Police seek IT suppliers for mammoth £500m tender

Deal will see chosen firm manage network of VARs for police forces over a 10-year period

The organisation tasked with procuring technology for police forces across the country is seeking an IT supplier for a huge £500m framework.

The contract will see the Police ICT Company which, according to its website, "acts as a bridge between policing technological and commercial worlds" work with a supplier to manage the relationships with all its VARs, OEMs and independent software vendors.

The tender covers a broad range of IT areas, including networking, comms, software, infrastructure and services and is fronted by the East Midlands Strategic Commercial Unit. The Police ICT Company will hold the contract with the chosen partner.

The Police ICT Company was set up to help police forces reduce spending in the wake of public sector cuts.

It claims its aim is to "cut the costs of police ICT, reduce duplication, improve collaboration and improve the public's experience of dealing with the police."

Interested suppliers have until 5pm on 21 December to request participation in the tender. The framework is not divided into multiple lots.

The contract is set to start on 28 June 2019 and run until 27 June 2029.

According to the government's website, the deal is not suitable for SME suppliers.