This is the latest instalment of an exclusive feature analysing the UK’s biggest public sector tech deals. In partnership with data analysis firm Tussell, we drill down into the top five most valuable tenders and awards from the previous week, and take stock of which tech firms have won the biggest share of the public sector pie.
Top five tenders
It might not be the biggest contract of the week, but HMRC’s tender for a tobacco tracer may be the most eye-catching. Under new EU rules, governments across Europe are mandated to deploy technology that can track the movement of tobacco products through the supply chain. The system marks each product with a unique identifier and alerts authorities if they enter the black market. HMRC is prepared to pay up to £8m for such a system. Vendors have until 1 October to submit their bids.
| Authority | Contract Title | Date Published | Bid Deadline | Framework | Tender Value (High) |
| Places for People Group | Places for People — Project Synergy | 04/09/18 | 02/10/18 | Y | £21,000,000 |
| Vale of Glamorgan County Borough Council | Shared Contact Centre Solution | 07/09/18 | 08/10/18 | Y | £9,565,417 |
| HM Revenue & Customs | HMRC Tobacco Track and Trace ID Issuer | 04/09/18 | 01/10/18 | N | £8,000,000 |
| Financial Conduct Authority | FCA Web and Digital Services | 07/09/18 | 04/10/18 | Y | £2,000,000 |
| Surrey County Council | SCC – SAP specialist support — DPS (Dynamic Purchasing System) | 04/09/18 | 01/10/18 | Y | £800,000 |
Top five awards
EAS Cloud Services has been tendered to supply the Department for Education with delivery and support services for the Microsoft Azure platform. Azure has quickly become one the most popular cloud services among public and private sector buyers alike and trails only Amazon Web Services in terms of public cloud market share. EAS was awarded the contract in late July. It is worth £2.75m.
| Contracting Authority | Supplier | Contract Title | Data Awarded | Framework | Award / Framework Value |
| Department for Education | EAS Cloud Services | Technical Delivery and Support Services for the Microsoft Azure Platform | 31/07/18 | N | £2,754,000 |
| East Riding of Yorkshire Council | Azeus UK | Adults and Children’s Social Care Case Management System (ACSCCMS) | 03/08/18 | N | £1,500,000 |
| Harrogate Borough Council | Phoenix Software | Provision of Management and Renewal of Microsoft Subscription Licences and Software Assurance Package | 25/05/18 | Y | £1,263,194 |
| Atamis | Actica Consulting | HODDaT Capability and Implementation Partner | 06/09/18 | N | £1,200,000 |
| UK Shared Business Services Limited | Capgemini | UK SBS IT18092 ACC Salesforce Internal System | 25/06/18 | Y | £1,126,667 |