Oracle - multiple support contract renewals - 2026 onwards

Sellafield Ltd have now entered into a direct award agreement for a fixed term of sixteen (16) months in respect of the existing Oracle support contracts currently active and in use.

Please see below justification as per UK5 and UK6 previously published notices:

The primary objective of this direct award is to consolidate and co-term the multiple existing support contracts into a single, unified agreement. This approach is intended to achieve contractual alignment, operational efficiency, and continuity of essential support services for critical systems.

Justification for Direct Award

The decision to proceed by way of direct award is based on the following legally defensible grounds:

Value for Money

The proposed direct award ensures continuity of service for critical Oracle systems and avoids disproportionate technical and project complexity or cost that would arise from re-procuring or transitioning to an alternative supplier. Consolidating contracts into a single agreement will deliver administrative efficiencies and reduce the risk of service disruption.

Technical Exclusivity and No Competition

Oracle is the sole provider of support services for its proprietary software products. No alternative supplier can provide the required support for these licences.

Continuity of Service

Maintaining uninterrupted support is essential to ensure compliance, security, and operational stability for systems critical to Sellafield Ltd’s business and regulatory obligations. Any lapse in support could result in significant operational and legal risk.

Proportionality under Procurement Act 2023

The direct award is proportionate to the nature and scope of the requirement, given the limited duration (16 months) and the objective of aligning existing contracts rather than procuring new products or services.