Official UK procurement notice
Microsoft Business Central Delivery and Support Partner
Authority: Department for Education (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Department for Education (DfE) is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and accredited Microsoft Solutions Partner with Microsoft Business Applications accreditation to provide specialist support, maintenance, development, enhancement and consultancy services for the Department's core finance platform, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
The service encompasses the provision of comprehensive support and management of the Department's Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central environment and associated Microsoft technology estate. This includes, but is not limited to, 2nd and 3rd line support services, incident, problem and change management, platform maintenance, code development and deployment, system enhancements, release management, technical consultancy and continuous service improvement activities.
The successful supplier will be responsible for supporting and developing the wider Business Central ecosystem, including Microsoft SQL Server databases, integrations, Microsoft Power Platform solutions. They shall maintain the skills, knowledge, and capability to support, develop, enhance, and maintain Microsoft Power Platform solutions, Azure Logic Apps, Microsoft Copilot capabilities, custom applications, workflows, and associated Microsoft technologies, in support of business requirements specified by the Buyer. Responsibility for the design and ownership of end-to-end business processes shall remain with the Buyer.
The supplier will also provide technical architecture support, code development as commissioned by Buyer, disaster recovery planning and testing, business continuity support, performance optimisation, security and assurance activities, documentation and knowledge transfer.
The supplier will assume responsibility for supporting and maintaining existing custom code, extensions, integrations and third-party solutions utilised within the environment. This includes management and coordination of associated software licences, maintenance agreements and support arrangements relating to relevant third-party products and services.
The Supplier shall provide ongoing support, maintenance, break-fix, security, and service continuity activities for supported applications and integrations. The Supplier shall act as a conduit between the Buyer and relevant third-party suppliers, coordinating issue resolution, service requests, and technical escalations to ensure the effective operation of services and minimise disruption to business operations. This includes engagement with third-party application and service providers where required, including but not limited to Construction Industry Scheme App (MITL), OCR for e-Invoicing (Continia), and Eque2 (MiraclePay). JET Enterprise and Microsoft.
The supplier shall work collaboratively with Department stakeholders and the Department's managed service provider to ensure the effective operation, maintenance, resilience and ongoing evolution of the service. The Authority anticipates entering into a contract for the provision of ongoing managed services and specialist professional services to support the current on-premises deployment hosted within Microsoft Azure and the future evolution of the platform.
Suppliers wishing to participate in this procurement must register on the Jaggaer portal at education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html ↗ and search for the ssq entitled ‘SSQ_850 – Microsoft Business Central Delivery and Support Partner – Procurement Specific Questionnaire’.
Suppliers are required to complete and submit their PSQ response through the portal no later than 4pm on 17th November 2026.
Suppliers should ensure that all requested information and supporting documentation are submitted by the stated deadline. The Authority reserves the right to reject late submissions in accordance with the procurement documents.
- How the procedure runs: The procurement will be conducted using a two-stage Competitive Flexible Procedure. Stage 1 will comprise a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), including pass/fail conditions of participation and scored assessment criteria relating to supplier experience and technical capability. The five highest-ranked suppliers will be shortlisted and invited to Stage 2 – a tie-break mechanism is specified in the DOC_001 PSQ Information and Guidance document where suppliers are tied for 5th place (this document can be found in the ssq). Stage 2 will comprise an Invitation to Tender (ITT), during which shortlisted suppliers will submit detailed tender responses against quality questions, which will assess technical delivery and approach, and social value. Bidders who are invited to Stage 2 of the competition will also be required to submit a commercial rate card. Clarification questions will be permitted during both stages of the procurement process. The Department reserves the right to amend award criteria as necessary, in accordance with Procurement Act 2023 regulations.
CPV: Custom software development services · IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support · Project management software development services · Software development services · Software package and information systems · Software programming and consultancy services · Software supply services · Software support services · System and support services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£13,455,016
- Economic & financial standing
As a condition of participation, potential suppliers will be required to demonstrate satisfactory economic and financial standing by completing the Financial Viability Risk Assessment provided with the procurement documents. The Department will assess the information submitted against the published methodology and three key financial thresholds, taking account, where applicable, of supporting evidence provided to explain or mitigate amber or red indicators. Potential suppliers that do not satisfy the Department’s financial viability assessment will fail this condition of participation and will not progress further in the procurement.
Potential suppliers must also confirm that they hold, or will obtain by commencement of the contract award, the following minimum levels of insurance:
- Professional Indemnity Insurance, with a limit of indemnity of not less than £5,000,000 for a single event, a series of related events and in the aggregate in each annual policy period
- Employers’ Liability Insurance, with a limit of indemnity of not less than £5,000,000 for a single event, a series of related events and in the aggregate in each annual policy period or any higher limit required by law; and
- Third Party Public and Products Liability Insurance, with a limit of indemnity of not less than £1,000,000 in respect of any one occurrence, with the number of occurrences unlimited in any annual policy period, but £1,000,000 in the aggregate per annum in respect of products and pollution liability (to the extent insured by the relevant policy).
Please see the ssq entitled ‘SSQ_850 – Microsoft Business Central Delivery and Support Partner – Procurement Specific Questionnaire’ and DOC_001 Information and Guidance document for information regarding insurance requirements and financial capacity conditions of participation.
- Technical & professional ability
Potential suppliers must demonstrate that they have the existing technical ability required to deliver the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central support and delivery services. The requirements assess whether the supplier:
- holds, and will maintain, the Microsoft Solutions Partner for Business Applications designation;
- can deliver the Core Services as a sole prime supplier, without relying on consortium members or subcontractors;
- will deliver the services from within the United Kingdom;
- can provide personnel with the required BPSS and, where applicable, SC security clearance for enhanced access;
- demonstrable Microsoft Business Central Support and Development experience;
- demonstrable Business Central SaaS Migration Delivery experience;
- holds Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO/IEC 27001 or an equivalent information-security certifications acceptable to the Department.
Please see the ssq entitled ‘SSQ_850 – Microsoft Business Central Delivery and Support Partner – Procurement Specific Questionnaire’ and DOC_001 Information and Guidance document for information on conditions of participation.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Please access the ssq via the Jaggaer portal, accessible via the ssq entitled ‘SSQ_850 – Microsoft Business Central Delivery and Support Partner – Procurement Specific Questionnaire’.
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 (3)
- Quality: 50%
- Commercial: 40%
- Social Value: 10%
Published award criteria (3)
- Quality: Stage 2 assessment criteria will focus on support and break fix requirements, code development, and security and architecture. Draft stage 2 question sets can be found at appendix 3 on the Jaggaer portal, accessible via the ssq entitled ‘SSQ_850 – Microsoft Business Central Delivery and Support Partner – Procurement Specific Questionnaire’.
- Commercial: Tender submissions will be assessed on the basis of a fixed price for support and maintenance services and a published rate card and scenarios for development services.
- Social Value: Suppliers will be required to demonstrate how they will deliver social, economic and/or environmental benefits through the performance of the contract. The specific Social Value requirements and evaluation criteria will be set out in full within the Stage 2 ITT documentation. Responses will be evaluated as part of the overall assessment of tenders.
- Economic & financial standing
As a condition of participation, potential suppliers will be required to demonstrate satisfactory economic and financial standing by completing the Financial Viability Risk Assessment provided with the procurement documents. The Department will assess the information submitted against the published methodology and three key financial thresholds, taking account, where applicable, of supporting evidence provided to explain or mitigate amber or red indicators. Potential suppliers that do not satisfy the Department’s financial viability assessment will fail this condition of participation and will not progress further in the procurement.
Potential suppliers must also confirm that they hold, or will obtain by commencement of the contract award, the following minimum levels of insurance:
- Professional Indemnity Insurance, with a limit of indemnity of not less than £5,000,000 for a single event, a series of related events and in the aggregate in each annual policy period
- Employers’ Liability Insurance, with a limit of indemnity of not less than £5,000,000 for a single event, a series of related events and in the aggregate in each annual policy period or any higher limit required by law; and
- Third Party Public and Products Liability Insurance, with a limit of indemnity of not less than £1,000,000 in respect of any one occurrence, with the number of occurrences unlimited in any annual policy period, but £1,000,000 in the aggregate per annum in respect of products and pollution li…
- Technical & professional ability
Potential suppliers must demonstrate that they have the existing technical ability required to deliver the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central support and delivery services. The requirements assess whether the supplier:
- holds, and will maintain, the Microsoft Solutions Partner for Business Applications designation;
- can deliver the Core Services as a sole prime supplier, without relying on consortium members or subcontractors;
- will deliver the services from within the United Kingdom;
- can provide personnel with the required BPSS and, where applicable, SC security clearance for enhanced access;
- demonstrable Microsoft Business Central Support and Development experience;
- demonstrable Business Central SaaS Migration Delivery experience;
- holds Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO/IEC 27001 or an equivalent information-security certifications acceptable to the Department.
Please see the ssq entitled ‘SSQ_850 – Microsoft Business Central Delivery and Support Partner – Procurement Specific Questionnaire’ and DOC_001 Information and Guidance document for information on conditions of participation.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Please access the ssq via the Jaggaer portal, accessible via the ssq entitled ‘SSQ_850 – Microsoft Business Central Delivery and Support Partner – Procurement Specific Questionnaire’.
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- Turnover usually expected at this size: about £8,961,826 (twice the annual value).
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula. Turnover is an indicative market norm (≈2× annual value), not a published condition.
Competition analysis · published record, not a forecast of who will bid
How Department for Education buys Programming services of packaged software products (CPV 7221), and who usually turns up
Department for Education’s published record next to the market for the same work. Frameworks and DPS are left out: they draw different bid counts. Whole-market view: Programming services of packaged software products (CPV 7221) →
How the contest usually goes
Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.
i
How often small and medium firms win.
Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.
The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.
Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
Local means the winner is registered in the region where that award was delivered. The market figure counts awards delivered in Greater London (authority’s region).
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners were registered outside the region where that award was delivered.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the bid deadline to the award date, on competitions that published both.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards have an award date within 101 days of the bid deadline.
i
How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.
Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.
Both shares are minimums: some awards have no bid count.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Missing bid counts may hide more single-bid awards. This share is a minimum.
How many bids did past lots attract?
i
How many bids past lots received.
Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.
Past bids do not predict this tender.
1 bid9% / 0%
2–335% / 25%
4–624% / 25%
7+31% / 50%
How did awards compare with estimates?
i
Where winning prices landed against estimates.
Each colour shows awards below, close to or above the published estimate, one lot at a time.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Below estimate39% / 50%
Within ±2%50% / 50%
Above estimate11% / 0%
Assess each lot i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list
Lot #1CPV 72Published estimate£13m
This lot lists more than one class in CPV 72. The comparison uses that group.
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid7%
2–335%
4–636%
7+22%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
Based on 20 comparable awards. Each lot reflects its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Middle 50%£10m–£13m
Estimate£13m
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
| Supplier | This buyer’s earlier contract | Lot | Award value | Why listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cognizant Worldwide LtdWorked for this buyer | Technical, data and digital capability to develop services for DfE Capital and construction projectsnotice published Oct 2022 | — | — | Similar wording and category |
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| £112m13 awards in 36m · last this month | 3 live · £29m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 8% above n=1 | |
KPMGLarge | £570m147 awards in 36m · last 1 month ago | 39 live · £100m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=23 |
CGI IT UK LimitedLarge | £140m28 awards in 36m · last 2 months ago | 4 live · £46m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 5% below n=11 |
Microsoft LtdLarge | £75m45 awards in 36m · last 1 month ago | 17 live · £5.3m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | no comparable pairs |
ZoochaSME | £6.0m4 awards in 36m · last 3 months ago | 1 live · £159k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 16% below n=2 |
About this data
- Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly.
- Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
- Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the earlier-work matches are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
- Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
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
- Requests to participate open
- 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 Jul 2026, 15:06 BST
- Last source update
- 23 Oct 2026, 11:57 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 15 Dec 2026
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-100397- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Not published
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c7b7Find a Tender
- How it runs
The procurement will be conducted using a two-stage Competitive Flexible Procedure. Stage 1 will comprise a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), including pass/fail conditions of participation and scored assessment criteria relating to supplier experience and technical capability. The five highest-ranked suppliers will be shortlisted and invited to Stage 2 – a tie-break mechanism is specified in the DOC_001 PSQ Information and Guidance document where suppliers are tied for 5th place (this document can be found in the ssq). Stage 2 will comprise an Invitation to Tender (ITT), during which shortlisted suppliers will submit detailed tender responses against quality questions, which will assess technical delivery and approach, and social value. Bidders who are invited to Stage 2 of the competition will also be required to submit a commercial rate card. Clarification questions will be permitted during both stages of the procurement process.
The Department reserves the right to amend award criteria as necessary, in accordance with Procurement Act 2023 regulations.
How to participate & submission route
Official notice Submit via Jaggaer- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 17 Nov 2026, 16:00 GMT
- Tender submission deadline
- 17 Nov 2026, 16:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 6 Nov 2026, 16:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Submission must be made via the Jaggaer portal, accessible via the ssq entitled ‘SSQ_850 – Microsoft Business Central Delivery and Support Partner – Procurement Specific Questionnaire’.
Timeline
9 Jul 2026 → 3 May 2027 · 8 dates- Planning notice published110 days ago9 Jul 2026, 15:06 BST
- Market engagement73 days ago14 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
For the engagement process, the Department will undertake early market engagement to inform the development of the procurement. This will include a virtual supplier engagement event on 30 July, 13:00 – 13:30 during which the Commercial and Project leads will present an overview of the requirement, the proposed scope of services, and indicative procurement timelines.
Following the event, suppliers will be invited to provide feedback via a Microsoft Forms questionnaire. Feedback gathered will be used to help shape the procurement approach.
Suppliers wishing to participate should register on the Jaggaer portal at this link: education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html ↗ and submit an expression of interest for the event titled ‘ssq_807 - Microsoft Business Central Delivery Partner’. Invites for the event will issued no later than 24 hours before the event.
- Tender notice published4 days ago23 Oct 2026, 11:57 BST
- Next notice expected15h ago26 Oct 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Today27 Oct 2026
- Clarification questions byin 10 days6 Nov 2026, 16:00 GMT
- Submission deadlinein 21 days17 Nov 2026, 16:00 GMT
- Award decision expected byin 49 days15 Dec 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 187 days3 May 2027, 00:00 BST
Notice history
5 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 9 Jul 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published9 Jul 2026, 15:06 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published23 Oct 2026, 11:57 BSTUK4
- Published value updated to £13,455,01623 Oct 2026, 11:57 BSTwas £6,750,000
- Status changed to active23 Oct 2026, 11:57 BST
- Procurement method changed23 Oct 2026, 11:57 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Nothing awarded yet- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: Please see the ssq entitled ‘SSQ_850 – Microsoft Business Central Delivery and Support Partner – Procurement Specific Questionnaire’ and DOC_001 Information and Guidance document for information.
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender