---
title: "Penetration Testing Services Renewal"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078d65"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078d65"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078d65.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078d65.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "South Tyneside Borough Council"
published: "2026-10-22"
---

# Penetration Testing Services Renewal

Buyer: South Tyneside Borough Council  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078d65

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078d65)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078d65.json)

## Summary

South Tyneside Borough Council commissioned penetration testing services: 40 days of SSA call-off testing. The work is a security testing service intended to test software and systems for vulnerabilities. The awarded service is classified as software support, but the stated requirement is specifically penetration testing. Delivery covers locations across England, including the North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West. The buyer is the council, based in South Shields. This is a single service requirement rather than a collection of separately described work packages.

The procurement is complete and awarded. The council used a below-threshold limited competition. Sapphire Technologies Limited was selected as supplier. The contract was signed on 4 August 2026 and runs from 25 August 2026 to 24 August 2027. Its value is £32,000 excluding VAT (£38,400 including VAT). The procurement has one lot, covering the penetration testing requirement. The published process information does not set out separate evaluation criteria or eligibility requirements. The contract is active, and the award is recorded as active.

For suppliers aiming to compete for a similar requirement from South Tyneside Borough Council, the evidence points to a focused security-testing engagement delivered through a limited competition, rather than a large multi-lot programme. A credible competitor would need to demonstrate the technical capability and capacity to provide 40 days of call-off penetration testing, along with experience testing software and systems and producing work that meets the council’s security needs. The awarded supplier is a small or medium-sized enterprise, showing that this contract was delivered by an SME; it does not establish that the work is reserved for SMEs. Suppliers with a strong record in penetration testing and the ability to serve the wider English delivery footprint are the closest fit.

## Notice

Penetration testing service - 40 days SSA Call Off Testing

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099743-2026 |
| 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 | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 22 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 25 Aug 2026 - 24 Aug 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £32,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | South Tyneside Borough Council |
| Locality | SOUTH SHIELDS |
| Postcode area | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Postcode | NE33 2RL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear |
| ITL 3 | TLC43 Tyneside |
| Local authority | South Tyneside |
| Electoral ward | Beacon and Bents |
| Westminster constituency | South Shields |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SAPPHIRE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 72261000 - Software support services

## Release History

- 22 Oct 2026 at 08:38 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099743-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099743-2026
  22nd October 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.sapphire.net
- 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-078d65. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078d65.json.