Official UK procurement notice
Cortex service and maintenance
Authority: The Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police (Police & fire)·On behalf of: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe provision of service and maintenance services for Cortex, Call Touch and Aspire Applications.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedProcedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 15 Dec 2025, 14:02 GMT
- Last source update
- 27 Mar 2026, 11:05 GMT
- Authority reference
TVP00665- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-028402- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f5c9Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
- Published justification
The Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP), led by the Home Office, is expected to take effect in 2029. In order to maintain continuity of secure and effective communications over Airwave during the transition period, TVP requires a three-year contractual arrangement with our incumbent supplier. This interim contract will ensure sufficient software capability and provide a managed pathway towards adoption of the ESMCP's designated supplier for future emergency services communications.
- Risks
The Emergency Services Network (ESN) project has been formally resumed at a national level under the direction of the Home Office, with delivery currently anticipated in 2028/2029. Until such time as further guidance and best practice standards are issued by the Home Office, it is necessary to maintain continuity of service through the existing ICCS supplier.
A change of supplier at this stage would impose disproportionate cost, including a full implementation programme. Such activity would result in duplication of expenditure and operational disruption, without delivering commensurate benefit, given the impending transition to ESN.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
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Timeline
27 Mar 2026 → 9 Apr 2026 · 2 dates- Notice published209 days ago27 Mar 2026, 11:05 GMT
- Standstill ends196 days ago9 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
Notice history
3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 15 Dec 2025- Transparency notice published15 Dec 2025, 14:02 GMTUK5
- Contract award notice published27 Mar 2026, 11:05 GMTUK6
- Contract signature expected10 Apr 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOFTWARE LTD., Softcat Plcjoint awardCortex Support & Maintenance10 Apr 2026 – 9 Feb 2029 · up to 9 Feb 2032Extensions: Contract can be extended for up to six years in total. Optional extension options of 3 x 1 x 12 months. | £520,000 | 27 Mar 2026standstill to 9 Apr 2026 | Standstill |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
3 public bodies on the noticeConsortium members and other public bodies
- Hampshire and Isle of Wight ConstabularyProcuring entityother organsiation
- The Chief Constable for Hampshire and the Isle of WightContracting authorityPublic authority - sub-central government
Bidders & participating suppliers
2 commercial parties on the notice- SOFTCAT PLCAwarded supplier
- SOFTWARE LTD.Awarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender