zOS Mainframe support (2026)

Computacenter was selected via a further competition on the CCS framework agreement for Technical Products and Associated Services (RM6068) in 2020 to supply the existing 2 x IBM z15 zOS mainframe hardware and associated software and hardware support.

Historically, at the end of an agreed period of licensing and support of mainframe systems, new mainframes were purchased however Met Office subsequently renewed Support through Computacenter Ltd in 2024, for a further two years, via the TePAS2 framework (RM6098).

Computacenter have successfully managed the IBM support for the past six years and there would be limited benefit in competing on-going licencing and support for the next year. Pricing of the licensing and support is determined directly by IBM so any

further competition could have limited value. Price would be on the basis of list pricing and reseller margin so there could be limited variation in terms of any pricing submitted.

The mainframes are also aged which could reduce any market interest in bidding for the support services given the associated technical risks. Project SKY, within the wider PMLSR programme, has a clear scheduled plan to migrate all services from the z/OS environment that will lead to the eventual decommissioning of

the z15 systems. This is the strategic strategy with a current target date of September 2026. Again, this might impact the interest of the market given the high likelihood that the contract will need to be terminated early.