Scope
Description
The Defra DDTS (Digital, Data, Technology & Security Services) provides digital services to six organisations within the Defra Group (Authority; Environment Agency; Rural Payments Agency; Animal and Plant Health Agency; Natural England; and Marine Management Organisation), serving locations throughout the UK. Within DDTS resides Group Infrastructure and Operations (GIO), providing critical end-to-end technology services and support to c. 33,000 colleagues across the Defra Group. The Future Hosting and Storage Services (FHAS) will include at its core the following activities: • Data Centre Facilities Management and Site Services (On-Premises). • Cloud Hosting Services o Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). o Platform as a Service (PaaS). o Software as a Service (SaaS). • Cloud Engineering Services. • Cost Management and Optimisation (FinOps); and • Transformational Services Infrastructure Services • Optional Services The Procurement is being conducted under the Procurement Act 2023, using the Competitive Flexible Procedure (CFP) to provide the optimum outcome for the Authority.
Total value (estimated)
- £245,500,000 excluding VAT
- £294,600,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2031
- Possible extension to 31 July 2033
- 7 years
Description of possible extension:
The contract may be extended on the Authority's option for two further periods, each of twelve months (5+1+1), for a total potential contract duration of seven years.
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
The Authority will have the right, and the Supplier will have the obligation to perform, the optional services set out in the Descriptive Document and the Services Description in Schedule 2 of the draft contract.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 72222300 - Information technology services
- 50312610 - Maintenance of information technology equipment
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 48810000 - Information systems
- 72317000 - Data storage services
- 72212780 - System, storage and content management software development services
- 30233100 - Computer storage units
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
- UKI - London
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
N/A
Technical ability conditions of participation
N/A
Submission
Enquiry deadline
22 August 2025, 12:00pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
4 September 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
All submissions must be made using Defra tender portal: https://atamis-9529.my.site.com/s/Welcome
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Suppliers to be invited to tender
3 to 5 suppliers
Selection criteria:
As described in Conditions of Participation document.
Award decision date (estimated)
1 August 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potential Suppliers Solution | Suppliers scores for Core Services will account for 35% of their final score Technical Score (out of 70%). .Suppliers Solution services submissions will be scored using the following criteria: Quality... |
Quality | 35.00% |
| Price | Price - 30 Total Cost of Solution 22.5% Transformation Scenario - Data Centre Exit 2.5% Rate Card Scenario - Blended Cost for Project Services 5% |
Price | 30.00% |
| Sustainability and Social Value | Suppliers scores for Sustainability and Social Value (S&SV) will account for 35% of their final score Technical Score (out of 70%). S&SV services submissions will be scored using the following... |
Quality | 15.00% |
| Implementation Services | Suppliers scores for Implementation Services will account for 15% of their final score Technical Score (out of 70%). Suppliers Implementation Solution services submissions will be scored using the... |
Quality | 15.00% |
| Security Solution | Suppliers scores for Security Core Services will account for 5% of their final score Technical Score (out of 70%). Suppliers Security Solution services submissions will be scored using the following... |
Quality | 5.00% |
Other information
Payment terms
No payment terms in addition to those mentioned in section 68 of the Procurement Act 2023. Full details can be found in Schedule 11 - Charges and Invoicing draft Contract, which can be seen within the Defra Clinked Data Room Service and the Uk Tender Notice documents.
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
- Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Competitive flexible procedure description
The Authority requires any Potential Supplier to complete a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) prior to getting access to the full documentation set. In order to request the NDA please email Gary.Hayes@defra.gov.uk and Mamun.Islam@defra.gov.uk using the email title, 'FHAS Potential Supplier'. Please include the following information in your email: Company name. Company number. Contact details including email, telephone and preferred person to contact. The Tender will be split into the following high-level stages: Stage One: Requests to Participate and PSQ which will be used to down-select to a range of 3 - 5 Suppliers Stage Two: Invitation to Submit Initial Tender (ISIT) Stage Optional Stage Three: Interim Down Selection ((The Authority may take a minimum of one (1) and a maximum of (5) suppliers through to the next phase of dialogue/negotiations if the interim down-selection is utilised. Further details of the approach used to determine how many Potential Suppliers will progress through to further negotiation will be included in the Invitation to Submit Initial Tenders)). Stage Four: Dialogue and Negotiations Stage Stage Five: Invitation to Submit Final Tender (ISFT) Stage Stage Six: Identification of Preferred Bidder Stage Seven: Standstill and Contract Award Full details of the process and each stage will be detailed in the Conditions of Participation documentation as well as the ISIT documentation. The Authority anticipates that the procedure will include negotiation at Stage Three and Stage Six. Under the PA2023 Section 24, the Authority may refine an award criterion as part of the competitive flexible procedure. It may also, refine the relative importance of the award criteria. Defra will, following the end of negotiations, consider whether it will refine the relative importance of the award criteria by changing the weighting of each criteria within the limits set out in the table below: Award criteria Weighting at Final Tender Range (Percentage Points) Quality 70% - 20% Price 30% + 20% The Authority intends to use Schedule 5, Paragraph 8 of the PA2023.
Documents
Associated tender documents
Tender Notice - Supporting Document CFP.pdf
Competitive Flexible Procedure Overview
Contracting authority
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNBD-3289-CDGX
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
United Kingdom
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government