Award

Decommission and recommission of Hydra facilities at an alternative Home Office location

  • Home Office

UK5: Transparency notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-063038

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05a9f2

Published 7 October 2025, 5:17pm



Scope

Description

Decommission and recommission including system upgrade to maintain system capability of the Hydra facilities at an alternative Home Office location


Contract 1. Decommission and recommission of Hydra facilities at an alternative Home Office location

Supplier

Contract value

  • £125,536 excluding VAT
  • £150,643.20 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Earliest date the contract will be signed

14 October 2025

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 14 October 2025 to 24 August 2026
  • 10 months, 11 days

Main procurement category

Goods

CPV classifications

  • 34152000 - Training simulators

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

Participation

Particular suitability

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)


Other information

Conflicts assessment prepared/revised

Yes


Procedure

Procedure type

Direct award

Direct award justification

  • Single supplier - technical reasons
  • Additional or repeat goods, services or works - extension or partial replacement

This direct award to a single supplier is justified on the grounds of avoiding incompatibility between existing systems and new goods/services, resulting in significant financial costs and time delays, and delivery risks for a critical Authority system.

Currently, Critical Simulations Limited (CSL), provides expert technology support to ensure the efficient delivery of immersive Hydra critical incident training for Immigration Enforcement officers at Authority locations. There is a requirement to move some of this existing technology infrastructure to a new Authority location to retain this essential equipment and operational capability.

All existing equipment at the original location has been configured and integrated by the existing supplier to ensure it is compatible and suitable as part of the overall Hydra training suite network. Transferring this existing equipment ensures continuity of service, and interoperability with the existing network. This solution also provides a significantly more cost-effective approach than reprocuring all new equipment.

Following decommission, site transfer, and upgrades to the existing equipment in the new location to maintain compatibility with the wider network, the new location can continue to be maintained by Critical Simulations Limited as part of the wider network, as a like for like replacement of the original location. This would not be possible should an alternative supplier be appointed for this requirement, and the equipment would cease to form part of Critical Simulations Limited ongoing responsibility for the network.


Supplier

Critical Simulations Limited

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVHH-6815-RCGV

1st Floor, 314 Regents Park Road

London

N3 2LT

United Kingdom

Region: UKI71 - Barnet

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Contract 1. Decommission and recommission of Hydra facilities at an alternative Home Office location


Contracting authority

Home Office

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PWGC-6513-PQLZ

2 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DF

United Kingdom

Region: UKI32 - Westminster

Organisation type: Public authority - central government