Scope
Reference
Project_2691
Description
This Tender Notice outlines the Home Offices intent to award a contract to deliver this requirement following a competitive procurement.
The Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) solves public safety and security challenges by bringing together the best of public and private sector capabilities, especially new digital and data technologies.
The Private Sector Partner requirement is for a supplier to work closely with the Authority, to act as a flexible commissioning and delivery partner with responsibility for the dynamic ecosystem and collaboration platform (physical and virtual), to deliver commissioned ACE customer requirements (challenges or problem statements) and jointly protect HMG interests.
It should be noted that the ACE capability operates across HMG and Authorities other than the Home Office may access this agreement providing there is a memorandum of understanding in place for ACE services between the Home Office and the respective HMG organisation.
Commissions may or may not be limited to public safety and security challenges. It is anticipated that the majority of services will be delivered within the United Kingdom however the Authority may require the private sector delivery partner to support international delivery if required. Annual commissions will vary during the term of the contract based upon HMG demand. Such commissions are not guaranteed and historically as per the published ACE annual reviews these have ranged from ~£29m-£49m.
Market engagement has taken place for this opportunity with engagement calls on the 18th December 2024 and 30th January 2025. A face to face session was held at the Home Office on the 4th March 2025.
Notices (025731-2024 & 035036-2024) were issued as part of transitional arrangements from PCR2015 to PA23.
The engagements provided opportunities for interested parties to understand more on ACE and the private sector partner service as well as the procurement process.
The service is required to integrate the following key functions of leadership, mission engagement, portfolio delivery and innovation and enablers. The interaction between these and the ACE team within the Home Office make this suitable to be delivered in one lot as an integrated solution. This will provide greater taxpayer value for money through efficiency and consistency in approach.
Contract value is set at £19.8m for consistency with the tender notice but the contract drives to cost neutrality for the Authority.
The duration of the initial contract term will be up to 36 months from the date of contract signature, with an option for up to two 12-month extensions making a total potential term of 60 months.
Contract 1. Private Sector Partner (PSP) for the Accelerated capability Environment (ACE)
Supplier
Contract value
- £16,500,000 excluding VAT
- £19,800,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Award decision date
12 December 2025
Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers
12 December 2025
Standstill period
- End: 23 December 2025
- 8 working days
Earliest date the contract will be signed
24 December 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 24 December 2025 to 23 December 2028
- Possible extension to 23 December 2030
- 5 years
Description of possible extension:
Two extension options each of upto 12 months each
Main procurement category
Services
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
• Provision of dedicated, longer-term Artificial Intelligence (AI) related technology and data
science services, potentially through contract-compliant but separate governance
processes, that could constitute some, or even all, of the functions of an "AI Lab"
environment for specific customer sets.
• Run environments providing access across one or more HMG departments or agencies or to
the private sector to data or software libraries (e.g. GitHub-style market-places), potentially
charging for use.
• Develop and agree joint services with other innovation and technology units and partners
across HM government, for example (including but not limited to) NSSIF, DASA and others.
• Support to the Authority in the commercialisation of innovations developed through ACE,
under previous and new contracts.
• Support to the Authority in the development and professionalisation of innovation skills and
capabilities across the Authority.
The above contract modifications are not currently included in the tender but are current
discussions the Authority is having to determine the role that the PSP will play in these
circumstances
CPV classifications
- 45111290 - Primary works for services
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Information about tenders
- 5 tenders received
- 5 tenders assessed in the final stage:
- 2 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
- 1 supplier awarded contracts
- 4 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)
Unsuccessful suppliers
Submission
Submission type
Requests to participate
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Suppliers
PA Consulting Services Limited
- Companies House: 00414220
10 Bressenden Place
London
SW1E 5DN
United Kingdom
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Connected people/organisations:
PA HOLDINGS LIMITED, 10 Bressenden Place, London, England, SW1E 5DN (02235016)
Contract 1. Private Sector Partner (PSP) for the Accelerated capability Environment (ACE)
QinetiQ Limited
- Companies House: 03796233
Cody Technology Park
Farnborough,
GU14 0LX
United Kingdom
Region: UKJ37 - North Hampshire
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Turner & Townsend Infrastructure Ltd
- Companies House: 12495519
Low Hall Calverley Lane
Leeds
LS18 4GH
United Kingdom
Region: UKE42 - Leeds
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
VE3 Global Ltd
- Companies House: 07343436
86 90 Paul Street
London
EC2A 4NE
United Kingdom
Region: UKI41 - Hackney and Newham
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Wazoku Limited
- Companies House: 07540637
10 Lower Thames Street
London
EC3R 6AF
United Kingdom
Region: UKI31 - Camden and City of London
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
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