Rehosting Partner for Stanage Data Centre

Official notice

Authority: University of Sheffield (Education)

ServicesAward procedure without prior publication of a call for competition

Sectors: IT Services & Software (72) Delivery: North West (UKD)

Awarded value£2,939,430published contract · exc. VAT

Awarded 27 Mar 2025no call for competition

Awarded to Softcat Plc

What is being bought

Published requirement description

As a result of growing demand for data storage to support existing and new research projects, the University has concluded an exercise to identify a suitable data centre partner to provide reliable hosting services and expanded hosting capacity. This requirement was fulfilled under the NHSSBS Digital Workplace Solutions Framework Agreement.

CPV: Computer facilities management services · Data storage services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Lot #1The University has identified a supplier for the provision of secure, scalable data…Awarded

The University has identified a supplier for the provision of secure, scalable data storage and hosting services as well as the ability to provide ad hoc services as needed. The selected supplier was awarded through the NHSSBS Digital Workplace Services Framework Agreement.

Delivery: North West

72514000 Computer facilities management services

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached

Procedure method: Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Legal basis: CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category: Services
Notice status: Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold: Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime: Standard
Commercial structure: Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type: Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered: Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement: Unspecified in notice
First published: 7 Apr 2025, 11:50 BST
Last source update: 7 Apr 2025, 11:50 BST
Authority reference: 4346.IT.STA.24
FTS notice number: 2025/S 000-013347
Classification (CPV): Computer facilities management servicesData storage services
Delivery area: North West (UKD)
Official registry OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04fdf2 Find a Tender

Why no open competition: New works/services, constituting a repetition of existing works/services and ordered in accordance with the strict conditions stated in the directive
Published justification: The decision to award this contract is lawful as it was carried out through the NHS SBS Digital Workplace Framework an established, fully PCR-compliant route. This framework permits direct awards to approved suppliers, and Softcat was selected from the list of awarded suppliers. Using this framework allowed us to act quickly and efficiently, without the delays and risks associated with running a full open tender. Given the scale and urgency of the project, as well as the pre-existing relationship with both Softcat and the incumbent hosting provider, this route ensured best value and full legal compliance.
Maintaining continuity with our existing supplier was critical. The data centre supports vital research infrastructure, and any disruption could have seriously impacted ongoing academic and critical research activities. Moving to a new provider would have meant relocating sensitive equipment, a process made even more challenging by the current state of the ageing cabling, which poses risks of downtime or failure during a move. The incumbent supplier not only offered continuity and familiarity but also responded to our new requirement for expanded hosting capacity by offering additional space within the data centre. This, along with favourable discounted rates and an aligned approach to the university's long-term objectives, made staying with the current supplier the most practical and value-driven choice.

Publisher note: This is an estimated value over the duration of the contract. Due to the nature of the services, the actual spend over this period could be either lower or higher than this.

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast

Awards 1

Awarded value £2,939,4301 contract exc. VAT

Bids received 1

Contracts signed 1latest 27 Mar 2025

Awarded to	Value	Date	Status
Softcat Plc	£2,939,430 †	—	Awarded

Contracts

Contract 013347-2025-1 · Softcat Plc
Signed
27 Mar 2025
Value
£2,939,430
Status
active

Bid statistics published by the authority

Bids	SME	VCSE	Valid bid range
1bids	—	—	—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD

Contracting authorityEducationBody governed by public lawEducation GB-COH: RC000667 Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, Yorkshire & Humber, S102TNContact name, email

Dispute resolution & review bodies

The University of SheffieldReview body Sheffield

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

Softcat PLCAwarded supplierGB-COH: 02174990 Marlow, South East, SL7 1LW

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.