Лондонская полиция выбрала двух крупнейших британских IT-поставщиков на контракты на 372 млн фунтов

Two major tech providers based in the UK have been chosen by the capital city’s force to serve as the primary providers of products, including common software and hardware tools London’s Metropolitan Police Service has picked two of the UK’s biggest IT resellers to serve as the force’s primary providers of IT and software products in the coming months. The Met – or MPS – received two bids for its new value-added reseller (VAR) framework, a £252m buying vehicle intended to cover the purchase of a range of IT goods. The deal, which runs for an initial term of two years and two potential additional one-year extensions, is due to come into effect on 1 October, following the conclusion of an ongoing standstill period – which ends on 2 September. The companies that will feature on the agreement are the UK’s two largest VARS: Marlow-based Softcat; and Hatfield-headquartered Computacenter. Both outfits are listed on the London Stock Exchange, and each has annual revenue in excess of £2bn. A commercial notice newly published by the MPS indicates that the firms will be tasked “the supply of technology hardware, software and associated services”. The document adds: “The framework establishes two suppliers to provide a compliant and commercially robust route to market for technology products and services, supporting operational policing, business-as-usual and technology requirements.” Related content - Police Digital Service plots £30m IT system to manage forces’ serious crime and anti-terror ops - Home Office plans centralised police tech, digital and AI functions - Met Police plans £25m digital, data and AI agreement to support ‘precise policing’ A further notice reveals that both companies featured on the two-strong framework also bid for a separate engagement as the “primary VAR for the MPS”. This engagement – which Softcat won, beating its reseller rival Computacenter – will run for the same initial two-year term, with the same optional extensions. The deal will be worth £120m to the chosen bidder, the notice says. “[The contract] provides a managed route for the procurement of technology hardware, software and associated services, delivering commercial oversight, supply chain management and value for money across the MPS technology estate,” the document adds. If both agreements run for their full potential lifespan, they will conclude on 30 September 2030. The cumulative worth of the contracts is estimated at £372m. The Met – acting on behalf of forces nationwide – recently issued a tender for inviting bids for a £90m deal to help create and maintain new digital channels and artificial intelligence tools that will enable the public to contact the police and report crimes.