---
title: "DDaT27534- Data Tunnelling Service"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-07889b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-07889b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07889b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07889b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION"
published: "2026-10-15"
---

# DDaT27534- Data Tunnelling Service

Buyer: UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-07889b

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07889b.json)

## Summary

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) procured a data tunnelling service, classified under IT services. The requirement is described only as a data tunnelling service, with no further technical scope or purpose stated. UK Shared Business Services Ltd managed the procurement on UKRI’s behalf. The service is for delivery in the United Kingdom; no more specific delivery location is identified. This is a service requirement rather than a purchase of goods or construction work, and the published information does not break it into distinct work packages. The named buyer is UKRI, while UK Shared Business Services Ltd acted as the procuring organisation. The awarded supplier is Softcat plc.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded to Softcat plc. It was conducted as a below-threshold limited competition. There was one lot and one supplier award. The contract was signed on 13 October 2026 and runs from 29 November 2026 to 28 November 2027. Its value is £33,301.62 excluding VAT, or £39,961.94 including VAT. The service is classified as IT services, covering consulting, software development, internet and support. No award criteria or eligibility requirements are set out in the available procurement details, so the basis on which bidders were assessed cannot be summarised further. The contract is active.

This award shows UKRI’s demand for a data tunnelling service and that it procured the requirement through a limited competition managed by UK Shared Business Services Ltd. For a future requirement of this kind, a credible supplier would need to demonstrate it can provide data tunnelling as an IT service and satisfy the buyer’s technical needs. The procurement describes no specific architecture, integrations, service levels, security standards, accreditations or staffing requirements, so those cannot be treated as established conditions for competing. The single-lot award went to Softcat plc, a large supplier, indicating that an established IT services provider was selected for this contract. Suppliers with relevant data tunnelling delivery capability and experience serving public-sector buyers would be best placed to assess a comparable requirement when it next arises.

## Notice

****THIS IS A CONTRACT DETAILS NOTICE, NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION**** This procurement is being concluded following a limited competition procurement exercise. Brief Description Data Tunnelling Service

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097512-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - limited competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 15 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 29 Nov 2026 - 28 Nov 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £33,301 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION |
| Locality | SWINDON |
| Postcode area | Swindon |
| Postcode | SN2 1FL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire |
| ITL 3 | TLK71 Swindon |
| Local authority | Swindon |
| Electoral ward | Rodbourne Cheney |
| Westminster constituency | Swindon North |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Softcat Plc |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

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

## Release History

- 15 Oct 2026 at 14:13 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097512-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097512-2026
  15th October 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://Softcat.com
- 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-07889b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-07889b.json.