Procurement for Education Technology Managed Services

{
  "id": "061969-2026",
  "tag": [
    "tenderUpdate"
  ],
  "date": "2026-07-01T17:47:33+01:00",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05f966",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PPHJ-6982-JPXY",
    "name": "the Education Authority"
  },
  "tender": {
    "id": "EdiS-25-008",
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "value": {
          "amount": 709000000,
          "currency": "GBP",
          "amountGross": 851000000
        },
        "status": "active",
        "options": {
          "description": "EA intends to include Optional Services and Additional Services in the ETMS Contract, which can be explained as follows:\n•\tOptional Services are services directly related to the ETMS project for which EA’s future requirements can be specified in reasonable detail and with reasonable certainty at the time of this procurement, enabling these services to be clearly specified in the ETMS Contract and allowing Suppliers to tender a price (i.e. an optional price) for the provision of such services at a future point in the ETMS Contract if called upon by the Authority at that time.  Optional Services are provided for in the Cabinet Office Model Services Contract. \n•\tAdditional Services are services which are reasonably foreseeable and can be described at a high level in the contract, however EA’s future requirements cannot be specified in reasonable detail and with reasonable certainty at the time of this procurement, and accordingly at the time of this procurement Suppliers could not provide a price for the provision of such services at a future point in the ETMS Contract.  Future provision of such Additional Services would be subject to a contract modification in accordance with the PA 2023.\nEA intends to include the following Optional Services and Additional Services in the ETMS Contract.  Further details are provided in the procurement documents.\nOptional Services \n•\tProvision (if not otherwise provided by EA), implementation and management of LAN network switches.\n•\tProvision (if not otherwise provided by EA), implementation and management of end user devices.\nAdditional Services\n•\tWAN router managed service for schools following the end of the current PSSN Contract.\n•\tProvision and installation of wireless access points across all school sites and EA corporate sites to meet agreed coverage and capacity targets.\nIt will be for EA to decide, at is sole discretion, whether to proceed with any of the above Optional Services or Additional Services.  Such decisions will be based on business case assessments of available options for addressing the requirement at the relevant time, taking account of value for money, risk and other business considerations. \nThe EA will have the right at all times to procure the Optional Services and Additional Services separately including (without limitation) by way of a separate procurement exercise."
        },
        "renewal": {
          "description": "The Contract will include up to seven extension periods of one year each which may be awarded individually or as multiple years at the EA’s sole discretion (resulting in a latest contract expiry date of 31st March 2042)."
        },
        "hasOptions": true,
        "hasRenewal": true,
        "awardCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "name": "AC1 Transition Services",
              "type": "quality",
              "description": "10.5%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC2 Infrastructure Services",
              "type": "quality",
              "description": "17.5%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC3 Identity Services",
              "type": "quality",
              "description": "8.4%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC4 Security Operation Centre Services",
              "type": "quality",
              "description": "4.9%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC5 User Experience Services",
              "type": "quality",
              "description": "11.2%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC6 Service Management and Service Desk",
              "type": "quality",
              "description": "7%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC7 Social Value",
              "type": "quality",
              "description": "10.5%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC8 NPV of the Total Cost of the Services for the Initial Term",
              "type": "price",
              "description": "16.5%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC9 NPV of the Total Cost of the Services for the maximum Term (including all extensions)",
              "type": "price",
              "description": "10.5%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC10 Pricing for Supplier Personnel Rate Card",
              "type": "price",
              "description": "3%"
            },
            {
              "name": "Robustness and Transparency of Financial Model",
              "type": "price",
              "description": "Pass / Fail"
            }
          ],
          "weightingDescription": "As described below"
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2035-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
          "startDate": "2027-09-30T00:00:00+01:00",
          "maxExtentDate": "2042-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "selectionCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "type": "economic",
              "description": "Legal capacity conditions of participation are contained in the procurement document “COP Response Document – Authority Specific Questions” and comprise:\n•\tModern Slavery Act 2015;\n•\tCompliance with Relevant Employment, Equality and Health and Safety Law and Human Rights Standards;\n•\tEmployment Collective Agreements;\n•\tFair Work Practices; \n•\tReal Living Wage;\n•\tFair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998;\n•\tEquality of Opportunity Contract Condition;\n•\tConflict of Interest;  \n•\tSupplier Team Restrictions and Equality Protocol;   \n•\tEA Supplier Code of Conduct; and\n•\tData Protection.\nFinancial capacity conditions of participation are contained in the procurement document “COP Response Document – Financial Capacity” and comprise:\n•\tEconomic and financial standing; and\n•\tInsurances."
            },
            {
              "type": "technical",
              "description": "The conditions of participation relating to technical ability are contained in the procurement document “COP Response Document – Technical Ability”.\nEA will assess responses to the conditions of participation relating to technical ability in accordance with the scoring method and scoring matrix provided for each of the six questions contained in that COP Response Document. \nThe scores awarded in respect of each question will be converted into a weighted score based on the question weightings set out below. \n1.\tTransition of Services\t20% weighting\n2.\tInfrastructure Services Provision\t20% weighting\n3.\tIdentity Services\t15% weighting\n4.\tSecurity Operations Centre Services\t15% weighting\n5.\tUser Experience Services\t20% weighting\n6.\tService Management and Service Desk\t10% weighting\nTotal\t100%\nThe weighted scores for each question will then be added together to provide an overall weighted score out of 100 for each Supplier in relation to Technical Ability.\nFollowing the evaluation of Technical Ability, the Authority and its advisors will carry out assessments to ensure that the three highest ranking Suppliers arising from the Technical Ability assessment meet the minimum requirements for the conditions of participation relating to Financial Capacity.\nIf any of the three highest ranking Suppliers fails to meet the minimum requirement of a ‘Pass’ in respect of any of the conditions of participation relating to Financial Capacity, it will be deemed non-compliant, and that Supplier will be eliminated from the Competition. The next highest ranked Supplier will then be assessed until three Suppliers are selected to be shortlisted to participate in the Tender Stage.\nHowever, if there are less than three eligible Suppliers shortlisted, the Authority reserves the right to continue the procurement process by inviting all remaining eligible Suppliers to participate in the Tender Stage."
            },
            {
              "description": "Based on its evaluation of the PSQ Responses received, the EA will shortlist three Suppliers to proceed to the Tender Stage.  However, if there are less than three eligible Suppliers shortlisted, the EA reserves the right to continue the procurement process by inviting all remaining eligible Suppliers to proceed to the Tender Stage. \nFurther procurement documents will be provided to the shortlisted Suppliers at the Tender Stage, as further described in section 2 of the ITT – PSQ Stage document.  Such documents shall be issued to shortlisted Suppliers via the eTendersNI portal.",
              "forReduction": true
            }
          ]
        }
      }
    ],
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1",
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "id": "72000000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support"
          },
          {
            "id": "72200000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Software programming and consultancy services"
          },
          {
            "id": "72500000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Computer-related services"
          },
          {
            "id": "72700000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Computer network services"
          },
          {
            "id": "48200000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Networking, Internet and intranet software package"
          },
          {
            "id": "48600000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Database and operating software package"
          },
          {
            "id": "48800000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Information systems and servers"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "Procurement for Education Technology Managed Services",
    "value": {
      "amount": 709000000,
      "currency": "GBP",
      "amountGross": 851000000
    },
    "status": "active",
    "coveredBy": [
      "GPA"
    ],
    "documents": [
      {
        "id": "conflictOfInterest",
        "description": "Not published",
        "documentType": "conflictOfInterest"
      },
      {
        "id": "061969-2026",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061969-2026",
        "format": "text/html",
        "noticeType": "UK4",
        "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "tenderNotice",
        "datePublished": "2026-07-01T17:47:33+01:00"
      }
    ],
    "procedure": {
      "features": "This Competitive Flexible Procedure procurement process is expected to comprise up to seven stages as follows:\n•\tProcurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) Stage\n•\tPre-Initial Tender Dialogue Stage\n•\tInitial Tender Stage\n•\tPre-Final Tender Dialogue Stage (if required)\n•\tFinal Tender Stage (if required)\n•\tPreferred Supplier Stage\n•\tAward Stage\nThe four stages from Pre-Initial Tender Dialogue Stage to Final Tender Stage are collectively known as the ‘Tender Stage’.\nThe procurement commences with the publication of this Tender Notice, which starts the PSQ Stage.  During the PSQ Stage, the EA will hold an information session for interested Suppliers (as further described in the procurement document “ITT – PSQ Stage”).  Interested Suppliers will then request to participate by submitting their completed PSQ Responses in accordance with the ITT – PSQ Stage document for evaluation by EA. \nPSQ Responses will be evaluated in accordance with the process and criteria set out in section 6 of the ITT – PSQ Stage document, which comprises:\n•\tCompleteness and Compliance Check;\n•\tAssessment of Whether a Supplier, its Connected Persons, Associated Persons and/or Sub-contractors (as applicable) is an Excluded Supplier or Excludable Supplier;\n•\tEvaluation of Conditions of Participation – Authority Specific Questions;\n•\tEvaluation of Conditions of Participation – Technical Ability; and\n•\tEvaluation of Conditions of Participation – Financial Capacity. \nBased on its evaluation of the PSQ Responses received, the EA will shortlist three Suppliers to proceed to the Pre-Initial Tender Dialogue Stage, during which Suppliers will be invited to dialogue on EA’s requirements and the Supplier’s high-level solution.  However, if there are less than three eligible Suppliers shortlisted, the EA reserves the right to continue the procurement process by inviting all remaining eligible Suppliers to proceed to the Pre-Initial Tender Dialogue Stage. \nFollowing completion of the Pre-Initial Tender Dialogue Stage, Suppliers will be invited to submit their Initial Tenders based on the solutions developed during the initial dialogue and the feedback provided by the EA.  \nThe EA will then evaluate the Initial Tenders in accordance with the Award Criteria and evaluation methodology that will be set out in the Invitation to Submit Initial Tender (ISIT) (the Award Criteria and weightings that are currently envisaged to be used are set out in the procurement document “ITT – PSQ Stage”) and, at its sole discretion, the EA may decide to award the Contract based on the evaluation of the Initial Tenders received, should one or more of the Initial Tenders be considered capable of acceptance.\nIn the event that the EA determines, following evaluation of Initial Tenders in accordance with the evaluation methodology, that one or more of the Initial Tenders are considered capable of acceptance and that the Contract can be awarded without further dialogue being required, the Contract will be awarded in line with the evaluation methodology set out in the ISIT.  In such case, the EA will identify (in accordance with the evaluation methodology) the Preferred Supplier and will proceed directly to the Preferred Supplier Stage and Award Stage as shown above.\nIf the EA decides not to award based on Initial Tenders received, eligible shortlisted Suppliers (i.e. those passing any minimum thresholds that apply at Initial Tender stage) will be invited to Pre-Final Tender Dialogue with the EA to support the refinement of solutions to better reflect the EA’s requirements.  \nFollowing completion of the Pre-Final Tender Dialogue Stage, Suppliers will be invited to submit their Final Tenders for evaluation by the EA.  Based on the evaluation of Final Tenders in accordance with the Award Criteria and evaluation methodology set out in the Invitation to Submit Final Tender (ISFT), the EA will identify the Preferred Supplier to proceed to the Preferred Supplier Stage and the Award Stage as shown above.\nSubject to the terms of this procurement process, as notified by the EA from time to time, the Contract will be awarded to the Supplier submitting the most advantageous Initial Tender (if contract is awarded based on Initial Tenders) or, if applicable, the most advantageous Final Tender.\nContinued in section; 'Submission address and any special instructions * [FRM03.N148]'"
    },
    "amendments": [
      {
        "id": "061969-2026",
        "description": "The following information has changed;\nSubmission\nEnquiry Deadline has changed from 1 July 2026 at 3pm until 8th July 2026 at 3pm. \nDeadline for Requests to Participate has changed from 10th July 2026 at 3pm until 17th July 2026 at 3pm. "
      }
    ],
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents",
      "scheme": "UKPGA"
    },
    "lotDetails": {
      "noLotsDivisionRationale": "Responses to the preliminary market engagement exercise indicated a strong competitive market for a single integrated ETMS Contract, comprising the full scope of the ETMS as described in this notice and the procurement documents.  The strength of market interest and level of competition that would exist for lots or separately procured contracts was less certain, with only a small number of responses favouring separation into lots or separate contracts.\nIn response to the PME Questionnaire, EA sought and suppliers provided detailed explanation and rationale for their views on why services should be packaged into a single integrated ETMS Contract.  Responses were well balanced, setting out the pros and cons (in the view of each supplier) of a single integrated contract versus separate contracts.\nEA considered all the responses provided by suppliers and determined for primarily competition, service integration and risk management reasons that the services included in the scope of ETMS should be procured as a single integrated contract."
    },
    "awardPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2027-09-21T23:59:59+01:00"
    },
    "description": "The Education Authority (EA) has a requirement to procure a Supplier to provide Education Technology Managed Services (ETMS).\nThe EA is responsible for ensuring that efficient and effective primary and secondary education services are available to meet the needs of children and young people and support the provision of efficient and effective youth services. As part of this, EA manages an educational technology service for over 1,100 schools, 350,000 pupils, 22,000 teachers and 40,000 non-teaching staff. \nThe ETMS will replace and transform the technical infrastructure and services for schools known as the Education Network for Northern Ireland (ENNI), providing digital services to schools to support teaching and learning.  End users of the ETMS are from primary, post primary, special schools, Education Other than at School (EOTAS) centres and nursery schools (staff only) who all require access to secure and efficient technology infrastructure to support their teaching and learning needs.  This includes Controlled Schools, Controlled Integrated Schools, Catholic Maintained Schools, Irish Medium Schools, Grant Maintained Integrated Schools, Controlled and Voluntary Grammar Schools and users from approved education and external stakeholder organisations as further described in the ETMS Technical Specification – PSQ Stage.\nThe EA is procuring the ETMS as a single integrated ETMS Contract, comprising:\n•\tInfrastructure and Network Services (including Integration Services);\n•\tIdentity Services;\n•\tSecurity Operations Centre Services;\n•\tUser Experience Services; and\n•\tService Management and Service Desk, including Schools Catalogue.\nThe procurement is being conducted using the Competitive Flexible Procedure, as further described in this notice and in the procurement documents.\nThe procurement strategy has been informed by preliminary market engagement, which commenced with EA publishing a UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice on 18th December 2025 in Find a Tender Service (FTS) (Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-084518/ Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05f966. (Provision for Education Technology Managed Services - Find a Tender)\nFurther details are provided in the procurement documents.\nThe ETMS Contract will be for an initial term that commences on the Effective Date (as defined in the Contract) and ends on 31st March 2035, which is seven years from the planned transition completion date of 31st March 2028.  The Contract will also include up to seven extension periods of one year each which may be awarded individually or as multiple years at the EA’s sole discretion (resulting in a latest contract expiry date of 31st March 2042).   \nThe value of the ETMS Contract over its maximum term (i.e. initial term plus extensions) is currently estimated to be circa £851m including allowances for changes / modifications, indexation (i.e. inflation) and VAT in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.  This comprises circa £246m for core services paid for by EA over the initial term of the contract (including contingency/OB, inflation and VAT), and a further circa £605m for contract extensions, schools catalogue and potential Optional Services or Additional Services (including contingency/OB, inflation and VAT).  \nUnder this procurement the successful Supplier will be required to support EA's social value objectives. Accordingly, contract performance conditions and award criteria will relate, in particular, to social value. Further details are provided below and in the procurement documents.\nSuppliers should note that this Competition has commenced whilst the business case process is ongoing.  The EA is currently working with the Department of Education to secure business case approval prior to the commencement of the Tender Stage.  Progression of the Competition to the Tender Stage and Award Stage will be subject to the necessary approvals being in place.",
    "riskDetails": "The NI Public Sector Shared Network Contract (NIPSSN) is responsible for delivering the Wide Area Network (WAN) connecting schools to the Public Sector Data Centres.  \nThe ETMS Supplier will be responsible for integrating NIPSSN WAN Managed Service into the ETMS services, ensuring seamless integration and unified management.  The WAN services are essential to the satisfactory performance of the ETMS Contract and their current provision is currently scheduled to expire in 2030.  At this time it is not clear how the WAN services are to be provided in future (and by whom).  Any change in future provision will impact the services to be provided under the ETMS Contract and will therefore require a modification to the Contract, possibly under paragraph 5 of Schedule 8 to the PA 2023.  To mitigate this risk, EA has provided for “Additional Services” as part of the ETMS Contract (if required), which are further described in the procurement documents (the “ITT - PSQ Stage” and the “ETMS Technical Specification – PSQ Stage”).   ",
    "contractTerms": {
      "financialTerms": "The EA intends to use the Cabinet Office Model Services Contract, amended as appropriate to reflect Northern Ireland Law and Legislation, to meet its requirements for the ETMS Contract. Clauses 10 and 15 of the terms and conditions and Part E of Schedule 11 (Charges and Invoicing) set out information on invoicing and payment terms (including disputed invoices) in respect of the Supplier and its Sub-contractors.\nConsistent with the NI Public Procurement Policy Statement approved by the NI Executive on 5th June 2025, the Cabinet Office’s Model Services Contract requires the EA to pay undisputed invoices of the Supplier within 30 days.  It also requires the Supplier to pay undisputed invoices of its Subcontractors within 30 days.   \nThe latest draft version of the Cabinet Office’s Model Services Contract, including schedules, is provided as part of the procurement documentation.  The specific Contract for this procurement will be released to the shortlisted Suppliers at the Tender Stage and the EA reserves the right to amend these documents when published at the later stages of the procurement."
    },
    "enquiryPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-07-01T15:00:00+01:00"
    },
    "aboveThreshold": true,
    "submissionTerms": {
      "languages": [
        "en"
      ],
      "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed"
    },
    "procurementMethod": "selective",
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "submissionMethodDetails": "https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/getHomeDashboard.do\nUnder no circumstances will EA or its advisors be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by economic operators, their funders and/or their respective advisors arising directly or indirectly from the procurement process, their participation in or termination thereof, including, without limitation, preparation and submission of responses, as a result of any changes or adjustments made to the procurement documents or the exclusion/disqualification of an economic operator. Only the express terms of the contractual documents, if and when executed shall have any contractual effect in connection with the matters to which this procurement process relates. Neither the issue of the procurement documents, nor any of the information presented in them, should be regarded as a commitment or representation on the part of EA (or any other person) to enter into a contractual arrangement. Nothing in the procurement documents should be interpreted as a commitment by EA to award a contract to an economic operator as a result of this procurement process, nor to accept the lowest price or any tender. No legally binding contract shall arise (and a tenderer shall have no legitimate expectation that a contract will be entered into) until such time as entry into the contract has been confirmed by EA. As such, EA reserves the right at any time to cancel, withdraw or amend the procurement process at any stage.\nContinued from; Competitive flexible procedure description * [FRM03.N21]\nIn accordance with section 24 of the PA 2023, the EA reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to further refine the above Award Criteria and/or weightings in the ITPD that is issued to the shortlisted Suppliers at the Pre-Initial Tender Dialogue Stage and/or in the Invitation to Submit Initial Tender (ISIT) that is issued to the shortlisted Suppliers at the Initial Tender Stage.  Examples of how the Authority might wish to refine the Award Criteria and/or weightings include; (a) adding new sub-criteria to those criteria set out in the tender notice/associated procurement documents, with a proportionate reallocation of sub-criteria weightings; (b) adding more detail to existing criteria set out in tender notice/associated procurement documents; (c) adding more detail to existing sub-criteria set out in the tender notice/associated procurement documents; and/or (d) changing the weightings of existing primary, secondary or tertiary criteria within a range of not more than +/- 5% of the current weighting in circumstances where there are no new criteria being added (for example, if a current weighting is 15%, the new weighting could not be less than 10% and not more than 20%).     \nSuppliers should note that the EA reserves the right to amend or adjust the stages of this Competitive Flexible Procedure at any time at its discretion, including but not limited to in the ITPD that is issued to the shortlisted Suppliers at the Pre-Initial Tender Dialogue Stage, in accordance with the PA 2023 and the PR 2024.\nSuppliers should note that the EA wishes to conduct an efficient, effective and streamlined Competitive Flexible Procedure and does not wish to engage in any unnecessary dialogue which imposes costs on all parties and causes delay. Accordingly, it is envisaged that certain limits will be placed on the extent of dialogue that will be permitted.  Further information on how the Initial Tender Stage and Final Tender Stage (as applicable) will be structured will be set out in the Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) that is issued to the shortlisted Suppliers at the Pre-Initial Tender Dialogue Stage.",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
    "expressionOfInterestDeadline": "2026-07-10T15:00:00+01:00"
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-PPON-PPHJ-6982-JPXY",
      "name": "the Education Authority",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UKN06",
        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "Belfast",
        "postalCode": "BT1 2NQ",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "40 Academy Street"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
            "description": "Public authority - central government"
          },
          {
            "id": "GB-NIR",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS",
            "description": "Northern Irish devolved regulations apply"
          }
        ]
      },
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PPHJ-6982-JPXY",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "edis.procure@eani.org.uk"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "initiationType": "tender"
}

{
  "id": "053968-2026",
  "tag": [
    "tender"
  ],
  "date": "2026-06-08T16:41:38+01:00",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05f966",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PPHJ-6982-JPXY",
    "name": "the Education Authority"
  },
  "tender": {
    "id": "EdiS-25-008",
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "value": {
          "amount": 709000000,
          "currency": "GBP",
          "amountGross": 851000000
        },
        "status": "active",
        "options": {
          "description": "EA intends to include Optional Services and Additional Services in the ETMS Contract, which can be explained as follows:\n•\tOptional Services are services directly related to the ETMS project for which EA’s future requirements can be specified in reasonable detail and with reasonable certainty at the time of this procurement, enabling these services to be clearly specified in the ETMS Contract and allowing Suppliers to tender a price (i.e. an optional price) for the provision of such services at a future point in the ETMS Contract if called upon by the Authority at that time.  Optional Services are provided for in the Cabinet Office Model Services Contract. \n•\tAdditional Services are services which are reasonably foreseeable and can be described at a high level in the contract, however EA’s future requirements cannot be specified in reasonable detail and with reasonable certainty at the time of this procurement, and accordingly at the time of this procurement Suppliers could not provide a price for the provision of such services at a future point in the ETMS Contract.  Future provision of such Additional Services would be subject to a contract modification in accordance with the PA 2023.\nEA intends to include the following Optional Services and Additional Services in the ETMS Contract.  Further details are provided in the procurement documents.\nOptional Services \n•\tProvision (if not otherwise provided by EA), implementation and management of LAN network switches.\n•\tProvision (if not otherwise provided by EA), implementation and management of end user devices.\nAdditional Services\n•\tWAN router managed service for schools following the end of the current PSSN Contract.\n•\tProvision and installation of wireless access points across all school sites and EA corporate sites to meet agreed coverage and capacity targets.\nIt will be for EA to decide, at is sole discretion, whether to proceed with any of the above Optional Services or Additional Services.  Such decisions will be based on business case assessments of available options for addressing the requirement at the relevant time, taking account of value for money, risk and other business considerations. \nThe EA will have the right at all times to procure the Optional Services and Additional Services separately including (without limitation) by way of a separate procurement exercise."
        },
        "renewal": {
          "description": "The Contract will include up to seven extension periods of one year each which may be awarded individually or as multiple years at the EA’s sole discretion (resulting in a latest contract expiry date of 31st March 2042)."
        },
        "hasOptions": true,
        "hasRenewal": true,
        "awardCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "name": "AC1 Transition Services",
              "type": "quality",
              "description": "10.5%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC2 Infrastructure Services",
              "type": "quality",
              "description": "17.5%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC3 Identity Services",
              "type": "quality",
              "description": "8.4%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC4 Security Operation Centre Services",
              "type": "quality",
              "description": "4.9%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC5 User Experience Services",
              "type": "quality",
              "description": "11.2%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC6 Service Management and Service Desk",
              "type": "quality",
              "description": "7%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC7 Social Value",
              "type": "quality",
              "description": "10.5%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC8 NPV of the Total Cost of the Services for the Initial Term",
              "type": "price",
              "description": "16.5%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC9 NPV of the Total Cost of the Services for the maximum Term (including all extensions)",
              "type": "price",
              "description": "10.5%"
            },
            {
              "name": "AC10 Pricing for Supplier Personnel Rate Card",
              "type": "price",
              "description": "3%"
            },
            {
              "name": "Robustness and Transparency of Financial Model",
              "type": "price",
              "description": "Pass / Fail"
            }
          ],
          "weightingDescription": "As described below"
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2035-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
          "startDate": "2027-09-30T00:00:00+01:00",
          "maxExtentDate": "2042-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "selectionCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "type": "economic",
              "description": "Legal capacity conditions of participation are contained in the procurement document “COP Response Document – Authority Specific Questions” and comprise:\n•\tModern Slavery Act 2015;\n•\tCompliance with Relevant Employment, Equality and Health and Safety Law and Human Rights Standards;\n•\tEmployment Collective Agreements;\n•\tFair Work Practices; \n•\tReal Living Wage;\n•\tFair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998;\n•\tEquality of Opportunity Contract Condition;\n•\tConflict of Interest;  \n•\tSupplier Team Restrictions and Equality Protocol;   \n•\tEA Supplier Code of Conduct; and\n•\tData Protection.\nFinancial capacity conditions of participation are contained in the procurement document “COP Response Document – Financial Capacity” and comprise:\n•\tEconomic and financial standing; and\n•\tInsurances."
            },
            {
              "type": "technical",
              "description": "The conditions of participation relating to technical ability are contained in the procurement document “COP Response Document – Technical Ability”.\nEA will assess responses to the conditions of participation relating to technical ability in accordance with the scoring method and scoring matrix provided for each of the six questions contained in that COP Response Document. \nThe scores awarded in respect of each question will be converted into a weighted score based on the question weightings set out below. \n1.\tTransition of Services\t20% weighting\n2.\tInfrastructure Services Provision\t20% weighting\n3.\tIdentity Services\t15% weighting\n4.\tSecurity Operations Centre Services\t15% weighting\n5.\tUser Experience Services\t20% weighting\n6.\tService Management and Service Desk\t10% weighting\nTotal\t100%\nThe weighted scores for each question will then be added together to provide an overall weighted score out of 100 for each Supplier in relation to Technical Ability.\nFollowing the evaluation of Technical Ability, the Authority and its advisors will carry out assessments to ensure that the three highest ranking Suppliers arising from the Technical Ability assessment meet the minimum requirements for the conditions of participation relating to Financial Capacity.\nIf any of the three highest ranking Suppliers fails to meet the minimum requirement of a ‘Pass’ in respect of any of the conditions of participation relating to Financial Capacity, it will be deemed non-compliant, and that Supplier will be eliminated from the Competition. The next highest ranked Supplier will then be assessed until three Suppliers are selected to be shortlisted to participate in the Tender Stage.\nHowever, if there are less than three eligible Suppliers shortlisted, the Authority reserves the right to continue the procurement process by inviting all remaining eligible Suppliers to participate in the Tender Stage."
            },
            {
              "description": "Based on its evaluation of the PSQ Responses received, the EA will shortlist three Suppliers to proceed to the Tender Stage.  However, if there are less than three eligible Suppliers shortlisted, the EA reserves the right to continue the procurement process by inviting all remaining eligible Suppliers to proceed to the Tender Stage. \nFurther procurement documents will be provided to the shortlisted Suppliers at the Tender Stage, as further described in section 2 of the ITT – PSQ Stage document.  Such documents shall be issued to shortlisted Suppliers via the eTendersNI portal.",
              "forReduction": true
            }
          ]
        }
      }
    ],
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1",
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "id": "72000000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support"
          },
          {
            "id": "72200000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Software programming and consultancy services"
          },
          {
            "id": "72500000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Computer-related services"
          },
          {
            "id": "72700000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Computer network services"
          },
          {
            "id": "48200000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Networking, Internet and intranet software package"
          },
          {
            "id": "48600000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Database and operating software package"
          },
          {
            "id": "48800000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Information systems and servers"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "Procurement for Education Technology Managed Services",
    "value": {
      "amount": 709000000,
      "currency": "GBP",
      "amountGross": 851000000
    },
    "status": "active",
    "coveredBy": [
      "GPA"
    ],
    "documents": [
      {
        "id": "conflictOfInterest",
        "description": "Not published",
        "documentType": "conflictOfInterest"
      },
      {
        "id": "053968-2026",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053968-2026",
        "format": "text/html",
        "noticeType": "UK4",
        "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "tenderNotice",
        "datePublished": "2026-06-08T16:41:38+01:00"
      }
    ],
    "procedure": {
      "features": "This Competitive Flexible Procedure procurement process is expected to comprise up to seven stages as follows:\n•\tProcurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) Stage\n•\tPre-Initial Tender Dialogue Stage\n•\tInitial Tender Stage\n•\tPre-Final Tender Dialogue Stage (if required)\n•\tFinal Tender Stage (if required)\n•\tPreferred Supplier Stage\n•\tAward Stage\nThe four stages from Pre-Initial Tender Dialogue Stage to Final Tender Stage are collectively known as the ‘Tender Stage’.\nThe procurement commences with the publication of this Tender Notice, which starts the PSQ Stage.  During the PSQ Stage, the EA will hold an information session for interested Suppliers (as further described in the procurement document “ITT – PSQ Stage”).  Interested Suppliers will then request to participate by submitting their completed PSQ Responses in accordance with the ITT – PSQ Stage document for evaluation by EA. \nPSQ Responses will be evaluated in accordance with the process and criteria set out in section 6 of the ITT – PSQ Stage document, which comprises:\n•\tCompleteness and Compliance Check;\n•\tAssessment of Whether a Supplier, its Connected Persons, Associated Persons and/or Sub-contractors (as applicable) is an Excluded Supplier or Excludable Supplier;\n•\tEvaluation of Conditions of Participation – Authority Specific Questions;\n•\tEvaluation of Conditions of Participation – Technical Ability; and\n•\tEvaluation of Conditions of Participation – Financial Capacity. \nBased on its evaluation of the PSQ Responses received, the EA will shortlist three Suppliers to proceed to the Pre-Initial Tender Dialogue Stage, during which Suppliers will be invited to dialogue on EA’s requirements and the Supplier’s high-level solution.  However, if there are less than three eligible Suppliers shortlisted, the EA reserves the right to continue the procurement process by inviting all remaining eligible Suppliers to proceed to the Pre-Initial Tender Dialogue Stage. \nFollowing completion of the Pre-Initial Tender Dialogue Stage, Suppliers will be invited to submit their Initial Tenders based on the solutions developed during the initial dialogue and the feedback provided by the EA.  \nThe EA will then evaluate the Initial Tenders in accordance with the Award Criteria and evaluation methodology that will be set out in the Invitation to Submit Initial Tender (ISIT) (the Award Criteria and weightings that are currently envisaged to be used are set out in the procurement document “ITT – PSQ Stage”) and, at its sole discretion, the EA may decide to award the Contract based on the evaluation of the Initial Tenders received, should one or more of the Initial Tenders be considered capable of acceptance.\nIn the event that the EA determines, following evaluation of Initial Tenders in accordance with the evaluation methodology, that one or more of the Initial Tenders are considered capable of acceptance and that the Contract can be awarded without further dialogue being required, the Contract will be awarded in line with the evaluation methodology set out in the ISIT.  In such case, the EA will identify (in accordance with the evaluation methodology) the Preferred Supplier and will proceed directly to the Preferred Supplier Stage and Award Stage as shown above.\nIf the EA decides not to award based on Initial Tenders received, eligible shortlisted Suppliers (i.e. those passing any minimum thresholds that apply at Initial Tender stage) will be invited to Pre-Final Tender Dialogue with the EA to support the refinement of solutions to better reflect the EA’s requirements.  \nFollowing completion of the Pre-Final Tender Dialogue Stage, Suppliers will be invited to submit their Final Tenders for evaluation by the EA.  Based on the evaluation of Final Tenders in accordance with the Award Criteria and evaluation methodology set out in the Invitation to Submit Final Tender (ISFT), the EA will identify the Preferred Supplier to proceed to the Preferred Supplier Stage and the Award Stage as shown above.\nSubject to the terms of this procurement process, as notified by the EA from time to time, the Contract will be awarded to the Supplier submitting the most advantageous Initial Tender (if contract is awarded based on Initial Tenders) or, if applicable, the most advantageous Final Tender.\nContinued in section; 'Submission address and any special instructions * [FRM03.N148]'"
    },
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents",
      "scheme": "UKPGA"
    },
    "lotDetails": {
      "noLotsDivisionRationale": "Responses to the preliminary market engagement exercise indicated a strong competitive market for a single integrated ETMS Contract, comprising the full scope of the ETMS as described in this notice and the procurement documents.  The strength of market interest and level of competition that would exist for lots or separately procured contracts was less certain, with only a small number of responses favouring separation into lots or separate contracts.\nIn response to the PME Questionnaire, EA sought and suppliers provided detailed explanation and rationale for their views on why services should be packaged into a single integrated ETMS Contract.  Responses were well balanced, setting out the pros and cons (in the view of each supplier) of a single integrated contract versus separate contracts.\nEA considered all the responses provided by suppliers and determined for primarily competition, service integration and risk management reasons that the services included in the scope of ETMS should be procured as a single integrated contract."
    },
    "awardPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2027-09-21T23:59:59+01:00"
    },
    "description": "The Education Authority (EA) has a requirement to procure a Supplier to provide Education Technology Managed Services (ETMS).\nThe EA is responsible for ensuring that efficient and effective primary and secondary education services are available to meet the needs of children and young people and support the provision of efficient and effective youth services. As part of this, EA manages an educational technology service for over 1,100 schools, 350,000 pupils, 22,000 teachers and 40,000 non-teaching staff. \nThe ETMS will replace and transform the technical infrastructure and services for schools known as the Education Network for Northern Ireland (ENNI), providing digital services to schools to support teaching and learning.  End users of the ETMS are from primary, post primary, special schools, Education Other than at School (EOTAS) centres and nursery schools (staff only) who all require access to secure and efficient technology infrastructure to support their teaching and learning needs.  This includes Controlled Schools, Controlled Integrated Schools, Catholic Maintained Schools, Irish Medium Schools, Grant Maintained Integrated Schools, Controlled and Voluntary Grammar Schools and users from approved education and external stakeholder organisations as further described in the ETMS Technical Specification – PSQ Stage.\nThe EA is procuring the ETMS as a single integrated ETMS Contract, comprising:\n•\tInfrastructure and Network Services (including Integration Services);\n•\tIdentity Services;\n•\tSecurity Operations Centre Services;\n•\tUser Experience Services; and\n•\tService Management and Service Desk, including Schools Catalogue.\nThe procurement is being conducted using the Competitive Flexible Procedure, as further described in this notice and in the procurement documents.\nThe procurement strategy has been informed by preliminary market engagement, which commenced with EA publishing a UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice on 18th December 2025 in Find a Tender Service (FTS) (Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-084518/ Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05f966. (Provision for Education Technology Managed Services - Find a Tender)\nFurther details are provided in the procurement documents.\nThe ETMS Contract will be for an initial term that commences on the Effective Date (as defined in the Contract) and ends on 31st March 2035, which is seven years from the planned transition completion date of 31st March 2028.  The Contract will also include up to seven extension periods of one year each which may be awarded individually or as multiple years at the EA’s sole discretion (resulting in a latest contract expiry date of 31st March 2042).   \nThe value of the ETMS Contract over its maximum term (i.e. initial term plus extensions) is currently estimated to be circa £851m including allowances for changes / modifications, indexation (i.e. inflation) and VAT in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.  This comprises circa £246m for core services paid for by EA over the initial term of the contract (including contingency/OB, inflation and VAT), and a further circa £605m for contract extensions, schools catalogue and potential Optional Services or Additional Services (including contingency/OB, inflation and VAT).  \nUnder this procurement the successful Supplier will be required to support EA's social value objectives. Accordingly, contract performance conditions and award criteria will relate, in particular, to social value. Further details are provided below and in the procurement documents.\nSuppliers should note that this Competition has commenced whilst the business case process is ongoing.  The EA is currently working with the Department of Education to secure business case approval prior to the commencement of the Tender Stage.  Progression of the Competition to the Tender Stage and Award Stage will be subject to the necessary approvals being in place.",
    "riskDetails": "The NI Public Sector Shared Network Contract (NIPSSN) is responsible for delivering the Wide Area Network (WAN) connecting schools to the Public Sector Data Centres.  \nThe ETMS Supplier will be responsible for integrating NIPSSN WAN Managed Service into the ETMS services, ensuring seamless integration and unified management.  The WAN services are essential to the satisfactory performance of the ETMS Contract and their current provision is currently scheduled to expire in 2030.  At this time it is not clear how the WAN services are to be provided in future (and by whom).  Any change in future provision will impact the services to be provided under the ETMS Contract and will therefore require a modification to the Contract, possibly under paragraph 5 of Schedule 8 to the PA 2023.  To mitigate this risk, EA has provided for “Additional Services” as part of the ETMS Contract (if required), which are further described in the procurement documents (the “ITT - PSQ Stage” and the “ETMS Technical Specification – PSQ Stage”).   ",
    "contractTerms": {
      "financialTerms": "The EA intends to use the Cabinet Office Model Services Contract, amended as appropriate to reflect Northern Ireland Law and Legislation, to meet its requirements for the ETMS Contract. Clauses 10 and 15 of the terms and conditions and Part E of Schedule 11 (Charges and Invoicing) set out information on invoicing and payment terms (including disputed invoices) in respect of the Supplier and its Sub-contractors.\nConsistent with the NI Public Procurement Policy Statement approved by the NI Executive on 5th June 2025, the Cabinet Office’s Model Services Contract requires the EA to pay undisputed invoices of the Supplier within 30 days.  It also requires the Supplier to pay undisputed invoices of its Subcontractors within 30 days.   \nThe latest draft version of the Cabinet Office’s Model Services Contract, including schedules, is provided as part of the procurement documentation.  The specific Contract for this procurement will be released to the shortlisted Suppliers at the Tender Stage and the EA reserves the right to amend these documents when published at the later stages of the procurement."
    },
    "enquiryPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-07-01T15:00:00+01:00"
    },
    "aboveThreshold": true,
    "submissionTerms": {
      "languages": [
        "en"
      ],
      "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed"
    },
    "procurementMethod": "selective",
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "submissionMethodDetails": "https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps/getHomeDashboard.do\nUnder no circumstances will EA or its advisors be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by economic operators, their funders and/or their respective advisors arising directly or indirectly from the procurement process, their participation in or termination thereof, including, without limitation, preparation and submission of responses, as a result of any changes or adjustments made to the procurement documents or the exclusion/disqualification of an economic operator. Only the express terms of the contractual documents, if and when executed shall have any contractual effect in connection with the matters to which this procurement process relates. Neither the issue of the procurement documents, nor any of the information presented in them, should be regarded as a commitment or representation on the part of EA (or any other person) to enter into a contractual arrangement. Nothing in the procurement documents should be interpreted as a commitment by EA to award a contract to an economic operator as a result of this procurement process, nor to accept the lowest price or any tender. No legally binding contract shall arise (and a tenderer shall have no legitimate expectation that a contract will be entered into) until such time as entry into the contract has been confirmed by EA. As such, EA reserves the right at any time to cancel, withdraw or amend the procurement process at any stage.\nContinued from; Competitive flexible procedure description * [FRM03.N21]\nIn accordance with section 24 of the PA 2023, the EA reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to further refine the above Award Criteria and/or weightings in the ITPD that is issued to the shortlisted Suppliers at the Pre-Initial Tender Dialogue Stage and/or in the Invitation to Submit Initial Tender (ISIT) that is issued to the shortlisted Suppliers at the Initial Tender Stage.  Examples of how the Authority might wish to refine the Award Criteria and/or weightings include; (a) adding new sub-criteria to those criteria set out in the tender notice/associated procurement documents, with a proportionate reallocation of sub-criteria weightings; (b) adding more detail to existing criteria set out in tender notice/associated procurement documents; (c) adding more detail to existing sub-criteria set out in the tender notice/associated procurement documents; and/or (d) changing the weightings of existing primary, secondary or tertiary criteria within a range of not more than +/- 5% of the current weighting in circumstances where there are no new criteria being added (for example, if a current weighting is 15%, the new weighting could not be less than 10% and not more than 20%).     \nSuppliers should note that the EA reserves the right to amend or adjust the stages of this Competitive Flexible Procedure at any time at its discretion, including but not limited to in the ITPD that is issued to the shortlisted Suppliers at the Pre-Initial Tender Dialogue Stage, in accordance with the PA 2023 and the PR 2024.\nSuppliers should note that the EA wishes to conduct an efficient, effective and streamlined Competitive Flexible Procedure and does not wish to engage in any unnecessary dialogue which imposes costs on all parties and causes delay. Accordingly, it is envisaged that certain limits will be placed on the extent of dialogue that will be permitted.  Further information on how the Initial Tender Stage and Final Tender Stage (as applicable) will be structured will be set out in the Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) that is issued to the shortlisted Suppliers at the Pre-Initial Tender Dialogue Stage.",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
    "expressionOfInterestDeadline": "2026-07-10T15:00:00+01:00"
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-PPON-PPHJ-6982-JPXY",
      "name": "the Education Authority",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UKN06",
        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "Belfast",
        "postalCode": "BT1 2NQ",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "40 Academy Street"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
            "description": "Public authority - central government"
          },
          {
            "id": "GB-NIR",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS",
            "description": "Northern Irish devolved regulations apply"
          }
        ]
      },
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PPHJ-6982-JPXY",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "edis.procure@eani.org.uk"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "initiationType": "tender"
}

{
  "id": "084518-2025",
  "tag": [
    "planningUpdate"
  ],
  "date": "2025-12-18T15:16:56Z",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05f966",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PPHJ-6982-JPXY",
    "name": "Education Authority"
  },
  "tender": {
    "id": "EDIS-25-008",
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "status": "planning",
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2035-02-28T23:59:59+00:00",
          "startDate": "2027-03-01T00:00:00+00:00"
        }
      }
    ],
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1",
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "id": "72000000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support"
          },
          {
            "id": "72200000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Software programming and consultancy services"
          },
          {
            "id": "48200000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Networking, Internet and intranet software package"
          },
          {
            "id": "48600000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Database and operating software package"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "Provision for Education Technology Managed Services",
    "value": {
      "amount": 190000000,
      "currency": "GBP",
      "amountGross": 228000000
    },
    "status": "planning",
    "amendments": [
      {
        "id": "084518-2025",
        "description": "Reference to CfT ID on eTendersNI added."
      }
    ],
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents",
      "scheme": "UKPGA"
    },
    "description": "***This is not a tender exercise***  The Education Authority Northern Ireland (EANI) would like to invite participation in a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise to seek the views of the market for the future provision of education technology services (referred to in this PME as the “Education Technology Managed Services”) currently included in the EN(ni) contract for all Schools in Northern Ireland including but not limited to infrastructure managed services, supplier and service integration, cyber security operations and management, user experience and schools catalogue services. The purpose of this PME exercise is for EANI to gain a better understanding of the supplier market and the feasibility of its requirements for these services, the most appropriate contracting strategy, procurement strategy and operational approach, the capacity of the market to deliver the requirements.  The exercise will also provide an opportunity for the market to highlight any possible risks or issues that may not have previously been considered.    \nThis PME exercise will inform EANI’s decision as to whether the Education Technology Managed Services should be procured as a single contract or procured as separate contracts (for example an infrastructure managed services contract plus one or more contracts for cyber security operations and management, user experience, schools catalogue services and supplier and service integration if they are not incorporated in the infrastructure managed services contract).  If the Education Technology Managed Services are procured as separate contracts, this PME exercise would act as the PME exercise for the Infrastructure Managed Services contract and EA may, and reserves the right to (or not), conduct separate additional PME exercises in respect of the Supplier and Service Integration Provider, Cyber Security Operations and Management Service, User Experience and Schools Catalogue contracts if and to the extent that these services are not incorporated in the Infrastructure Managed Services contract.   \nFor the avoidance of doubt, this is the scoping phase of the project and is not part of any formal procurement process and there is no commitment at this stage to carry out such a process. Any information gathered will not be considered in any future tender exercise. Please note that participation or non-participation in this PME exercise shall not prevent any supplier from participating in any future procurement process, nor is it intended that any information provided shall place any supplier at an advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement exercise. Further information including the questionnaire can be downloaded from the documents section of the CfT on eTendersNI. Suppliers who wish to participate in the PME exercise must return the completed questionnaire via the messaging function of the CfT on eTendersNI no later than 30th January 2026.\nPlease note that the estimated maximum values detailed in this notice are based on an estimated 8 year contract period and the total values comprise (as indicative values):\nInfrastructure Managed Services: circa £120m to £130m\nCyber Security: circa £10m\nUX Provider: circa £5m to £10m\nSchools Catalogue: circa £20m to £30m\nSupplier & Service Integration: circa £10m",
    "aboveThreshold": false,
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services"
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-PPON-PPHJ-6982-JPXY",
      "name": "Education Authority",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UKN06",
        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "Belfast",
        "postalCode": "BT1 2NQ",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "40 Academy Street"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
            "description": "Public authority - central government"
          },
          {
            "id": "GB-NIR",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS",
            "description": "Northern Irish devolved regulations apply"
          }
        ]
      },
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PPHJ-6982-JPXY",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "edis.procurement@eani.org.uk"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "planning": {
    "documents": [
      {
        "id": "084518-2025",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084518-2025",
        "format": "text/html",
        "noticeType": "UK2",
        "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
        "datePublished": "2025-12-18T15:16:56Z"
      }
    ],
    "milestones": [
      {
        "id": "engagement",
        "type": "engagement",
        "status": "scheduled",
        "dueDate": "2026-01-30T23:59:59+00:00",
        "description": "Suppliers who wish to participate in the PME exercise must return the completed questionnaire via the messaging function of the CfT on eTendersNI no later than 3pm on Friday 30th January 2026. EA reserves the right to seek additional clarification information in relation to any responses provided by suppliers as part of this exercise. Such clarifications would be limited to those questionnaire responses that require clarification. In addition, EA may invite all suppliers who have expressed an interest in the infrastructure managed services contract (i.e. in response to Question 2.1), to attend an individual PME meeting.  The focus of such meetings will be to further clarify (where necessary) each supplier’s responses to the PME Questionnaire where such responses relate to the procurement strategy for the infrastructure managed services contract (as this would be the first procurement to follow the PME exercise if the Education Technology Managed Services were to be procured as separate contracts). Such meetings shall take place via MS Teams and are expected to take place between 2nd and 27th February 2026. Suppliers should note that EA is required by the Procurement Act 2023 to keep a record of the information it has shared and received as part of the preliminary market engagement, including information shared and received in such meetings. Accordingly, EA is required to keep a record of the meeting discussions and may be required to share details of such meetings with all suppliers at the commencement of any tender process. EA may be required by the Act to share such information on a non-attributable basis and in such circumstances would exclude any confidential information or commercially sensitive information of the supplier to the extent permitted by the Act.\nFor the avoidance of doubt, this is the scoping phase of the project and is not part of a formal procurement process.\nFurther information including the questionnaire can be downloaded from eTendersNI CfT Documents area of CfT 6316535."
      }
    ]
  },
  "initiationType": "tender"
}

{
  "id": "084494-2025",
  "tag": [
    "planning"
  ],
  "date": "2025-12-18T15:01:51Z",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05f966",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PPHJ-6982-JPXY",
    "name": "Education Authority"
  },
  "tender": {
    "id": "EDIS-25-008",
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "status": "planning",
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2035-02-28T23:59:59+00:00",
          "startDate": "2027-03-01T00:00:00+00:00"
        }
      }
    ],
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1",
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "id": "72000000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support"
          },
          {
            "id": "72200000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Software programming and consultancy services"
          },
          {
            "id": "48200000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Networking, Internet and intranet software package"
          },
          {
            "id": "48600000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Database and operating software package"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "Provision for Education Technology Managed Services",
    "value": {
      "amount": 190000000,
      "currency": "GBP",
      "amountGross": 228000000
    },
    "status": "planning",
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents",
      "scheme": "UKPGA"
    },
    "description": "***This is not a tender exercise***  The Education Authority Northern Ireland (EANI) would like to invite participation in a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) exercise to seek the views of the market for the future provision of education technology services (referred to in this PME as the “Education Technology Managed Services”) currently included in the EN(ni) contract for all Schools in Northern Ireland including but not limited to infrastructure managed services, supplier and service integration, cyber security operations and management, user experience and schools catalogue services. The purpose of this PME exercise is for EANI to gain a better understanding of the supplier market and the feasibility of its requirements for these services, the most appropriate contracting strategy, procurement strategy and operational approach, the capacity of the market to deliver the requirements.  The exercise will also provide an opportunity for the market to highlight any possible risks or issues that may not have previously been considered.    \nThis PME exercise will inform EANI’s decision as to whether the Education Technology Managed Services should be procured as a single contract or procured as separate contracts (for example an infrastructure managed services contract plus one or more contracts for cyber security operations and management, user experience, schools catalogue services and supplier and service integration if they are not incorporated in the infrastructure managed services contract).  If the Education Technology Managed Services are procured as separate contracts, this PME exercise would act as the PME exercise for the Infrastructure Managed Services contract and EA may, and reserves the right to (or not), conduct separate additional PME exercises in respect of the Supplier and Service Integration Provider, Cyber Security Operations and Management Service, User Experience and Schools Catalogue contracts if and to the extent that these services are not incorporated in the Infrastructure Managed Services contract.   \nFor the avoidance of doubt, this is the scoping phase of the project and is not part of any formal procurement process and there is no commitment at this stage to carry out such a process. Any information gathered will not be considered in any future tender exercise. Please note that participation or non-participation in this PME exercise shall not prevent any supplier from participating in any future procurement process, nor is it intended that any information provided shall place any supplier at an advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement exercise. Further information including the questionnaire can be downloaded from the documents section of the CfT on eTendersNI. Suppliers who wish to participate in the PME exercise must return the completed questionnaire via the messaging function of the CfT on eTendersNI no later than 30th January 2026.\nPlease note that the estimated maximum values detailed in this notice are based on an estimated 8 year contract period and the total values comprise (as indicative values):\nInfrastructure Managed Services: circa £120m to £130m\nCyber Security: circa £10m\nUX Provider: circa £5m to £10m\nSchools Catalogue: circa £20m to £30m\nSupplier & Service Integration: circa £10m",
    "aboveThreshold": false,
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services"
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-PPON-PPHJ-6982-JPXY",
      "name": "Education Authority",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UKN06",
        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "Belfast",
        "postalCode": "BT1 2NQ",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "40 Academy Street"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
            "description": "Public authority - central government"
          },
          {
            "id": "GB-NIR",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS",
            "description": "Northern Irish devolved regulations apply"
          }
        ]
      },
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PPHJ-6982-JPXY",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "edis.procurement@eani.org.uk"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "planning": {
    "documents": [
      {
        "id": "084494-2025",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084494-2025",
        "format": "text/html",
        "noticeType": "UK2",
        "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
        "datePublished": "2025-12-18T15:01:51Z"
      }
    ],
    "milestones": [
      {
        "id": "engagement",
        "type": "engagement",
        "status": "scheduled",
        "dueDate": "2026-01-30T23:59:59+00:00",
        "description": "Suppliers who wish to participate in the PME exercise must return the completed questionnaire via the messaging function of the CfT on eTendersNI no later than 3pm on Friday 30th January 2026. EA reserves the right to seek additional clarification information in relation to any responses provided by suppliers as part of this exercise. Such clarifications would be limited to those questionnaire responses that require clarification. In addition, EA may invite all suppliers who have expressed an interest in the infrastructure managed services contract (i.e. in response to Question 2.1), to attend an individual PME meeting.  The focus of such meetings will be to further clarify (where necessary) each supplier’s responses to the PME Questionnaire where such responses relate to the procurement strategy for the infrastructure managed services contract (as this would be the first procurement to follow the PME exercise if the Education Technology Managed Services were to be procured as separate contracts). Such meetings shall take place via MS Teams and are expected to take place between 2nd and 27th February 2026. Suppliers should note that EA is required by the Procurement Act 2023 to keep a record of the information it has shared and received as part of the preliminary market engagement, including information shared and received in such meetings. Accordingly, EA is required to keep a record of the meeting discussions and may be required to share details of such meetings with all suppliers at the commencement of any tender process. EA may be required by the Act to share such information on a non-attributable basis and in such circumstances would exclude any confidential information or commercially sensitive information of the supplier to the extent permitted by the Act.\nFor the avoidance of doubt, this is the scoping phase of the project and is not part of a formal procurement process."
      }
    ]
  },
  "initiationType": "tender"
}