AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
BlueLight Commercial Limited has awarded and signed an open framework for digital forensic software and tools. Ten suppliers are appointed to the single published lot, with call-offs available through direct award or further competition.
Published outcomeThe framework contract is active from 22 September 2026 to 30 September 2034. The published gross framework value is £960,614,600.40, shared across all appointed suppliers and not allocated individually.
Market significanceThis is a national multi-supplier digital-forensics framework with a broad eligible-user base across policing, public safety, central government, local government and NHS bodies.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
10 supplier records analysed
AXON PUBLIC SAFETY UK LIMITED
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots LOT-0001 · Shared, unallocated framework value GBP · Appointed supplier
View supporting evidence
Verified company name for company number 07390059; award 1 lists the supplier for LOT-0001.
CCL-FORENSICS LIMITED
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots LOT-0001 · Shared, unallocated framework value GBP · Appointed supplier
View supporting evidence
Verified company name for company number 05314495; award 1 lists the supplier for LOT-0001.
CHORUS INTELLIGENCE LIMITED
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots LOT-0001 · Shared, unallocated framework value GBP · Appointed supplier
View supporting evidence
Verified company name for company number 07814100; award 1 lists the supplier for LOT-0001.
CYACOMB LIMITED
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots LOT-0001 · Shared, unallocated framework value GBP · Appointed supplier
View supporting evidence
Verified company name for company number SC538756; award 1 lists the supplier for LOT-0001.
FIRST FORENSIC SOLUTIONS LTD
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots LOT-0001 · Shared, unallocated framework value GBP · Appointed supplier
View supporting evidence
Verified company name for company number NI073253; award 1 lists the supplier for LOT-0001.
FORENSIC ANALYTICS LTD
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots LOT-0001 · Shared, unallocated framework value GBP · Appointed supplier
View supporting evidence
Verified company name for company number 08606475; award 1 lists the supplier for LOT-0001.
Magnet Forensics, LLC
94% confidenceAward 1 · Lots LOT-0001 · Shared, unallocated framework value GBP · Appointed supplier
View supporting evidence
Award 1 lists Magnet Forensics, LLC for LOT-0001 under GB-PPON identifier PTHP-4623-HLQG.
MICRO SYSTEMATION LIMITED
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots LOT-0001 · Shared, unallocated framework value GBP · Appointed supplier
View supporting evidence
Verified company name for company number 06783784; award 1 lists source supplier name MSAB for LOT-0001.
SOFTCAT PLC
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots LOT-0001 · Shared, unallocated framework value GBP · Appointed supplier
View supporting evidence
Verified company name for company number 02174990; award 1 lists the supplier for LOT-0001.
VERITONE UK LTD.
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots LOT-0001 · Shared, unallocated framework value GBP · Appointed supplier
View supporting evidence
Verified company name for company number 10993647; award 1 lists the supplier for LOT-0001.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Published contract status
99% confidenceActive
View supporting evidence
The contract record has status "active".
Contract signature
99% confidenceSigned on 22 September 2026
View supporting evidence
Contract 1 explicitly records dateSigned as 2026-09-22.
Contract period
99% confidence22 September 2026 to 30 September 2034
View supporting evidence
Contract period startDate is 2026-09-22 and endDate is 2034-09-30.
Latest published notice
99% confidenceContract details notice published 14 October 2026
View supporting evidence
Document 097074-2026 is labelled a Contract details notice and has datePublished 2026-10-14.
VALUES
Published values explained
Published gross framework value
99% confidence£960,614,600.40
View supporting evidence
Contract 1 value amountGross is 960614600.4 GBP.
Value interpretation
99% confidenceFramework-level value; not a guarantee of spend and not allocated between suppliers
View supporting evidence
The description says the estimated value is a prudent upper limit, includes price-increase and additional-agency allowances, and is not a guarantee of spend. One contract covers all ten suppliers.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Tender notice first published
98% confidence12 January 2026
View supporting evidence
Release history records tender notice 002402-2026 on 2026-01-12.
Award notice published
99% confidence2 July 2026
View supporting evidence
Release history records contract award notices on 2026-07-02.
Framework signed and started
99% confidence22 September 2026
View supporting evidence
Contract dateSigned and period startDate are both 2026-09-22.
Framework end
99% confidence30 September 2034
View supporting evidence
Contract period endDate and open-framework scheme end date are 2034-09-30.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
99% confidenceDigital forensic software and tools
View supporting evidence
Framework title and description state the requirement is Digital Forensic Software and Tools.
Regulatory alignment
99% confidenceTools are intended to support end users' compliance with the Forensic Science Regulator’s Code of Practice (2025)
View supporting evidence
The description states the scope aligns with the 2025 Code and that tools must support end users in meeting requirements; it does not require suppliers themselves to be accredited or directly compliant.
Exclusion
99% confidenceCase management systems are excluded
View supporting evidence
The description explicitly states that case management systems will not be included.
Published classifications
99% confidenceHardware, computer equipment, special-purpose electrical goods, industry-specific software, database/operating software and IT services
View supporting evidence
Award item lists CPV codes 30210000, 30230000, 42992000, 48100000, 48600000 and 72000000.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procedure
99% confidenceOpen procedure
View supporting evidence
Tender procurementMethodDetails is "Open procedure".
Commercial vehicle
99% confidenceOpen framework
View supporting evidence
Tender techniques identify an open framework agreement and isOpenFrameworkScheme is true.
Call-off routes
99% confidenceDirect award or further competition
View supporting evidence
Framework agreement description states call-offs will use further competition or direct award.
Competition information
99% confidenceTen suppliers appointed; bid count and evaluation information unknown
View supporting evidence
Award 1 lists ten suppliers. The supplied notice data does not provide bid numbers, scores or evaluation results.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Framework mechanism
99% confidenceOpen framework with and without reopening competition
View supporting evidence
frameworkAgreement method is "withAndWithoutReopeningCompetition".
Modification options
99% confidenceScope may be updated for changes to the Codes; connectivity to other policing systems may be required
View supporting evidence
Contract options describe both modification options.
Published service metrics
98% confidenceMonthly observation frequency for critical-fault resolution, zero-day notification and patching, accreditation-impact notifications, and notices to active call-off authorities
View supporting evidence
Contract agreedMetrics lists four metrics, each with monthly frequency.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Supplier opportunity
99% confidenceAppointment creates eligibility for call-offs, but no supplier-specific spend, call-off volume or allocation is published
View supporting evidence
The framework supports direct award and further competition; the value is shared and the notice does not allocate amounts to suppliers.
Demand uncertainty
99% confidenceThe published ceiling includes allowances for anticipated price increases and additional participating or associated agencies
View supporting evidence
Framework description explains these allowances and states the value is not a spend guarantee.
Technical-commercial focus
96% confidenceOngoing compliance support, security response and interoperability may be relevant to delivery
View supporting evidence
The scope aligns to the Codes, published metrics cover critical faults and zero-day patching, and an option covers policing-system connectivity.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Framework value allocation
99% confidenceThe £960.6m gross value is a shared framework-level figure and cannot be attributed to any individual supplier or lot
View supporting evidence
One contract covers award 1 and all ten suppliers; no supplier or lot values are published.
Supplier naming
99% confidenceThe source supplier name "MSAB" differs from the verified legal name MICRO SYSTEMATION LIMITED; the verified legal name is used
View supporting evidence
Supplier verification marks nameMismatch true for company number 06783784.
Supplier verification coverage
99% confidenceNine UK suppliers have verified Companies House identities; Magnet Forensics, LLC is recorded with a GB-PPON identifier and is not applicable to that verification workflow
View supporting evidence
supplierVerification reports verifiedCount 9 and notApplicableCount 1.
Unpublished detail
99% confidenceInformation not supplied in the published notice includes lot title/description, lot value, bid count, evaluation results, pricing breakdown and individual call-off commitments
View supporting evidence
Supplied lot record has no title, description or value; no such competition or pricing data is provided.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- The framework-level value is not allocated across suppliers or the single published lot.
- No bid count, bidder list beyond appointees, evaluation scores, award rationale or pricing schedule is supplied.
- The single lot has no published title, description or value in the supplied data.
- No supplier-specific call-off commitments, forecast volumes or spend are published.
- The 30 September 2034 date is a contractual end date only; it does not establish a future renewal procurement.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
BLC0228digital forensic softwaredigital forensic toolsBlueLight Commercialopen frameworkforensic technology procurement
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Has the BLC0228 framework been signed?
Yes. The published contract data records a signature date of 22 September 2026 and an active contract status.
What is the value of the framework?
The published gross framework value is £960,614,600.40. It is a shared ceiling, not guaranteed spend or a supplier-specific award value.
How can call-offs be awarded?
The published framework terms state that call-offs may be made by direct award or further competition.
Are case management systems included?
No. The published description explicitly excludes case management systems.
ProcuraAxis award analysis supplements, but does not replace, the official award notice, contract data or procurement documents. “Awarded” does not by itself prove that a contract has been signed.