Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
RC000667
Firth Court, Western Bank
Sheffield
S102TN
UK
Contact person: Savio Arinda
E-mail: s.t.arinda@sheffield.ac.uk
NUTS: UKE32
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Education
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Rehosting Partner for Stanage Data Centre
Reference number: 4346.IT.STA.24
II.1.2) Main CPV code
72317000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short 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.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
2 939 429.59
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
72514000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKD
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
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.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
New works/services, constituting a repetition of existing works/services and ordered in accordance with the strict conditions stated in the Directive
Explanation
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.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
27/03/2025
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Softcat PLC
02174990
Marlow
SL7 1LW
UK
NUTS: UKJ1
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 2 939 429.59
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
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.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
The University of Sheffield
Sheffield
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
07/04/2025