Contract Name Vormetric Data Encryption - Cipher Trust

Contract summary

Industry

• Computer equipment and supplies - 30200000

Location of contract

Scotland

Value of contract

£318,957.20

Procurement reference

2023-TR-0130

Published date

3 January 2025

Closing date

2 September 2024

Closing time

5pm

Contract start date

1 January 2025

Contract end date

31 December 2027

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Call-off from a framework agreement

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

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Description

Currently SLC have an agreement to support and service their existing Data Encryption hardware manufactured by the company Thales. This includes a 24/7 on
call agreement to provide technical support and in addition to provide any required spare parts for the
Hardware if required.
The primary reason for this tender for a replacement to the current operating system was the information
provided to SLC by the current supplier Thales informing them the current hardware being used was
becoming "end of life" meaning spares could no longer be obtained and as such could no longer be
supported to be serviced. If the hardware was not "end of life" the requirements of this tender would be
for a renewal of licences and hardware service and support, as per the previous tender, as the view from
SLC Security personnel was the hardware was suitable for purpose.
SLC undertook market research in order to ascertain the most appropriate replacement for the current
hardware being used. Three options were looked at from a technical and commercial aspect:
• Hardware
• Virtual
• Cloud

After review, the Cloud option was identified as the preferred option from a technical perspective. This is
in keeping with SLCs strategic approach to consider Cloud first.
It is acknowledged that the Cloud approach is available from a number of manufacturers. However, in
order to move away from the incumbent supplier, Thales, a project would require to be set up to explore
other technology.

Due to budget constraints it would not
be possible to secure the budget for this discovery work.

In order to ascertain the procurement route a desktop exercise was undertaken which highlighted that
licences can be obtained via resellers within Framework Agreements.
In addition, SLC made direct contact with the manufacturer of the Cloud product, Thales, to investigate if
savings could be made by a direct award rather than via a framework re-seller. Thales explained they do
not sell direct but only via framework providers. Therefore, the market engagement established that the
re-seller market through existing Frameworks is the most effective approach to the market.

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Award information

Awarded date

23 December 2024

Contract start date

1 January 2025

Contract end date

31 December 2027

Total value of contract

£318,957.20

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

Comptacenter UK Ltd

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About the buyer

Contact name

Kenneth McKay

Address

10 Clyde Place
GLASGOW
G5 8DF
Scotland

Telephone

0141 306 2000

Email

kenneth_mckay@slc.co.uk