--- title: "SONI089 - Software Licensing & Buying Services" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0773e9" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0773e9" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0773e9.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0773e9.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "SONI Ltd" published: "2026-09-16" --- # SONI089 - Software Licensing & Buying Services Buyer: SONI Ltd Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0773e9 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0773e9) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0773e9.json) ## Summary SONI Ltd is procuring software licensing and buying services for use across the United Kingdom. The requirement covers two lots: Productivity Platform Licensing Services, and Multi-Supplier Software Licensing & Buying Services. Suppliers will provide software licensing support and associated IT services, with Lot 2 requiring outcome-based delivery and responsibility for selecting, managing and delivering the resources, processes, tools and methods needed to achieve agreed outcomes. The procurement is a services opportunity for businesses supplying software, licensing, procurement or related IT support. SONI is a private utility based in Belfast, and delivery is required in the United Kingdom. The arrangement is intended to support SONI’s software purchasing and licensing requirements through a dedicated or multi-supplier model. The procurement has reached tender: SONI invited offers through a selective competitive flexible procedure. Expressions of interest were due by 30 October 2026 at 12:00 GMT, and enquiries closed on 16 October 2026 at 12:00 BST. Award decisions are scheduled by 30 November 2026 at 23:59 GMT. The estimated total value is £68,557,055.08 excluding VAT, or £82,268,466.09 including VAT. Lot 1 is valued at £17,607,112.67 excluding VAT (£21,128,553.20 including VAT); Lot 2 at £50,949,942.41 excluding VAT (£61,139,930.89 including VAT). Both lots run from 15 January 2027 to 14 January 2032, with an option to extend by up to three years. A closed framework may appoint up to three suppliers, with competition reopened for call-offs. Evaluation is 40% cost, 25% approach and methodology, 20% previous experience and 15% team capacity. Economic and technical selection criteria apply, and SMEs are suitable. This opportunity suits software licensing providers, technology procurement specialists, IT consultancies and managed service businesses able to support a large utility’s software requirements. Relevant suppliers should be able to demonstrate recent, relevant experience delivering contracts of this nature, a clear approach and methodology for planning and delivering the required services, and sufficient capacity to provide an effective team. Lot 2 places particular emphasis on the allocation of human resources, including the qualifications and experience of proposed key personnel and management of their time. Bidders will also need to provide transparent pricing, combined service costs and daily rates. The requirement is suitable for SMEs and offers a route into a multi-supplier framework, with Lot 1 focused on productivity platform licensing and Lot 2 on broader outcome-based licensing and buying services. ## Notice This document outlines the structured process being used by SONI in the selection of suppliers for the provision of Software Licensing & Buying Services. This document provides a description of the services we wish to procure. The purpose of the RFP is to invite detailed proposals from interested parties (Tenderers) for the provision of said services. This RFP document together with all supporting requirement documents contains detailed information required by the Tenderer to submit a valid tender proposal. Tenderers are requested to respond to all areas and requirements specified in these documents. ### Lot Information Productivity Platform Licensing Services Refer to Request for Proposal and Scope of Work Renewal: 5 years with the option to extend up to 3 years at SONI's sole discretion Multi-Supplier Software Licensing & Buying Services The Supplier shall provide the Services described in this Section 3 and in the Scope of Requirements for Lot 2 (incorporated into this SOW). The Services are outcome-based and the Supplier remains responsible for selecting, managing and delivering the resources, processes, tools and methods required to achieve the agreed outcomes. The Services comprise the following service areas: Renewal: : 5 years base term + option to extend by up to 3 years at SONI's sole discretion ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087972-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 16 Sep 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 15 Jan 2027 - 14 Jan 2032 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £68,557,055 | | Lots value | £68,557,054 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | SONI Ltd | | Locality | BELFAST | | Postcode area | Northern Ireland | | Postcode | BT6 9RT | | Country | Northern Ireland | | ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland | | ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland | | ITL 3 | TLN0E Lisburn and Castlereagh | | Local authority | Lisburn and Castlereagh | | Electoral ward | Moneyreagh | | Westminster constituency | Belfast South and Mid Down | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 48 - Software package and information systems - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 48210000 - Networking software package - 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ## Release History - 16 Sep 2026 at 17:18 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087972-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/087972-2026 16th September 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Authority/NoticeBuilder/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=653104 SONI Good and Services Framework - https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Authority/NoticeBuilder/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=653105 Lot 1 Productivity Platform Licensing Services - https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Authority/NoticeBuilder/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=653106 Lot 2 Multi-Supplier Software Licencing and Buying Services - https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Authority/NoticeBuilder/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=653107 RFP Software Licencing & Buying Services - https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Authority/NoticeBuilder/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=653110 SOR Compliance Matrix - https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Authority/NoticeBuilder/NoticeBuilder_FileDownload.aspx?id=653109 SOR Software Licencing and Buying Services ## 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-0773e9. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0773e9.json.