Education Network for Northern Ireland - "Education Network (NI)"

CPV: Software implementation services

Procedure method

Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition

Legal basis

CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)

Procurement category

Services

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

Yes (GPA)

Recurring procurement

Unspecified in notice

First published

15 Oct 2026, 16:18 BST

Last source update

15 Oct 2026, 16:18 BST

FTS notice number

2026/S 000-097633

Classification (CPV)

Software implementation services

Delivery area

Northern Ireland (UKN)

Official registry OCID

ocds-h6vhtk-0788dd Find a Tender

Why no open competition

The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive

Published justification

The EA entered into the Education Network (Northern Ireland) contract with Northgate Managed Services limited (subsequently Capita IT Solutions Limited) on 6 March 2012 (the “Contract” and “Contractor”). The Contract originally commenced on 1 April 2012 and has subsequently been modified, including through the modifications identified in notices - 2019/S 046-106361, 2022/S 000-006649, 2024/S 000-006005 and 2025/S000-009957.The modification identified in the modification notice 2025/S000-012429 provided for a contract extension until 31/03/2027 with a further 2 x 1 year additional extension options until 31/03/2029.

Publisher note: It had been intended for the whole of the service under the Contract to have been transitioned to a new managed service provider but due to termination of that contract, some services only are being transitioned to an SMS provider. That transition is not yet complete, and the procurement of new managed service provider is currently in progress. The EA proposes to modify the Contract in accordance with its permitted terms to ensure uninterrupted service during the above transition. The proposed modification is limited to (i) the continued provision of NovaT6 licences and associated support for up to 193 post-primary schools for one additional year from 1 April 2029 to 31 March 2030; and (ii) an option to novate to the EA the NovaT6 licence at any time from now. The EA considers that the proposed modification is justified under Regulation 72(1)(e), read with Regulation 72(8), as set out below. Regulation 72(1)(e): modification not substantial The Education Authority considers that the modification is not a substantial modification within Regulation 72(8). Regulation 72(8)(a): no material difference in character The proposed modification does not render the Contract materially different in character from the Contract initially concluded. The principal purpose remains the continued provision and support of education-network, school-management and timetabling services for the Education Authority and participating schools. The additional NovaT6 year continues licensing and support already provided under the Contract for the same school users and the same timetabling function. The option to novate the licence is ancillary to continuity and orderly transition and does not introduce a materially different category of service. Regulation 72(8)(b)(i): no admission of other candidates The conditions introduced by this proposed further modification, had they formed part of the initial procurement, would not have allowed the admission of candidates other than those initially selected. The modification concerns limited continuity of and transition from the licensing, configurations, data, interfaces and support arrangements already deployed under the Contract.Regulation 72(8)(b)(ii): no acceptance of a different tender The relevant conditions, had they formed part of the initial procurement of the Contract, would not have allowed acceptance of a tender other than the tender originally accepted. Regulation 72(8)(b)(iii): no additional participants The provisions, had they formed part of the initial procurement of the Contract, would not have attracted additional participants. The proposed modification does not change the Contract into an agreement for a materially different category of service. Regulation 72(8)(c): no change in economic balance in favour of the Contractor The proposed modification does not change the economic balance of the Contract in favour of the Contractor in a manner not provided for in the original Contract. The proposed modification does not introduce any entitlement to materially different services or remuneration beyond that required for those continued provision of the existing Nova T6 licences and associated support for the specified period. Regulation 72(8)(d): no considerable extension of scope The proposed modification does not extend the scope of the Contract considerably. The further modification is limited to one additional year of existing NovaT6 licensing and associated support for up to 193 post-primary schools, from 1 April 2029 to 31 March 2030, together with an option for the NovaT6 licence to be novated to the EA at any time from now. It does not add new school populations, functions or a materially different category of service. The modification supports the continued operation and orderly transition of the existing services. Regulation 72(8)(e): no replacement of the original contractor The NovaT6 licence novation option relates solely to the rights and obligations concerning that licence. It does not replace the Contractor under the Contract other than in circumstances which are permitted under the Contract (namely, the requirement for rights and/or obligations under the relevant sub-contract to be capable of being novated to the EA). The Contractor remains contractually responsible, and liable for performance of the wider services to the EA. Accordingly, the present modification does not provide for the replacement of the Contractor for the purposes of Regulation 72(8)(e) and/or the novation option is permissible under the Contract for the purpose of Regulation 72(1)(d)(i).

• Capita Managed IT SolutionsAwarded supplier Newtownabbey, Northern IrelandContact emailShow contact details

No document links were published on the notice.