Direct awards and no-competition notices

Recent notices

1. Direct awardUK5
   Rescue Support and Stabilisation Equipment

   Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority · 5 Oct 2026 · VIMPEX LIMITED · Official notice

   Rationale: The Authority requires Paratech structural stabilisation equipment as this equipment forms part of the nationally standardised capability utilised by UK Urban Search and Rescue teams. The procurement of alternative manufacturers' equipment would compromise interoperability, operational compatibility, maintenance arrangements, training, and the ability to deploy effectively alongside other UK Urban Search and Rescue teams during national resilience incidents. Vimpex Limited is the sole authorised UK distributor of genuine Paratech equipment. Consequently, competition is absent for the supply of the required equipment and the Authority considers that the contract can only be supplied by a particular supplier.

2. Direct awardUK5
   DA0044 - Domestic Abuse Family Help (CYPFS)

   Leicester City Council · 5 Oct 2026 · Living Without Abuse · Official notice

   Rationale: Because of the uncertainty around Local Government Reorganisation and the wider service position involving local authorities and the Police commissioner. A direct award for a limited period of 12 months with a possible extension of 12 months is necessary to ensure the continued provision of our essential domestic abuse services and maintain consistent pathways for the residents of Leicester City accessing this service. This will also allow the relevant time to allow future commissioning arrangements to be designed and procured in collaboration with Leicester County and in line with the implications of the recent LGR announcement. The proposed direct award will be undertaken in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Under direct award justification contained in Schedule 5, Paragraph 7 (additional or repeat goods, services or works). This justification may apply where the services are to be provided by the existing supplier and a change in supplier would result in services that are different from or incompatible with those currently being provided, giving rise to disproportionate operational difficulties. The Council considers that introducing a new provider during this period would create disproportionate operational difficulties and increase the risk of disruption to established safeguarding arrangements and continuity of support for service users. A strictly time-limited direct award of 12 months with a possible extension of 12 months is therefore considered necessary to maintain continuity of service provision whilst future commissioning arrangements are developed collaboratively across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and aligned with the implementation of the new unitary authority arrangements.

3. Below threshold - without competition
   Visible Leaders Development Programme

   Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · 5 Oct 2026 · Blend Associates · Official notice

4. Direct awardUK5
   DA0045 - Refuge Provision

   Leicester City Council · 5 Oct 2026 · Women’s Aid Leicestershire Ltd · Official notice

   Rationale: Because of the uncertainty around Local Government Reorganisation and the wider service position involving local authorities and the Police commissioner. A direct award for a limited period of 12 months with a possible extension of 12 months is necessary to ensure the continued provision of our essential domestic abuse services and maintain consistent pathways for the residents of Leicester City accessing this service. This will also allow the relevant time to allow future commissioning arrangements to be designed and procured in collaboration with Leicester County and in line with the implications of the recent LGR announcement. The proposed direct award will be undertaken in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Under direct award justification contained in Schedule 5, Paragraph 7 (additional or repeat goods, services or works). This justification may apply where the services are to be provided by the existing supplier and a change in supplier would result in services that are different from or incompatible with those currently being provided, giving rise to disproportionate operational difficulties. The Council considers that introducing a new provider during this period would create disproportionate operational difficulties and increase the risk of disruption to established safeguarding arrangements and continuity of support for service users. A strictly time-limited direct award of 12 months with a possible extension of 12 months is therefore considered necessary to maintain continuity of service provision whilst future commissioning arrangements are developed collaboratively across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and aligned with the implementation of the new unitary authority arrangements.

5. Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
   Acute Locun Physician

   Velindre University NHS Trust · 5 Oct 2026 · LOCUM PEOPLE LTD · Official notice

   Rationale: The contract has been awarded by direct award under an established framework agreement that was procured in compliance with the applicable procurement legislation. The framework terms permit direct award without the need to undertake a further competition. The contracting authority assessed the available framework suppliers and determined that the awarded supplier was capable of meeting the Authority's requirements for the provision of Acute Locum Physician services. Accordingly, the contract has been awarded in accordance with the framework agreement and its call-off provisions. As the award is a call-off from a compliant framework agreement, no separate contract notice or further competition was required.

6. Below threshold - without competition
   Holme Fen Fire Emergency Response Follow Up STA

   NATURAL ENGLAND · 5 Oct 2026 · Mason's Agriforestry Contracting · Official notice

7. Below threshold - without competition
   OP267009 Fire Remedial Works

   Swindon Borough Council · 5 Oct 2026 · JENSEN GROUP SOLUTIONS LIMITED · Official notice

8. Below threshold - without competition
   ANPR Cameras Winsford Station Bridge

   Cheshire West and Chester Council · 5 Oct 2026 · VIDEALERT LIMITED · Official notice

9. Below threshold - without competition
   CSP26879 - Velocity Sensor

   UK Research and Innovation · 5 Oct 2026 · SWALE TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED · Official notice

10. Below threshold - without competition
    Arctic Shores UNA Pro assessment platform

    Department for Work & Pensions · 5 Oct 2026 · ARCTIC SHORES LIMITED · Official notice

11. Below threshold - without competition
    CSP26858 - Temporary Staff

    UK Research and Innovation · 5 Oct 2026 · THE ONE GROUP LTD · Official notice

12. Below threshold - without competition
    CBC-W-26323-SM Mancroft Road enabling works

    Central Bedfordshire Council · 2 Oct 2026 · Jeakins Weir Ltd. · Official notice

13. Direct award
    New Build Development

    MIDLAND HEART LIMITED · 2 Oct 2026 · MILLER HOMES LIMITED · Official notice

14. Below threshold - without competition
    Care Management System

    Bath & North East Somerset Council · 2 Oct 2026 · CARE CONTROL SYSTEMS LIMITED · Official notice

15. Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
    Infant Feeding Peer Support Service

    London Borough of Enfield · 2 Oct 2026 · Breast Feeding Network · Official notice

    Rationale: The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations.<br/><br/>This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations before midnight at the end of the 8th working day, i.e. 14 October 2026. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this Notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

16. Direct award
    Provision of an Enterprise Asset Management Package

    GA TRAINS LIMITED · 2 Oct 2026 · Intergraph (UK) Limited · Official notice

17. Direct award
    eIDAS Technical Adviser

    Information Commissioner's Office · 2 Oct 2026 · JANDNET LIMITED · Official notice

    Rationale: The technical expertise required to fulfil our needs is exceptionally niche, combining understanding of the eIDAS regulatory framework and the underlying cyber security technologies. Previous procurements and repeated recruitment attempts have been unsuccessful or have resulted in only one capable supplier identified.

18. Direct awardUK5
    Transparency Notice for extension to Cabinet Office Call Off from Independent Shared Service Centre 2 (ISSC2 Framework)

    Cabinet Office · 2 Oct 2026 · Shared Services Connected Limited · Official notice

    Rationale: Single supplier - technical reasons: The back-office operations rely on the legacy Single Operating Platform (SOP). The highly complex architecture and proprietary systems managed by SSCL mean no alternative supplier can step in for an interim period without causing severe operational disruption to payroll, HR, and financial administration. Additional or repeat goods, services or works - extension or partial replacement: This extension provides additional continuity of identical services following the original 2013 competitive procurement, where switching to an interim supplier before the Matrix go-live would cause disproportionate technical difficulty and substantial duplication of costs.

19. Below threshold - without competition
    UK7 CREST Project for Secondary Schools

    Department for Science, Innovation & Technology · 2 Oct 2026 · British Association for the Advancement of Science · Official notice

20. Below threshold - without competition
    Heat Network Regulatory Compliance Support Services

    London Borough of Harrow · 2 Oct 2026 · CHIRPY HEAT LTD · Official notice

21. Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
    Reablement Electronic Call Monitoring/Management System

    Middlesbrough Council · 2 Oct 2026 · Nourish · Official notice

    Rationale: GCloud 14

22. Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
    Queens House External Pipework Replacement

    Southampton City Council · 2 Oct 2026 · AXIS CLC Contractors Limited · Official notice

    Rationale: direct award via procurement for housing framework retrofit works lot 8

23. Below threshold - without competition
    Safe & Warm Futures - Vulnerability and Carbon Monoxide Allowance Collaborative Project - Money Ready.

    SCOTIA GAS NETWORKS LIMITED · 2 Oct 2026 · MONEY READY · Official notice

24. Direct awardUK5
    Payroll and HR Software Services

    MERSEYRAIL ELECTRICS 2002 LIMITED · 2 Oct 2026 · ZELLIS UK LIMITED · Official notice

    Rationale: MEL intends to directly awarded this contract to Zellis UK Limited on the basis that, due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only Zellis can supply the services required and there are no reasonable alternatives to those services at this time. The conditions set out in paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 therefore apply. There is an absence of competition for technical reasons because the services currently required are interim services to maintain its Payroll & HR system while it carries out a re-procurement, and subsequent transitional and mobilisation period, for its longer-term Payroll & HR Software requirements. Continuity of these services is necessary for MEL to continue operating. Zellis is the current supplier of the services and has the specific know-how and relevant systems in place to ensure the continuing functioning of these critical services. No other supplier would be able to provide and implement an adequate replacement system (requiring data migration, configuration, interface work, testing, parallel payroll runs, user acceptance testing and mobilisation) before MEL's current Payroll & HR contract expires. There is no reasonable alternative to the provision of these interim services by Zellis because of MEL's need for an uninterrupted Payroll & HR service. No alternative supplier could be integrated into the current live system environment before expiry of the existing contract without at least a significant risk to continuous service delivery. MEL is unable to self-deliver the services for this interim period due to their scale, sensitivity and the associated statutory compliance risks. This direct award will guarantee a stable and continuous service while MEL undertakes a robust re-procurement process that will enable a solution for its long-term project delivery.

25. Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
    Education Asset Repair and Maintenance Programme

    Southampton City Council · 2 Oct 2026 · Axis CLC Contractors Ltd · Official notice

    Rationale: mini competition completed under the nhmf framework with 4 providers submitting a response which was evaluated and all providers received full written feedback before completing the award process.

26. Below threshold - without competition
    Provision of Oxford Nanopore Consumables for Research

    Cardiff and Vale University Health Board · 2 Oct 2026 · Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc · Official notice

27. Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
    BCU-FCONC-64309 - Histopathology - Outsourcing

    Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board · 2 Oct 2026 · DIAGNEXIA UK LIMITED · Official notice

    Rationale: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board intends to proceed with a direct award call-off under the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Framework utilising the National Framework Agreement for Teleradiology, Telepathology, and Telemedicine Services (Reference: F/103/TTTPSR/25/AB) - Notice published in line with the Health Services (Provider Selection Regime) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (PSR Wales) intention to award notice.

28. Direct award
    Supply & Installation of Protec Replacement Fire Alarm Equipment at University Hospital of Wales

    Cardiff and Vale University Health Board · 2 Oct 2026 · PROTEC FIRE DETECTION PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY · Official notice

29. Direct award
    FRC Programme Manager

    UK Export Finance · 2 Oct 2026 · MILLENNIUM BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY LIMITED · Official notice

30. Below threshold - without competition
    Heat Network Advisor

    Blackburn with Darwen · 2 Oct 2026 · Heat Network Advisor · Official notice

31. Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
    Riverdale Grange AED Services

    Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust · 2 Oct 2026 · Riverdale Grange Limited · Official notice

    Rationale: Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust are awarding the contract named within this notice under the Direct Award A process which is outlined within the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. The provider named in this notice is an existing provider and has been reviewed through a Key Criteria assessment to ensure the awarding body is satisfied with current performance and reasonably expects the provider to be able to satisfy the contract which is the subject of this notice. The contract which is the subject of this notice has not changed considerably when compared with the existing/previous contract delivered by the named provider. There is an existing service. There is no realistic alternative to the existing provider due to the nature of the health care services. Direct Award B would not apply, as patients do not have a choice of provider. Due to the nature of the health care services, patients are typically placed based on bed availability and clinical presentation, therefore there are limitations to patient choice.

32. Below threshold - without competitionUK5
    Mentoring Provision for Aspiring Pathways Students

    North East Combined Authority · 2 Oct 2026 · MCR PATHWAYS · Official notice

33. Direct award
    Leicestershire Academies Insurance Schem

    Leicestershire County Council · 2 Oct 2026 · ZURICH INSURANCE COMPANY LTD · Official notice

34. Direct awardUK5
    715890474 Thermoteknix EC - UK5

    Defence Equipment and Support · 2 Oct 2026 · Thermoteknix Systems Ltd · Official notice

    Rationale: Justification for Direct Award The Authority intends to award the contract without prior competition in reliance upon: Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 (Single Supplier: Technical Reasons) for support, maintenance, and repair services; and Schedule 5, Paragraph 7 of the Procurement Act 2023 (Additional or Repeat Goods, Services or Works) for the procurement of additional TCOS systems and associated ancillaries. A. Single Supplier for Technical Reasons (Schedule 5, Paragraph 6) Thermoteknix Systems Ltd, as OEM and Design Authority, retains access to the technical data, software, design information, specialist tooling, engineering expertise and configuration knowledge necessary to support, maintain and repair the TCOS capability currently in service with the British Army. The continued provision of support and maintenance services requires access to proprietary technical information, specialist knowledge and design understanding that are not available to alternative/third-party suppliers. The Authority requires continued support of the existing assured capability throughout its remaining service life. Any attempt to transfer support activities to an alternative supplier would require extensive technical investigation, verification, validation, safety assurance, and configuration management activities, resulting in unacceptable technical, safety and operational risk. Accordingly, competition is absent for technical reasons and Thermoteknix Systems Ltd is considered the only supplier capable of providing support and maintenance for the existing assured capability to the required technical, safety and operational standards during its remaining service life. There are no reasonable alternatives. B. Additional Goods (Schedule 5, Paragraph 7) The contract also includes provision for the procurement of additional TCOS systems and associated ancillaries to support fleet management, growth towards the Total Fleet Requirement and operational requirements throughout the remaining life of the capability. Whilst alternative solutions may exist within the wider market, those solutions would constitute different platforms to the assured capability currently in service. Procuring alternative equipment would require Defence to introduce separate training, assurance, maintenance, and support arrangements, creating disproportionate technical difficulties in operation and maintenance and increasing complexity and logistical burden. Only Thermoteknix Systems Ltd is capable of supplying additional units that are the same in-service, assured solution to the existing assured capability and fully compatible with the established support, maintenance, and assurance arrangements. The direct award is therefore limited to the procurement of additional units of the same in-service capability currently operated by Army personnel. The advertised contract value is the maximum estimated value of all potential orders that may be placed under the contract during its term. It does not represent a guaranteed level of expenditure. The Authority reserves the right not to place any orders under the contract and is not obliged to spend the full advertised value, or any value, during the lifetime of the contract. Future Procurement Strategy This direct award does not seek to establish a replacement capability or meet any future requirement beyond the current capability planned service life. Upon reaching the planned Out of Service Date, the Authority intends to reassess its future requirement and determine the appropriate procurement strategy, including competition where appropriate Additional Information Original contract competitively awarded under DSPCR. Thermoteknix Systems Ltd is the Original Equipment Manufacturer and Design Authority. Support activities require access to technical data, specialist knowledge and configuration control held by Thermoteknix Systems Ltd. Additional systems are required to support growth towards the Total Fleet Requirement while maintaining fleet commonality. Additional units must be the same as the assured capability currently in service. The direct award is limited to sustaining the existing assured capability until its planned OSD. The Cyber Risk Level associated with this project has been assessed as Level 1 Foundational. Risk Assessment Reference: RAR-TC4JQNC

35. Direct awardUK5
    715890481 Theon Sensors S.A. Enabling Contract EC - UK 5

    Defence Equipment and Support · 2 Oct 2026 · Theon Sensors S.A. · Official notice

    Rationale: Justification for Direct Award The Authority intends to award the contract without prior competition in accordance with Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, relying on: Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 (Single supplier: technical reasons) for support, maintenance and repair services; and Schedule 5, Paragraph 7 of the Procurement Act 2023 (Additional or repeat goods, services or works) for the procurement of additional SILLS LWIR Thermal Sight units and associated ancillaries. Single Supplier for Technical Reasons (Schedule 5, Paragraph 6) Theon Sensors S.A., as OEM and Design Authority, is the only supplier with access to the technical data, software, design information, specialist tooling engineering expertise and configuration knowledge necessary to support, maintain and repair the SILLS LWIR capability currently in service with the British Army. The continued provision of support and maintenance services requires access to proprietary technical information specialist knowledge and design understanding that is not available to alternative/third-party suppliers. The Authority requires continued support of the existing assured capability throughout its remaining service life. Any attempt to use an alternative supplier would require significant assurance, certification and safety case activities, resulting in additional cost, delays, reduced equipment availability and increased operational risk. Accordingly, due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only Theon Sensors S.A. can supply the services, and there is no reasonable alternative to those services that would meet the Authority’s requirement for the support and maintenance of the existing assured capability during its remaining service life. Additional Goods (Schedule 5, Paragraph 7) The contract includes provision for the procurement of additional SILLS LWIR Thermal Sight units and associated ancillaries to support fleet management, growth towards the Total Fleet Requirement and operational requirements throughout the remaining life of the capability. For technical reasons set out above, only Theon Sensors S.A. has access to the information necessary to supply additional units that are the same in-service, assured solution to the existing assured capability and fully compatible with the established support, maintenance and assurance arrangements. Whilst alternative solutions may exist within the wider market, those solutions would constitute platforms that are different from the bespoke assured capability currently in service. Procuring a different solution would require the Authority to concurrently operate separate training, assurance, maintenance and support arrangements for both the existing assured capability and the alternative solution. Procuring an alternative solution would therefore result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation and maintenance, including increased complexity and logistical burden. The advertised contract value is the maximum estimated value of all potential orders that may be placed under the contract during its term. It does not represent a guaranteed level of expenditure. The Authority reserves the right not to place any orders under the contract and is not obliged to spend the full advertised value, or any value, during the lifetime of the contract. Future Procurement Strategy This direct award does not seek to establish a replacement capability or meet any future requirement beyond the current capability planned service life. Upon reaching the planned Out of Service Date, the Authority intends to reassess its future requirement and determine the appropriate procurement strategy, including competition where appropriate. 9. Additional Information • Original contract competitively awarded under DSPCR.  • Theon Sensors S.A. is the OEM and Design Authority.  • Support activities require access to technical data, specialist knowledge and configuration control held by Theon. • Additional systems are required to support growth towards the Total Fleet Requirement while maintaining fleet commonality. • Additional units must be the same, assured capability currently in service.  • The direct award is limited to sustaining the existing assured capability until its planned OSD, including through-life support and the procurement of additional units and associated ancillaries as required The Cyber Risk Level associated with this project has been assessed as Level 1 Foundational. Risk Assessment Reference: RAR-PDNNK9N

36. Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
    The Provision of Cost Consultancy Services

    Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust · 2 Oct 2026 · AECOM LIMITED · Official notice

    Rationale: The procurement was a further competition under the Healthcare Planning Construction Consultancy and Ancillary Services (HPCCAS) Framework Agreement, SBS10190, Lot 4 Quantity Surveyor.

37. Below threshold - without competitionUK5
    Care Home Spot Purchasing

    West Northamptonshire Council · 2 Oct 2026 · GREEN PASTURES · Official notice

38. Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
    The Provision of Project Management Services

    Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust · 2 Oct 2026 · AECOM LIMITED · Official notice

    Rationale: The procurement was a further competition under the Healthcare Planning Construction Consultancy and Ancillary Services (HPCCAS) Framework Agreement, SBS10190, Lot 2 Project Management.

39. Below threshold - without competition
    Middleham Bridge Arch Repair

    The North Yorkshire Council · 2 Oct 2026 · WILF NOBLE CONSTRUCTION & PLANT HIRE LIMITED · Official notice

40. Below threshold - without competition
    Improvements in Operational Performance - Surv Endoscopy (Stockport)

    The Christie NHS Foundation Trust · 2 Oct 2026 · Stockport NHS Foundation Trust · Official notice