Official UK procurement notice
ICT Managed Services Procurement
Authority: ALPHA ACADEMIES TRUST (Education)·On behalf of: ITSpire Consulting
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThis procurement has been initiated as the current ICT Managed Service contract is due to expire in November 2026. The Trust will have had a fully managed ICT service for 10 years by the time the current contract expires. Although the Trust is broadly happy with the current service model, it would like to explore if there are more flexible approaches to delivery while still maintaining the balance of onsite vs remote activities.
The expectation is that the new contract will go live in October 2026 with a short handover period with the existing contract to smooth the transition.
The Trust has no internal ICT resource, so the supplier is expected to act as the Trust's primary ICT partner.
The procurement will include, but is not limited to, the following.
- Service Desk operating 8:00-16:30 as a minimum
- Technical Support (tier 2/3 support) to operate during the same time periods
- On-site Support - support across all sites based on need and clearly identified priorities
- Network Management - wired and wireless networks
- Cyber Security Management - including management of risk and adherence to DfE Cyber Security Standards
- Operations Management - management of Trust servers, both on-premises and cloud
- Telephony - management of the Trust IP telephony systems
- Relationship Management - operate as the front door to associated 3rd party systems, including biometrics, cashless catering, library systems and access control
- Software Licence Management
- Asset Management
- Vision and Strategy - act as primary advisor to the Trust in the development of long-term ICT planning and strategy
- Support with Digital Transformation - assist the Trust in embedding ICT developments
- Contract Management - ensure the contract runs effectively with clear SLA/KPI monitoring and management
- Hardware Refresh Management and Supply
The term of the contract will be for a three-year initial agreement with two one-year extensions based on satisfactory performance. The maximum length that the contract will run, therefore, will be 60 months.
The Trust will include a model contract as part of the tender pack; it is also open to receiving supplier model contracts as part of the submission. These will not be scored and are for information only.
There will be a requirement for TUPE from the current supplier. The Trust has no internal IT resource.
- How the procedure runs: At Stage 1, a PSQ will be issued, and a minimum of the top 5 scoring suppliers will be shortlisted and invited to submit a tender. Suppliers will be provided with an ITT pack that contains the Stage 2 process, the contracting authority requirements, a draft contract and other relevant information. Suppliers will be asked to respond to the requirements and provide pricing for the service. Suppliers will be able to submit clarification questions during the tender writing process. Following submission of their proposals and costs, their responses will be scored, alongside the charges for the service, against an agreed weighting and scoring criteria contained in the ITT. The highest weighted score will be deemed to deliver the Most Advantageous Tender and will be awarded Preferred Bidder status. Following a standstill period, the contracting authority will then endeavour to agree and enter into a contract with the Preferred Bidder.
CPV: Computer equipment and supplies · IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£1,200,000
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- Solution Design: 75%
- Total Service Cost: 25%
Published award criteria (2)
- Solution Design
- Total Service Cost
- Price carries 25 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 2.5 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 9 Feb 2026, 17:42 GMT
- Last source update
- 5 May 2026, 20:27 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 14 Apr 2026
- Authority reference
AAT/2026/ICTS- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-011578- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-064bb4Find a Tender
- How it runs
At Stage 1, a PSQ will be issued, and a minimum of the top 5 scoring suppliers will be shortlisted and invited to submit a tender.
Suppliers will be provided with an ITT pack that contains the Stage 2 process, the contracting authority requirements, a draft contract and other relevant information.
Suppliers will be asked to respond to the requirements and provide pricing for the service.
Suppliers will be able to submit clarification questions during the tender writing process.
Following submission of their proposals and costs, their responses will be scored, alongside the charges for the service, against an agreed weighting and scoring criteria contained in the ITT.
The highest weighted score will be deemed to deliver the Most Advantageous Tender and will be awarded Preferred Bidder status.
Following a standstill period, the contracting authority will then endeavour to agree and enter into a contract with the Preferred Bidder.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 11 Mar 2026, 13:00 GMT
- Submission deadline
- 11 Mar 2026, 13:00 GMT
- Electronic submission
- Not allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Please email submissions as described in the PSQ document.
Timeline
9 Feb 2026 → 26 Oct 2026 · 6 dates- Tender notice published254 days ago9 Feb 2026, 17:42 GMT
- Submission deadline224 days ago11 Mar 2026, 13:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by190 days ago14 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Assessment summaries sent185 days ago20 Apr 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published169 days ago5 May 2026, 20:27 BST
- Today21 Oct 2026
- Contract startsin 5 days26 Oct 2026
Notice history
5 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 9 Feb 2026- Tender notice published9 Feb 2026, 17:42 GMTUK4
- Contract award notice published5 May 2026, 20:27 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete5 May 2026, 20:27 BST
- Procurement method changed5 May 2026, 20:27 BST
- Contract signature expected3 Aug 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| RM Education Ltd30 Oct 2026 – 29 Oct 2029 · up to 29 Oct 2031Extensions: There a possible 2 x 1 year extensions that can be agreed providing the original contract term meets the requirements and expectations, | £672,010 | 17 Apr 2026 | Awarded |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9final-stage tenders | 3 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeOther public bodies
- ITSpire ConsultingProcess contact pointProcuring entityProcurement Advisor
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- RM EDUCATION LTDAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: Full ITT pack will be emailed directly to shorlisted suppliers after conclusion of Stage One PSQ.
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender