Scope
Reference
ID 5828520
Description
Belfast Metropolitan College provides Further and Higher Education and vocational training to a student population in excess of 30,000 students. The College employs approximately 1000 plus staff comprising approximately 300 full-time teaching staff and 200 part-time teaching staff supported by approximately 500 non-teaching support staff. BMC's annual turnover is in excess of £55m. The current contract for an IT Security Partner is due to expire, and the college is acutely aware of the danger of cyber-attacks across the globe and requires the appointment of a security partner to fill the IT Security Partner role. The other NI-based FE colleges (Northern Regional College, Southern Regional College, South-Eastern Regional College, North-Western Regional College, South-Western Regional College) have also expressed interest in availing of the services of the IT Security partner. Suppliers should refer to the Specification Schedule for full detail on the deliverables of this contract.
The tender documents are available with unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: URL https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
Total value (estimated)
- £500,000 excluding VAT
- £600,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 February 2026 to 31 January 2029
- Possible extension to 31 January 2031
- 5 years
Description of possible extension:
Following the initial contract period, there are two optional extension periods of up to 12 months each. Optional extension periods will be subject to review and satisfactory performance assessment by the Contracting Authority.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 72200000 - Software programming and consultancy services
- 72220000 - Systems and technical consultancy services
- 72240000 - Systems analysis and programming services
- 72250000 - System and support services
- 72260000 - Software-related services
- 72800000 - Computer audit and testing services
- 72810000 - Computer audit services
- 72820000 - Computer testing services
Contract locations
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Submission
Enquiry deadline
9 January 2026, 3:00pm
Tender submission deadline
19 January 2026, 3:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders must be submitted electronically via the relevant Call for Tender (CfT) opportunity on eTendersNI, website details immediately below.
Paper submissions will not be accepted or considered and will be rejected by the Contracting Authority / Buyer.
The tender documents are available with unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: URL https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
30 January 2026
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 1 June 2030
Award criteria
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| AC6 Total Contract Price | Cost | 50% |
| AC1 Proposed Security Partner Experience | Quality | 18% |
| AC2 Security Analysis and Improvement | Quality | 10% |
| AC5 Social Value | Quality | 10% |
| AC3 Incident Response | Quality | 6% |
| AC4 Business Continuity | Quality | 6% |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Contracting authorities
Belfast Metropolitan College
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PPTX-8572-NYCV
7 Queens Road
Belfast
BT3 9DT
United Kingdom
Region: UKN06 - Belfast
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland
Southeastern Regional College (SERC)
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYHR-1413-WQYX
Castle Street
Lisburn
BT27 4SU
United Kingdom
Region: UKN0E - Lisburn and Castlereagh
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland
Northwest Regional College (NWRC)
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PRHT-9325-BBHZ
78-80 Strand Road
Derry
BT48 7AL
United Kingdom
Region: UKN0A - Derry City and Strabane
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland
Northern Regional College (NRC)
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PCDC-7356-WJNZ
40 Farm Lodge Avenue
Ballymena
BT43 7DF
United Kingdom
Region: UKN0F - Mid and East Antrim
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland
Southwest College (SWC)
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PJNR-3745-PPBV
Burn Road
Cookstown
BT80 8DN
United Kingdom
Region: UKN0B - Mid Ulster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland
Southern Regional College (SRC)
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBTJ-5492-VBGW
Lisnally Building
Armagh
BT61 7HF
United Kingdom
Region: UKN07 - Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland
Other organisation
These organisations are carrying out the procurement, or part of it, on behalf of the contracting authorities.
CPD - Supplies and Services Division
Summary of their role in this procurement: Construction and Procurement Delivery - Supplies and Services Division, is a Centre of Procurement Expertise and provides a central procurement function for central government in Northern Ireland
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVWG-8426-YWXV
Clare House 303 Airport Road West
Belfast
BT3 9ED
United Kingdom
Region: UKN06 - Belfast