Scope
Description
At Academy Transformation Trust (ATT), our ambition is that every person who passes through our schools and colleges becomes an educated person - able to take a rightful place in the community of educated people and to join what Robert Maynard Hutchins called "the Great Conversation." An ATT education stresses history, the scientific mode of thinking, the disciplined use of language, a wide-ranging knowledge of the arts and religion, and the continuity of human enterprise. We aspire for everyone, regardless of their starting point, to leave us capable, competent, and confident.
Our cross-phase group of academies was founded in 2011 and, since that time, we have grown to our current family of 22 academies (primary, secondary, post-16 and FE) operating across 10 English local authority areas.
The Trust's current connectivity contract is coming to an end in July 2026.
The Trust has taken this opportunity to review its requirements in terms of:
• Internet connectivity and,
• in the current climate of increased focus on cyber attacks in education, security at each site and across the wider Trust network.
• The safeguarding of students (but all users in general) as they use Trust ICT services and equipment
With increasing emphasis and use of moving to cloud based platforms to deliver key services, the Trust needs secure, reliable connectivity to these cloud services and the wider internet.
The Trust is in the final stages of moving as many services as possible 'off-site' and into the cloud - indeed, by the end of this academic year this project should be complete, though some services will need to remain local such as access control. To support this outcome, the Trust will require the successful bidder to provide a centralised hosting platform for key Trust services and applications to be delivered to/accessible from all sites.
With the majority of services moving into the cloud, connectivity between the school sites is minimised, but will still be required.
In addition to a secure network and central hosting there needs to be a comprehensive safeguarding solution, providing web filtering and activity monitoring to DfE KCSIE and other relevant DfE standards. This solution will deliver proactive and reactive filtering and monitoring, managing false positives and allowing Trust staff to be alerted so that they can manage effective and timely interventions when issues and/or concerns around how students (or other users) using Trust services and/or devices may arise.
Following internal review and due diligence, the Trust has decided that it wants to test the market to find the most advantageous partner to work with them to deliver the above outcomes
The Trust requires the following:
- Secure Broadband/Internet connectivity for the Trust sites meeting, at a minimum, the DfE Digital and Technology Standards in Schools and Colleges
- The Trust is in the final stages of moving as many services as possible 'off-site' and into the cloud - indeed, by the end of this academic year this project should be complete. To support this outcome, the Trust will require the successful bidder to provide a centralised hosting platform for key Trust services and applications to be delivered to/accessible from all sites.
- Central hosting of key Trust-wide applications on Windows-based Virtual Machines
- A full safeguarding solution covering both Internet filtering and device/activity monitoring that, at a minimum, meets DfE KCSIE guidelines, but allow the Trust to proactively and reactively manage behaviour and safeguarding issues across its network.
- Detailed management information and reporting is required across the entire solution so that the Trust is aware of what traffic and activity is happening at the edge of the Local networks and across the Wide Area network at any given time.
Total value (estimated)
- £2,000,000 excluding VAT
- £2,400,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2031
- Possible extension to 31 July 2032
- 6 years
Description of possible extension:
Subject to satisfactory performance of its obligations the contracting authority may, at its sole discretion, extend the Contract for a further period of up to twelve (12) months by giving notice to the Supplier not less than one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the last day of the Contract Initial Period.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 32412110 - Internet network
- 32430000 - Wide area network
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
Contract locations
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
5 January 2026, 12:00pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
9 January 2026, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Submission by email as described in the PSQ.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
No
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
17 March 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | Quality | 70% |
| Price | Cost | 30% |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Competitive flexible procedure description
At stage 1, a PSQ will be issued and suppliers will be shortlisted and invited to submit a tender.
Suppliers will be provided with an ITT pack that contains the Stage 2 process, the contracting authority requirements, a draft contract and other relevant information. Suppliers will be asked to respond to the requirements and provide a price for the service. Suppliers will be able to submit clarification questions during the tender writing process.
Following submission of their proposals and costs, their responses will be scored alongside the charges for the service they propose aligning to the weightings described in the tender documents.
The highest weighted score will be deemed to deliver the Most Advantageous Tender, and awarded Preferred Bidder status.
Following a stand still period, the contracting authority will then endeavour to agree and enter into a contract with the Preferred Bidder.
Documents
Associated tender documents
ATT - Connectivity, Security and Safeguarding Partner Procurement PSQ v3 [released].docx
ATT - Connectivity, Security and Safeguarding Partner Procurement PSQ v3 [released].pdf
ATT - Connectivity, Security and Safeguarding Partner Procurement PSQ v4 [released].docx
Updated PSQ with missing financial information on page 13 added in.
ATT - Connectivity, Security and Safeguarding Partner Procurement PSQ v4 [released].pdf
Updated PSQ with missing financial information on page 13 added in.
Documents to be provided after the tender notice
Documents will be emailed directly to shorlisted suppliers.
Contracting authority
Academy Transformation Trust
- UK Register of Learning Providers (UKPRN number): 10039859
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PZZT-9217-WDTL
Unit 4
Sutton Coldfield
B73 6AZ
United Kingdom
Email: procurement@attrust.org.uk
Region: UKG31 - Birmingham
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Other organisation
These organisations are carrying out the procurement, or part of it, on behalf of the contracting authorities.
MOXTON EDUCATION LTD
Summary of their role in this procurement: Procurement Consultants
- Companies House: 09008303
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PPHN-8276-MGRZ
Ossington Chambers
Newark
NG24 1AX
United Kingdom
Region: UKF15 - North Nottinghamshire