Procurement of Licencing for Next Generation Firewall

REPORT TO; Madeline Hoskin, Assistant Director, Technology

DECISION DATE: 10th September 2025

SUPPORTING ANNEX; This report includes a supporting Annex which contains exempt information as described in paragraphs 1, 3 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

PROPOSED RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Authority proceed via CCS Framework RM6098 Technology & Associated Services 3, in order to procure licences for the replacement NYC Storage and for the Corporate Firewall Solution.

The proposed contract duration is:

·  Term: 27th September 2025 – 26th September 2028

The estimated whole life cost is £522,867.76 +VAT

This approach represents best value for the Authority as it meets the current and future firewall requirements of the Authority.

BACKGROUND TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION

Technical Information

As part of the local government merger, each former Authority had differing firewall equipment in place.  As part of the consolidation and rationalisation of IT infrastructure following LGR the existing standard corporate firewall solution now covers all requirements across the Authority and needs re-licensing to continue to deliver the vital functionality for security and connectivity.

Procurement Information

In line with global trends the existing licence model has increased in cost in part due to suppliers integrating Artificial Intelligence into their product sets and the global market.

Financial Information

The three year renewal cost will be higher than expected due to global market pricing and additional functionality include in the licences, the shortfall will be in the region of £150,000. Technology Services will be looking to resolve this shortfall in year through internal budget realignment and consolidation.

Reuse of the existing hardware platform which is still current and has sufficient throughput capacity avoids additional cost of approximately £84,325.35.

LEGAL AND GOVERNANCE COMPLIANCE

As per the Council’s Procurement and Contract Procedure Rules, Rule 11 states;

11.1 Tenders for Contracts which exceed the WTO GPA Procurement Threshold shall be invited and awarded in accordance with the PCRs and as prescribed in Rule 11 and 12.

As per Rule 16.3:

A Director does not need to invite Above Threshold Tenders in accordance with Rule 11 and 12, in the following circumstances:

A) purchases via Framework Agreements which have been established either by the Council or by other public sector bodies or consortia (including, but not limited to PSBO’s) and where such Framework Agreements are lawfully accessible to the Council. Contracts awarded from such Framework Agreements shall be awarded in accordance with the provisions of that Framework Agreement. 

The contract will be awarded via Procurement Services PCR2015 Framework Call-off. This is a compliant route to market and complies with the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Authority proceed with an award via Procurement Services PCR2015 Framework Call-off, in order to procure subscription-based licences for the current hardware platform.

The proposed contract duration is:

· Initial term: 27th September 2025 – 26th September 2028

The estimated whole life cost is estimated £522,867.76 +VAT

This approach represents best value for the Authority as meets the current and likely future requirements of the Authority as well as providing a platform for the standardisation of key applications used by services across the new authority.