AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
The Department of Justice has announced a pending award for replacement of its Causeway system. The named supplier is withheld under Section 94. The award is not yet a signed or active contract.
Published outcomeOne pending award covers lot 1, with a stated net award value of £100 million and gross value of £120 million.
Market significanceThis is a long-term Northern Ireland justice-sector digital transformation opportunity covering software and IT services, with a potential term through March 2044 if extension options are used.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
Withheld Section94 Supplier
98% confidenceAward 1 · Lots 1 · £100,000,000 net; £120,000,000 gross shared award value GBP · Pending award; supplier identity withheld
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Award 1 names "Withheld Section94 Supplier" and is pending. The notice states tenderer names are withheld under Section 94 of the Procurement Act 2023.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Notice status
99% confidenceContract award notice published; award status is pending
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The source describes a "Contract award notice" and award 1 has status "pending".
Contract conclusion
99% confidenceNot evidenced
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A future signature date is scheduled for 15 January 2027; no signed-contract status or signature confirmation is supplied.
Contract start
95% confidencePlanned for 15 January 2027
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Award contractPeriod startDate is 2027-01-15.
Standstill
99% confidenceEnds 27 October 2026
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Award standstillPeriod endDate is 2026-10-27T23:59:59Z.
VALUES
Published values explained
Award value
99% confidence£100,000,000 net
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Award 1 value.amount is 100000000 GBP.
Award value including VAT
99% confidence£120,000,000 gross
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Award 1 value.amountGross is 120000000 GBP.
Maximum opportunity value in process record
78% confidence£109,100,000
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The process-level value_max is 109100000 GBP; the basis and relationship to the award value are not supplied.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Tender notice published
99% confidence4 August 2025
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Release history records the tender notice at 2025-08-04T16:06:59+01:00.
Award decision date
99% confidence16 October 2026
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Award 1 date is 2026-10-16.
Award notice published
99% confidence16 October 2026
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The award notice document was published at 2026-10-16T09:38:02+01:00.
Assessment summaries sent
99% confidence16 October 2026
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assessmentSummariesDateSent is 2026-10-16.
Scheduled signature date
98% confidence15 January 2027
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Milestone type futureSignatureDate is due 2027-01-15T23:59:59Z.
Planned initial end date
98% confidence31 March 2039
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Award contractPeriod endDate is 2039-03-31T23:59:59Z.
Maximum possible end date
98% confidence31 March 2044
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Award contractPeriod maxExtentDate is 2044-03-31T23:59:59Z.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
98% confidenceReplacement of the existing Causeway system
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The notice describes a requirement for a replacement Causeway system to streamline processes, improve efficiency and collaboration among criminal justice organisations.
Category
99% confidenceServices: software and IT services
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Award items cite CPV 48000000 (software package and information systems) and 72000000 (IT services).
Delivery geography
99% confidenceNorthern Ireland
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The award delivery address region is UKN.
Lot structure
99% confidenceOne lot (lot 1)
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Tender and award data identify only lot 1.
Potential future scope
93% confidenceEnhancements, integrations, portal access, victim/witness communications, digital evidence capabilities and other justice-system changes may be requested
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The options description lists potential future and optional services, subject to authority approval.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procedure
99% confidenceSelective, competitive flexible procedure
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The tender records procurementMethod as selective and procurementMethodDetails as competitive flexible procedure.
Tenders received
99% confidenceThree
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The notice states that three tenders were received and evaluated.
Unsuccessful tenders
99% confidenceTwo
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The notice states two tenders were unsuccessful.
Bidder identities
99% confidenceWithheld under Section 94 of the Procurement Act 2023
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The notice explicitly says names are withheld in line with Section 94.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Planned base term
98% confidence15 January 2027 to 31 March 2039
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The stated contractPeriod runs from 2027-01-15 to 2039-03-31.
Extension options
91% confidenceTwo extensions of three years and two years
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The renewal description states two options to extend of three years and two years each.
Maximum term
98% confidenceThrough 31 March 2044
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The maximum extent date is 2044-03-31.
Options and modifications
91% confidenceOptional and future services are contemplated within the maximum contract value; potential modifications are described as subject to the contract mechanisms and Procurement Act 2023 section 74
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The options description states that maximum spend includes future options and describes possible future modifications.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Competitive intensity
90% confidenceThree evaluated tenders indicate a limited disclosed field of competition
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The notice states three tenders were received and evaluated.
Value interpretation
95% confidenceThe £100 million net / £120 million gross award value is stated at award level and includes maximum spend for future options; it should not be treated as committed spend or attributed beyond the single pending award
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Award values are supplied and the options description says the stated contract value includes maximum spend for future options.
Market access
99% confidenceSupplier identity and tenderer names are withheld, limiting competitor and incumbent analysis
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The notice withholds names under Section 94.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Pending status
99% confidenceThe award remains pending and has a future signature milestone; publication does not evidence a signed, concluded or active contract.
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Award status is pending and futureSignatureDate is scheduled for 15 January 2027.
Supplier identity withheld
99% confidenceThe published supplier name is a confidentiality label rather than a disclosed legal entity; verification is not applicable.
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Supplier verification status is not_applicable and the source identifies the supplier as "Withheld Section94 Supplier".
Value inconsistency or basis ambiguity
97% confidenceThe process maximum (£109.1 million) differs from the pending award net value (£100 million) and gross value (£120 million). The source does not explain the process-level figure's basis or relationship to award values.
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Process value_max is 109100000 GBP; award value amount is 100000000 and amountGross is 120000000 GBP.
Lot detail
99% confidenceLot 1 has no published title, description or individual lot value.
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Lot 1 title, description and value fields are null.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- The award is pending; no signed contract, contract award confirmation after standstill, or active-service confirmation is supplied.
- The supplier's legal identity is withheld under Section 94, so supplier verification and company-level market analysis are not possible from the published data.
- The published notice does not provide evaluation scores, award rationale, pricing breakdown, bidder identities, or individual lot pricing.
- Lot 1 has no published title or description.
- The process-level maximum value differs from the award net and gross values, and the published data does not explain the basis of the process-level figure.
- The extension wording is grammatically ambiguous, although the stated maximum extent date supports a possible term through 31 March 2044.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
Department of Justice Causeway ReplacementCauseway system replacementNorthern Ireland justice IT procurementpending contract awardcompetitive flexible procedure
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Has the Causeway Replacement contract been signed?
No. The published award is pending and lists a future signature date of 15 January 2027.
Who won the Department of Justice Causeway Replacement award?
The supplier identity is withheld in the published notice under Section 94 of the Procurement Act 2023.
What is the stated award value?
The pending award states £100 million net and £120 million gross, including maximum spend for future options.
When could the contract end?
The initial stated end date is 31 March 2039, with a maximum possible end date of 31 March 2044 if extensions are used.
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.