-effective bundled security service, continuity with an incumbent partner and a supplier able to reduce the operational disruption and change costs associated with replacing the existing arrangement.

## Notice

The PA3220 Palo Alto firewall licence bundle provides essential network security for Coventry University's Hudson site core business. Without the ability to renew the firewall licences under support, CU is potentially vulnerable to new cyberthreats or exploits such as hacking attempts, ransomware and viruses. The firewall needs to dynamically update its signatures every 30 minutes to provide robust protection at the perimeter (facing the internet). Leveraged renewal pricing and supplier negotiation by engaging with CDW and Palo Alto to secure incumbent renewal discounts and explore multi-year pricing protections, particularly ahead of EOL timelines. Retention of the bundled" Precision AI" subscription provides a cost effective alternative to purchasing individual security services separately. Alignment of contract term with lifecycle and ensuring the licensing term aligns with the firewall end-of-life date (31/08/2028) to avoid overpaying beyond usable service life. The best value for money has been secured utilising the incumbent contracted partner, CDW Limited. The cost and time of change would be a challenge if a competitive procurement exercise was conducted.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The PA3220 Palo Alto firewall licence bundle provides essential network security for Coventry University's Hudson site core business. Without the ability to renew the firewall licences under support, CU is potentially vulnerable to new cyberthreats or exploits such as hacking attempts, ransomware and viruses. The firewall needs to dynamically update its signatures every 30 minutes to provide robust protection at the perimeter (facing the internet). Leveraged renewal pricing and supplier negotiation by engaging with CDW and Palo Alto to secure incumbent renewal discounts and explore multi-year pricing protections, particularly ahead of EOL timelines. Retention of the bundled" Precision AI" subscription provides a cost effective alternative to purchasing individual security services separately. Alignment of contract term with lifecycle and ensuring the licensing term aligns with the firewall end-of-life date (31/08/2028) to avoid overpaying beyond usable service life. The best value for money has been secured utilising the incumbent contracted partner, CDW Limited. The cost and time of change would be a challenge if a competitive procurement exercise was conducted.

### Procurement Information

Alignment of contract term with lifecycle and ensuring the licensing term aligns with the firewall end-of-life date (31/08/2028) to avoid overpaying beyond usable service life. The best value for money has been secured utilising the incumbent contracted partner, CDW Limited. The cost and time of change would be a challenge if a competitive procurement exercise was conducted.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080097-2026 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 21 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 7 Aug 2026 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £74,433 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Coventry University |
| Locality | COVENTRY |
| Postcode area | Coventry |
| Postcode | CV1 5FB |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands |
| ITL 3 | TLG33 Coventry |
| Local authority | Coventry |
| Electoral ward | St Michael's |
| Westminster constituency | Coventry South |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | CDW Ltd |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 48 - Software package and information systems

### Codes

- 48000000 - Software package and information systems

## Release History

- 21 Aug 2026 at 17:11 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080097-2026

## Notice URLs

- https://www.coventry.ac.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-06e9f8. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e9f8.json.