Find a TenderAwarded without competitionTransparency notice
Published 18 Jun 2026, 08:52 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Cyber Security Software · UK public procurement notice

Official notice

Authority: Bernicia Group (Public body)

Direct award
Sectors: Software Packages & ERP (48)IT Services & Software (72) Delivery: Delivery location not published
Awarded value£1,118,180published award · inc. VAT
Award in standstill Not publishedno call for competition
Award (standstill) to Darktrace Holdings Limited

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Darktrace is a cybersecurity software platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to detect, respond to, and prevent cyber treats in real time.

The software learns our business’s normal behaviour and autonomously detects and responds to cyber threats, including previously unseen attacks.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Procedure 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
18 Jun 2026, 08:52 BST
Last source update
18 Jun 2026, 08:52 BST
Authority reference
BG-PREF 0043
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-057371
Latest notice
Transparency notice (UK5)
Delivery area
Not published
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b796 Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Additional Repeat Extension Partial Replacement; only one supplier could deliver (user choice)
Published justification

Cyber Security is a business-critical service, and any disruption would expose the business to increased risk.

The Darktrace platform is deeply integrated into the businesses infrastructure and relies on accumulated AI learning unique to this environment covering Network, Identity, Software as a Service and Email security with full integration of all telemetry. It supports the protection of critical services including, tenant data and personal information, housing management systems and financial and operational platforms. Replacing the system would require significant system(s) implementation, relearning period and revalidation of controls.

Transitioning to a new supplier at this point would result in temporary reduction in detection capability, increased likelihood of undetected threats and exposure during a high-risk migration window, which would leave us exposed under our obligations under UK GDPR, the Housing regulator and NCSC .

Switching would also incur additional implementation and integration costs, internal resource requirements and training and change management effort. These costs alone are considered disproportionate to the actual value achieved.

Darktrace is considered a leader by Gartner in the 2026 Magic Quadrant for Network Detection and Response and the 2025 Magic Quadrant for Email Security, making it uniquely recognised across multiple solution types.

Notice history

2 events · 1 release on Find a Tender · since 18 Jun 2026
  1. Transparency notice published
    18 Jun 2026, 08:52 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract signature expected
    1 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1some still in standstill
Awarded value (inc. VAT) £1,118,1801 award inc. VAT; no net value published
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Darktrace Holdings Limited1 Oct 2026 – 30 Sept 2029 · up to 30 Sept 2032Extensions: Contract can be extended for a further 3-years.£1,118,180 inc. VAT—Standstill

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Bernicia Group

Contracting authorityPublic undertaking GB-MPR: 7711 Oakwood Way, Ashwood Business Park, Ashington, North East, NE63 XFContact name, email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Darktrace Holdings LimitedAwarded supplierGB-COH: 08562035 St John's Innovation Park, Cambridge, East of England, CB4 0DSContact email, phone

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender