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Provision of a Service Desk

Ofsted · Central government

In brief

Ofsted has announced plans to buy IT and software work. This is an early notice: there is nothing to bid on yet, but it tells you a tender may follow.

The notice does not state a value.

The contract runs for 3 years, up to 5 years with extensions, starting 1 April 2027.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Competition

Typical: a median of 4 bids per contract for IT and software contracts in this region (from 115 awards in the last 12 months).

What the notice says

The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is issuing this notice to notify the market to that we are engaging with suppliers on the Technology Services 4 (RM6190) to help shape a pending tender process for the provision of a fully managed Servicedesk. The current contract that Ofsted has for providing this service is due to end in March 2027 and Ofsted are looking to start pre market engagement with suppliers in the market. Ofsted intends to appoint a supplier to deliver a fully managed Servicedesk that will be the single point of contact for circa 4000 individuals to report IT issues, raise queries, submit requests, and where possible have them resolved…Read the full description
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) is issuing this notice to notify the market to that we are engaging with suppliers on the Technology Services 4 (RM6190) to help shape a pending tender process for the provision of a fully managed Servicedesk. The current contract that Ofsted has for providing this service is due to end in March 2027 and Ofsted are looking to start pre market engagement with suppliers in the market. Ofsted intends to appoint a supplier to deliver a fully managed Servicedesk that will be the single point of contact for circa 4000 individuals to report IT issues, raise queries, submit requests, and where possible have them resolved at first contact. Our Service Desk provider will be responsible for: • supporting a range of home, office, and remote based users, using the Ofsted-owned ServiceNow instance to log contacts via multiple communication channels, including telephone, service portal and webchat • logging, categorising, and prioritising all calls, carrying out initial investigations and resolving at first contact wherever possible, and providing clear and effective communications to Ofsted users and support teams • co-ordinating the delivery of services provided by multiple support teams to ensure response times and SLAs are met, escalating when necessary Ofsted is therefore looking at running a procurement exercise, starting as soon as is practicable in 2026, for a supplier to provide this service. Our chosen route to market will be via GCA (formerly CCS) Framework Technology Services 4 (RM6190) Lot 3a End User Services (lower value and complexity) and engagement is currently limited to suppliers on this Framework.

How to bid

  1. Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
  2. Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
  3. Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.

Timeline

  1. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 068746-2026

About the buyer

OfstedLast 12 months

Procurements

11

Awards

7

Suppliers it has used most for IT and software

  1. Digital Consent and Sharing Decision Making Solution

    South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustNorth EastIT services and software

    Closing soon9 hours left

    £135kestimated
  2. CCM1379 - OHU Software

    The Police and Crime Commissioner for LincolnshireNorth East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South WestIT services and software, Social and domiciliary care

    Closing soon21 hours leftSuitable for SMEsSmall contract

    £82kestimated
  3. LGS-Q-004-2026 Audio Visual System

    Middlesbrough CouncilNorth EastIT services and software

    Closing soon33 hours leftSuitable for SMEsSmall contract

    £143kestimated
  4. NW2964 - Microsoft 365, AI and Intelligent Automation Partner Framework Agreement

    Northern Gas Networks LimitedNorth East, East of EnglandIT services and software

    Closing soon5 days leftSuitable for SMEsFramework

    £7.2mframework ceiling
  5. Royal Navy Museums Broadband Services

    National Museum of the Royal NavyNorth East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West, Northern IrelandIT services and software

    Closing soon6 days left2 lotsSuitable for SMEs

    £250kestimated

From notice 068746-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 21 July 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.